THE LOWDOWN

outside of the angel hotel bury st edmunds

If there was a rating system for impressive hotel entrances The Angel would be five-star. Standing proud in Bury St Edmunds’ pretty market square, this imposing hotel is a divine looking coaching inn covered in ivy and pretty window boxes overflowing with pink flowers. If you squint and ignore the posh modern cars parked outside the entrance you can almost imagine the hotel’s most famous former guest, Charles Dickens, pulling up in a coach and horses and, when you take in the glorious view from the windows of the pretty abbey and immaculate gardens beyond, you can see why he felt inspired to pen The Pickwick Papers here.

It’s not all style and no substance at The Angel though. The welcome is as impressive as the entrance with friendly reception staff ready to get your weekend off to the perfect start and who take care of all the little annoyances that come with a prime central town location, such as parking your car. In fact, our main takeaway from a stay here was that the service was some of the best we’ve ever had and it’s that, along with the amazing setting and fabulous food, that makes this hotel a special place to stay.

THE VIBE

The hotel was completely refurbished some years ago and the face lift has been transformational, turning it from a nice enough hotel into a really cool, grown-up and elegant place to stay. It’s anything but boring though with fun, eccentric curiosities dotted around including lots of little nods to Dickens and local life.

The jewel-coloured velvet chairs and sofas with pretty floral backs, squishy cushions, soft lighting, wooden floors and gilded touches all combine to make you feel very at home, but also spoil you with their luxurious look.

The amount of space on offer to guests is a real plus point, with a chic bar to the right when you first enter, the large wow-factor restaurant to the left, and a sparkling lounge area separated by pillars and walls to create cosy nooks and crannies. We stayed in summer but I imagine there’s nowhere nicer on a cold winter’s day than snuggling up with a book by the roaring fire in the lounge.

PILLOW TALK

The interiors have come on a long way since Dickens’ days and The Gough Family have done a brilliant job of marrying period features with cool contemporary colours, art and modern fixtures and fittings. The Angel is a complete Tardis, with miles of rabbit warren-style creaky corridors (some with ridiculously low but charming ceilings) leading to a multitude of lovely individually-designed rooms. Rooms come in five different categories from the most luxurious Ivy Copper Rooms (with a copper bath in the room and views of the Abbey) to Angel Classic rooms.

copper bath in a bedroom at the angel hotel

Our room was accessed by what looked like an exterior front door and was huge, sumptuous and comfortable. The bathroom was modern and well-stocked with Bath House toiletries from Cumbria. The pièce de résistance though was the huge copper bathtub in the corner of the bedroom. From the tub you can look out over the square and The Athenaeum and there’s something rather indulgent about bathing in a bedroom rather than bathroom!

Our room also had a beautiful alcove containing a classic writing desk that really made me want to sit down and pen something amazing à la Dickens. The bath won out though and, instead of writing the next great novel to come out of Bury St Edmunds, I simply ended up shrivelled, but very relaxed. All the soft furnishings are high end and plush from the likes of OKA, but with fun touches that Gough Hotels are known for, like the pom pom corner lamp in our room. The furniture is a mix of antiques and quality, new but timeless pieces and I fell in love with the beautiful floral headboard and all the smart Corston Architectural switches. The overall effect is really sumptuous and enjoyably quirky.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Before dinner we descended to The Vaults, a cool, eclectic and atmospheric underground space where we held our Muddy Awards Party 2024. On the night we stayed it was the monthly Friday Social with live music from a local singer. From our front row seats we enjoyed very moreish Suffolk Summer cocktails, some hummus and music paper bread and sat back and listened to local musician Serena Grant’s dulcet toes. It was the perfect way to start an evening at this buzzing hotel and is an excellent idea for a night out if you’re local.

Back up on the ground level The Angel’s restaurant, The Eaterie, looks extremely eye-catching with its dark blue walls, smattering of modern art and fun feather quills hanging from the ceiling (a nod to Dickens). It’s just the right combination of fun and sophistication.

view of the restaurant at the angel hotel

On the menu? Lots of local ingredients and really smart gastro fare like slow braised pork belly, Pickwick’s Pie, local lamb and today’s catch, plus vegetarian options that have been carefully considered and lots of tempting sides. The staff were really knowledgeable and attentive, offering wine pairing suggestions, clearing our plates and topping up our drinks at exactly the right moments and the ambience was perfect – buzzy and vibrant, but not too loud or overpowering.

We hadn’t eaten at The Angel for a while and were pleasantly surprised at how beautifully executed each and every dish was, from a tomato and red pepper soup full of fabulous zingy flavour to fresh summer risotto topped with silky chicken breast and a light and luscious mille feuille to finish. At breakfast you can feast on a Suffolk full English with meat sourced from the pig farms the region is famed for as well as more continental style offering like granola and fruit. We loved the fact that it was table service for breakfast – no queuing up for juice or toast at this luxury hotel.

THINGS TO DO

The Angel couldn’t be better placed to enjoy everything Bury St Edmunds has to offer. It’s at the bottom of Abbeygate Street, which is the main shopping street for independent boutiques and eateries. Head straight out the hotel and you’ll pass through the Abbey Gate into the gorgeous gardens and ruins where there’s a café, play grounds, an aviary and lots of local events.

You’re also steps away from the imposing Cathedral as well as the more mainstream national chains and shops in The Arc. Finally for your culture fix, there’s the oldest surviving Regency Playhouse, The Theatre Royal round the corner as well as the more modern Apex music venue. And, if you can fit through the ancient door don’t leave the town without a visit to Europe’s smallest pub,The Nutshell, while beer-lovers will enjoy a tour of the town’s Greene King Brewery.

KID FRIENDLY?

Yes! There are children’s menus on offer and staff are very patient and kind to kids. You can have zed beds or sofa beds in your room and if you choose a large room like we had there will be more than enough space for a family. That said, the feel of this hotel is quite grown up so I’d probably keep it as a special place to head without little ones in tow.

DOG FRIENDLY?

Bury St Edmunds was recently voted the most dog-friendly town in England so your pooch will love it here. Dogs are welcome at The Angel in some rooms for an extra fee of £15.00 per dog per night.

ACCESSIBLE?

At first glance you wouldn’t think so – it’s a really old and characterful building with lots of steps and thin corridors, however there is a side entrance that has a ramp for wheelchair users and there’s a lift as well as accessible rooms on the ground floor.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Romantic getaways, foodie escapes, family stays, girly weekends, work trips, intimate weddings and shopping sprees.

Not for: Spa seekers. There are no treatment rooms or any sort of leisure offering. This is an urban hotel primed for exploring the local culture.

THE DAMAGE

Good value for the quality of rooms, service and food. From £158 per night.

The Angel Hotel, 3 Angel Hill, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 1LT

Review: The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds

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