AN INSPECTOR CALLS
THE Great House i n Lavenham is celebrating i ts 30th anniversary under the stewardship of Regis and Martine Crepy.
Yes, a French couple and this is very much a French establishment, albeit one that sits bang in the centre of a medieval English village. Best of both worlds, you might think.
And you’d be right. It’s a fabulous place to spend a night or two, at the end of which you’ll feel like an extra in Midsomer Murders.
The house itself was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, when Lavenham was an important and immensely wealthy textile centre. There are just five rooms and there’s no public area in which to lounge around, mainly because most of the downstairs is given over to a magnificent dining room. Arrive after dark and you’ll be immediately seduced by the flickering candles and gorgeous timber front door. The whole place glows.
Inside, the staff — all of whom are French and all wearing ties, whatever their sex — are genuinely pleased to see you.
Our room looks out over Market Place. It has two king-size beds, with a cosy bathroom reached via the narrowest of corridors and through a tiny door.
Unfortunately, the decor is a touch too shiny, a little too Nineties when it lends itself to nothing made before the 1890s, except perhaps the espresso machine and dinky mini-bar.
Dinner is a treat; the service impeccable. My baby scallops in their little shells, topped with mozzarella and a sprinkle of roasted almonds, are sensational and my wife’s lamb chops are the very definition of tender. It’s a wonderfully romantic room and we’re touched by the couple at the next door table holding hands and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes. Both are well into their 70s.
‘I’ll have a cognac, please,’ says the gentleman. ‘Me, too,’ says his date. Make that four. Sadly, we have to leave early (breakfast doesn’t start til 8.30am), but we can smell the croissants in the oven. The Great House is a great experience.
The Great House restaurant and Hotel, Market Place, lavenham, suffolk CO10 9QZ tel: 01787 247 431, greathouse.co.uk Doubles from £95 per night