We spent the night at the Lavenham Swan and enjoyed a 'rather special' experience with a warm welcome and excellent staff

Suffolk boasts a host of luxury hotels, each offering something a bit special for guests, but few are better known than Lavenham Swan.

The timber-framed building has stood proudly in Lavenham's High Street for centuries, part of the village's history.

And it is a sight once very familiar to me, as I grew up in a nearby village and my first teenage part-time job was in a shop almost opposite the Swan.

So, when nearly 30 years later my husband and I had the chance to spend the night at Lavenham Swan, we jumped at the chance.

Before our arrival the hotel emailed all the instructions we could need, including directions to its car park and access instructions.

Having driven from Bury St Edmunds we were soon safely parked, checked in and being shown upstairs to our suite, called 'Bildeston'.

One of the hotel's 'Constable' suites – Bildeston offers classic medieval style and modern luxury, with an enormous bed and separate lounge area with its own vaulted ceiling, a dizzying array of quirky leaded windows, cuddle sofa, armchairs, a large flatscreen television in the living room and a second television in the bedroom.

I was also pleased to discover a dressing table containing that all-important essential for those of us with longer hair – a hairdryer.

The bathroom was fully stocked with a variety of luxury Temple Spa toiletries, shower caps and a powerful over-bath shower – my hair felt gloriously clean and bouncy after its wash.

Everything in the suite was designed around our comfort, from considerate touches such as a fan (for the warmer months), glossy magazines on the coffee table and a kettle with plentiful hot drink options.

We soon felt settled in.

Having spent the afternoon in the hotel's Weavers' House Spa, before our dinner reservation we visited the Airmen's Bar – which takes its name from the many servicemen from RAF Lavenham and beyond who would visit the Swan for a drink.

The bar's military badges and memorabilia provided a source of fascination for my Royal Air Force sergeant husband, while the overall atmosphere felt comfortable and relaxed.

At 8pm we walked the short distance to The Gallery restaurant, where we received a very courteous welcome and were shown to a table for two in an excellent spot, with a vista across the whole restaurant.

And so began what was a memorable meal – for all the right reasons.

Service throughout was attentive and there was never a sense of being rushed, as can be the case at so many restaurants these days in their haste to turn tables around for another sitting. No, we soon realised we were there for the duration, in the best possible way.

The whole atmosphere of the Gallery is set up for relaxation and enjoyment, allowing us the rare opportunity to talk and enjoy each other's company. Clearly, others in the restaurant were doing exactly the same.

It was after 10pm when we finished dining and retired to our room for an unbroken night's slumber.

In the morning I woke to the gentle sounds of the hotel coming back to life and opened the bedroom curtains to see a pair of pigeons peeking at me from an adjacent roof.

Somehow, despite our feast the night before, we were keen to enjoy breakfast, which is served from 7.30-10am.

We headed back to The Gallery – choosing the same table as before – and were handed the breakfast menu which offered many traditional dishes, such as Egg's Benedict and the Lavenham Butchers' breakfast (full English), but my eyes rested on a dish I have not seen before on a breakfast menu in this country: Shakshuka.

I knew I had to order it. Our attentive server said it might take up to 10 minutes as it was cooked to order. This was no problem as we sat reading the complementary newspapers, drinking freshly made coffee and munching through the toast which had been brought to the table.

My husband had ordered the Lavenham Butchers breakfast – including meat from the shop opposite the hotel – which arrived with one of the fattest sausages I have ever laid eyes on.

He was full of praise for his meal, while I had the same sentiments about my Shakshuka: the Middle Eastern dish was cooked to perfection.

It was almost a shame, as by then I had discovered a beautifully laid table at the centre of the restaurant offering pastries, cereals, fresh fruit, overnight oats, yoghurt with fresh berries and more.

I sampled the yoghurt and berries and a pain au chocolat – both delicious – purely for review purposes. I wished I could have eaten more.

Just like the previous evening, we felt no need to rush but every need to take our time and enjoy the experience.

By the time we folded our newspapers neither of us wanted to move, however we had spotted beautifully manicured gardens outside and decided to explore, taking in the gardens, courtyards and walking down a maze of ancient corridors.

Eventually, we followed the signs back to the reception area and walked through its comfortable beamed lounge areas.

We returned to our suite to pack our overnight bags and agreed one night at The Swan was not enough.

Lavenham may only be a short drive from our home, but we felt a world away in the hotel's glorious surroundings.

After checking out we concluded our visit with a walk through the village – where I spotted some of the familiar shops of my childhood still trading – and reluctantly completed the circular route back to the car park, not wanting what had been a rather special experience to come to an end.

To book a stay at the Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa and dinner in the Gallery restaurant call 01787 247477 or visit www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk

Rooms start from around £150 per night for two sharing, including a full Suffolk breakfast. Overnight guests can also enjoy a complimentary hour’s session with use of the facilities in Weavers’ House Spa.