Nestled amongst lush green lawns and overlooking a water meadow of tall grasses and pretty flowers, Congham Hall Hotel and Spa is the perfect spot for an escape. If peace, quiet and relaxation is what you’re after, then look no further.
Congham Hall is conveniently located in west Norfolk and offers guests easy access to make the most of everything the county has to offer. The hotel is just outside the Sandringham Estate and is located just eight miles from King’s Lynn, a port and market town that’s steeped in history and charm.
The lively seaside town of Hunstanton is just a 20-minute drive away and the hotel is lucky to have miles and miles of beautiful coastline right on its doorstep, including the breath-taking sands of Holkham which stretch as far as the eye can see in every direction, and the quaint coastal towns of Wells-next-the-Sea and Brancaster.
The friendly team can provide you with maps (and even wellies, if the weather leaves little to be desired!) or can point you towards the best local woods, beaches and routes to explore the surrounding countryside.
Hotel
The grand Georgian building that is home to Congham Hall Hotel and Spa was once a manor house, built in 1780 by a wealthy local merchant and used as a private family home for more than 200 years. In 1982 it was purchased and transformed into a hotel, and has since been renovated, extended and enhanced to welcome more guests to this beautiful part of Norfolk.
The Hall stands in 50 acres of sweeping parkland, with rolling lawns and rainbow-coloured flowerbeds dotted with dainty flowers and tall tulips. Wisteria climbs the walls and topiary lines the patios which were drenched in sunshine on the warm spring day that we visited.
Norfolk is a wonderful place to have fun with your four-legged friend and Congham Hall loves to welcome its furry visitors, so we were pleased we could take our rescue dog, Storm, along for the fun too. He was very excited to receive a packet of dog-gestive biscuits along with a water bowl and blanket when we arrived, and was happy that he got to join us for dinner!
Congham Hall has it all; stunning rooms and suites, exquisite dining in The Samphire Kitchen restaurant, relaxation and rejuvenation in the Secret Garden Spa, beautiful grounds to explore, and lots of fun activities from tennis to croquet to boardgames.
The hotel is renowned for its prestigious herb garden which boasts more than 400 varieties of herbs, from daily cooking ingredients to rare medicinal types. Guests are encouraged to explore the herb garden – as well as the hotel’s other pretty formal gardens and tree-lined grounds – or follow one of the local footpaths through the surrounding fields and meadows, and through the pretty village of Congham itself.
Room
Congham Hall boasts 31 bedrooms spread across the site, from stylish and cosy rooms and suites in the main house to the spacious, contemporary garden suites, which circle the courtyard and overlook the pretty kitchen garden, formal flowerbeds or manicured lawns.
The team recently unveiled five stunning cabins in the historic apple orchard, in a secluded corner of the grounds, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening out onto a terrace, each with its own private al-fresco freestanding bathtub.
We were staying in a sprawling garden suite right next door to the beautiful Secret Garden Spa. Stepping in through the entrance located off the secluded courtyard garden, a large bathroom opens on your right with a formal vanity unit, freestanding bath and huge shower. There’s plenty of storage in the wardrobe and shelving before the room widens into a vast but cosy suite. We had French doors that swung open onto a cute little patio, with a bistro set and beautiful views.
Food and drink
The Samphire Kitchen is a classically elegant restaurant housed in the triple-aspect dining room which is bathed in light – thanks to huge lantern lights – and overlooking the green lawns. Guests can sit out on the terrace to eat under the summer night’s sky on warmer evenings and there’s a bar to enjoy cocktails and aperitifs.
The team here prides itself on creating simple menus that celebrate excellent taste and local, seasonal ingredients. Congham Hall has access to its own gardens as well as excellent local farms and brilliant seafood fresh into the coastal towns; their aim is to source 80% of their ingredients from within 20 miles. The hotel’s kitchen garden is harvested daily for tasty ingredients such as radishes and rocket, and herbs come from the all-important herb garden to give everything a delicious flavour.
The team were very hospitable to our mini and four-legged companions and set us up a table in our own private dining room, in The Library. Although we felt a little isolated away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, our own space was very homely and laid-back with cosy furnishings and soft lighting, and we ate surrounded by books without the pressure of keeping Storm out of the way or trying to keep our five-month-old quiet!
We had some delicious home-baked bread with salted butter, before sampling light dishes to start. I had the pickled smoked beetroot which was served with whipped goats curd and crunchy pine nuts while my husband had the silky, creamy burrata with heritage tomato salad; both were perfect for the sunny spring evening outside and used the simplest but most beautiful, fresh ingredients.
For the main event, I had the pan roasted fillet of cod which was served with succulent mussels and buttery Norfolk potatoes while hubby had one of the specials: braised ox cheek with creamed potato and horseradish. Both portions were well-sized and prettily presented, flavoursome and filling. But, of course, it wouldn’t be a meal out without dessert so we finished with dark chocolate marquis and sticky toffee pudding, yum!
Spa
Congham Hall boasts a beautiful spa which overlooks the gardens and orchard, with far-reaching views over the meadows beyond. The gorgeous wellness centre is home to a 12m-long indoor pool that sparkles in the sunlight, as well as five treatment rooms and an outdoor deck with a wooden hot tub.
There’s a thermal suite with a sauna, steam room, foot spa and experience showers – where you can enjoy a tropical storm shower – or you can choose from a muscle-melting massage, a herbal facial (made from herbs from the garden), or a mani-pedi. In this tranquil setting you can relax your body, mind and soul, or, as we did, enjoy a family swim.
In a nutshell
It’s easy to see why Congham Hall Hotel and Spa is one of only five hotels to receive four AA red stars at the AA Hospitality Awards this year; it’s cosy, picturesque, luxurious and welcoming. The perfect home-away-from-home when you’re travelling with your family (including the furry ones!).
Factbox
Rooms are available from £280 per night, based on two people sharing and including dinner and breakfast. Dogs are welcome to stay in a Garden Room from £15 per dog per night.
Address: Congham Hall Hotel and Spa, Lynn Road, Congham, King’s Lynn, PE32 1AH
Phone: 01485 600250
Website: conghamhallhotel.co.uk
Photography courtesy of Congham Hall Hotel and Spa.
