The Swan, Southwold, Suffolk

The Swan enjoys an excellent location right in the centre of town, on the high street by the market square. An Adnams hotel, a brewery and a distillery have a big presence in the town, and you'll find a good choice of bars and restaurants. The beach is nearby, and the pier has delightfully eccentric slot machines, eateries and an arcade.

By car: the hotel is 3 hours from London, 2 hours from Cambridge and 3 hours 30 mins from Nottingham. There is free private parking on-site.

By train: London Liverpool Street to Darsham (via Ipswich) takes 2 hours 30 mins. The hotel is a 18-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to Darsham.

A major revamp has injected lots of colourful flourishes and contemporary interior design like bright, busy wallpapers and green velvet sofas, yet retaining plenty of historic touches like ornate fireplaces, plaster features and imposing eighteenth-century portraits. The copper fittings, a nod to the brewery, create a slightly Moroccan feel.

The staff are uniformly friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and efficient, and always on hand to help with your every need, whether it be a picnic hamper or deck chairs for the beach. There are even three butlers available, clearly dedicated to the provision of great service.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Garden
• Pet-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Clearly, a lot of thought has been put into the interior design of the very comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms, with plenty of funky blends of vintage and contemporary touches. Those in the main building have more character than the more modern garden annexe ones. Everything is top quality, from the linens to the curtains.

Room types: Excellent, Fabulous, Outstanding, Family Quarters

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Temple Spa toiletries, duck-down bedding, Apple TV, Adnams gin, Nespresso machine

The Still Restaurant has striking features such as a gleaming copper bar and around 240 bottles suspended above the tables, serving as an elaborate pendant light design. The ornate, complex dishes include unusual touches, for example, a salmon terrine accompanied by seaweed and tapioca crisp. There's a cosy, maritime-influenced bar, the Tap Room, too.

The Still Room: fine dining, modern British cuisine. Open daily 12-2.30pm and dinner from 5.30pm. Mains from £15.

The Tap Room: cosy, maritime influenced, extensive menu with a range of Adnam's drinks.