Special hotel for romantic break

[higgle]

DH is 60 next year. Whilst our more wealthy friends have done extravagant and amazing things for their 60th birthday we are not that well off. Fortunately DH is very antisocial and would not want a party anyway. We have always celebrated big birthdays with a couple of days away somewhere luxurious and that is what I'd like to do again. Unfortunately they seem to have got very very expensive and my budget of £750 tops all in seems somewhat deficient.

Gidleigh Park at Chagford which would have been my first choice is now right out - room alone for 2 nights is nearly £600 ( special offer!)

The Pig on the Beach at Studland sounds lovely in some reviews, but they also say the meals are not always great and the drinks are extortionate.

So can anyone help with a bit of stunning and affordable luxury - 2 nights? DH is a country boy at heart but a nice country town would be OK. We prefer boutiquey to chintzy but it must be very special.

The Hostel Arms in Burnham Market or The Swan in Southwold were both lovely a few years ago

Just to say we did go to the Pig on the beach, had a fantastic time, food was great and our budget ran to the best room in the hotel.

I would recommend the Crown and Castle in Orford. We had a weekend there last year and it was fabulous. Really good service, very nice rooms and great food. Orford is lovely too. The hotel does regular offers where bed, breakfast and dinner is all inclued.

How luxury do you like your hotels? Eg, 5* type places or would you go for something smaller? Also, what areas are you thinking of?

For a smaller boutique hotel, I'd recommend Wingrove House in Alfriston, It's only got a few rooms, but it's in a lovely location, and the food & service are great. May be too small for what you're looking for though.

The George in Stamford (Lincolnshire) is lovely. I always thought it would be perfect for a romantic break!

Try "small luxury hotels of the world" group of hotels. Really lovely boutique style hotels not 'chains'. Expensive but not ridiculously so and well within your budget.
website :
www.slh.com/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/

I can recommend (so far!):

www.slh.com/hotels/dormy-house-hotel/
www.slh.com/hotels/lords-of-the-manor-hotel/
Both Cotswold village hotels near or in all the picture perfect Cotswold villages (Boston on the water; stow on the wold; Morton in marsh; Broadway etc) All easy drives or walks and are chock full of fantastic walks, pubs, restaurants (& tourists so NOT if your break is in the summer but gorgeous in the winter)

www.slh.com/hotels/the-arden-hotel-stratford/
Practically next door to the royal Shakespeare company if that's your thing but also in the centre of lovely Stratford upon Avon by the canal.

www.slh.com/hotels/the-bath-priory-hotel/
Regency bath - spectacular!

As you can rap ably guess, I live in the south west but there are hote.s in this group dotted around England and I've never known anyone have a poor experience in one! (Runs away now as a torrent of disgruntled MN folk now tell me otherwise!)

Have fun

• bourton on water not Boston!

I don't know where you are op, but it might be worth going for a less starred hotel but the best room? dh and I stayed in the royal suite of the boringdon hall in Devon, it's surrounded by beautiful countryside and had gorgeous food and a hot tub on the roof for stargazing...

Oops, Higgle is ExConstance, can't be bothered to name change back, so I had my lovely weekend away with DH, but I will save up these suggestions for next time. Thanks.

I would second The Swan at Lavenham. Current prices look as though they might be at the top of your budget, but I would definitely consider it. The rooms were indeed luxurious and the food was very special indeed. They often have special offers so it might be air seeing whether any are available for your chosen dates. [http://www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk here]

try again

Where did you go in the end op?

This also may be too far away and/or too expensive, but have a look at its web site, and wallow in the pictures under the ATTRACTIONS tab:

www.gouganebarrahotel.com/#

My suggestions would all be in the North, is that an option for you OP?