Anyone stayed at Ickworth?

[QueenPeaHead]

My MIL has decided she wants to go on holiday with us in August. We are going on holiday in July. Sigh. Thought we might palm her off with 4 days at Ickworth, since we are going to be in Suffolk for the weekend in August anyway.

Has anyone been there? Website looks great, Tripadvisor sounds not so great. Food horrible, rooms falling apart etc. We are thinking of the Dower House apartments specifically, which I think were done more recently than the main house (so I suppose are falling apart less) - would be pathetically grateful for any opinions.
Thank you!

Never been. Are you thinking of Ickworth because of the MN census/competition?

yes that reminded me that it was there, IYKWIM. It is £2000+ for 4 days though, so I'd like to know that it is nice before shelling that out!

I wouldn't pay 2000 for horrible food and rooms! gzasp

in fact woulnd't pay that for anything

obviously I wouldn't either, so wanted to know if the food WAS really horrible, or it was just some people on tripadvisor being silly. like the couple who gave it a bad review because there were children around "we do NOT recommend this for anyone without children!". No shit, Sherlock, lol

ps that is for 4 bedrooms btw, not for just one! but still.

QPH - we were there in March. Food definitely wasn't horrible, though I did think that the lunch was a fit fussy for kids. Thought that the rooms were nicely done actually but not terribly large for the price (We'd gone for superior, but weren't convinced by size). Grounds are lovely, and having the adventure payground etc was a plus. Swimming pool was OK (not connected indoors which is a downside in Spring!). Spa - the treatments were nice but a bit basic.

The kids stuff didn't work for us at all - ds1 was too old for creche (advertised for up to 7s, but actually my not quite two year old ds2 was at the upper limit for the activities on offer), and too young to be let wander and do his own thing.

I thought that the food and the winelist was actually quite reasonable. But other than at dinner the service was frankly appalling. Eg when we arrived we weren't greeted at all and stood in the lobby until such time as it became clear that the gentleman sitting at a desk int he hallway was in fact another guest and not a memeber of staff. It took 10 minutes of so for a staff member to be found (we were roaming round the place trying to find someone), who then had to check out the couple who had been waiting ahead of us anyway! Trying to get a drink etc did involve traipsing around corridors looking for a member of staff (though presumably at the Dower House service isn't so much of an issue).

We paid more (per room/per night) than the price you quoted, and I wouldn't do so again.

ladymuck thanks very much for that. you've pretty much said what I've gleaned from tripadvisor (oh how I LOVE trip advisor!) - so that is a resounding NO then!

what on earth can I do with my MIL in mid august then. the whole renting-a-cottage-thing is a bit stupid if you already live in a very nice house in the country - bound not to be as nice as home. cottage by the sea would be better (we don't have sea at home!) but all the nice ones will have gone by now. Thought at least child friendly hotel would enable me not to cook for a week. And we will just have been in Greece for nigh on 3 weeks so I won't want to be on holiday anywhere anyway. Arf.

My friend went there a while ago and stayed in the Dower House apartments- she said it was absolute miles from where they stayed to the main hotel (well, like a 10 minute walk). No shallow end in the pool either (don't know if that's an issue). She said the food was good, but this wasn't recently, so probably not relevant.

Other friends go to Fowey regularly and say that's lovely, and we always love Woolley Grange, but that's a bit close for you, I guess. Oh bum, just realised the whole point is to have somewhere in Suffolk, sorry.

Have you looked on laterooms QPH?

Or what about Bedruthan Steps? I haven't been though.

Oh I see, Suffolk is important, ok Bedruthan's no good then.

PeaHead, look at Rural Retreats, they have availability on a Suffolk property in August.

There places are fab! Stayed in a gorgeous barn in the lakes a few years ago.

we stayed in dower house may 2003 with our dss's then 5 and 4. it was lovely. luxurious but v practical with 2 small ones. setting was beautiful parkland. free use of bikes (with trailer for boys), fantastic pool, etc etc. best hotel we've stayed in with children (and we've done afew. cant believe will have raced downhill since then..... not cheap but fab.

where in suffolk will you be in august?? we have house in fabulous walberswick. that part of coast is fab for family jols. try the bell which has rooms. look on walberswick entry if you put place name in google.

thanks for the walberswick and rural retreats suggestions, will look into those when everyone is in bed!