Hot tub, garden and grounds
The main event here is the moat. Yes, there really is a moat running right around the manor. It’s a great headline act. But next time you come, you’ll book The Moated Manor for the eight-seat Jacuzzi in the garden, perfect for after-dark astrology, and garden games that include giant chess, croquet and cricket.
Kids will love the woodland den and the outdoor play area with swings, slide, balance logs and Wendy huts. Big kids will enjoy lounging and lazing on the sun chairs or planning a barbecue or pizza-fest from the outdoor kitchen with terrace seating for 23. And all in over 13 acres of woodland, wildflower meadows, parkland and mature trees.
Living spaces
The Moated Manor is the ultimate country retreat. You’ll be buying a smoking jacket and cravat before you know it. Pile into the family salon for Sky Q TV, PlayStation and games, Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video. Sing along with the SONOS as the logs crackle in the hearth.
Raid the American fridge/freezer for snackage or pour a cocktail from the pub-style bar in the games room. Maybe it’ll improve your pool, darts or board gaming. Discover the karaoke room with fancy dress, hats and wigs. End the day impersonating Noel Coward in the wood-panelled whisky lounge.
Cooking and dining
A roaring fire makes for cosy, homely dining in the heart of the home. Or fire up the gas barbecue and pizza oven for al-fresco fun. Prepare dinner on the two Rangemasters, with three electric ovens on each, and load the two American fridge/freezers with goodies from Tesco, Needham Market and local farm shops.
Or just hang it all, hit the hot tub and pick from a great bunch of in-house chefs. Paul Thompson Events, Bury St Edibles, The Suffolk Platter and The Noble Prawn should all give you food for thought. For cooking classes, call Lilian’s Kitchen. For luxury dining with a side-serving of opera, try Private Chef Richard.
The Battisford Punch Bowl serves up quiz nights and live music as well as battered halloumi or lamb burger stack. Try The Bildeston Crown for roasted Roscoff and blue-cheese tart or battered monkfish. Or try wasabi and lime-cured salmon at The Swan at Lavenham.
Sticky beef salad and crispy pork belly are among the offerings at The Angel Lavenham. Pop into The Dennington Queen on the way back from the coast for Jamaican jerk-spiced chicken thigh kebab or wood-fired pizza. Dial up takeaways from The Curry Inn, Needham Chippy or Chinese Chequers.
Bedrooms
Surrounded by a moat and 13 acres of lawn, meadow and woodland, you’ll sleep like an old Suffolk oak. The Moated Manor sleeps 23 in eight bedrooms with room for a few more infants.
The Pineapple Suite is the master bedroom. It comes with a four-poster superking, elegant chaise longue and direct access to the master bathroom. The Rococo Room offers two double beds plus lots of gold and cherubs and a children’s book collection. And The Palm Room provides a kingsize and two singles.
The Grey Room gives you a kingsize four-poster, single and lovely countryside views, while The French Room has a double bed and sink. The Ochre Room offers a double and a single, plus Tudor beams and wonky floors.
The Woodland Room comes with a fairytale feel wrapped around one double and one single bed. Finally, The Art Deco Room provides a kingsize bed, great estate views and opulent interiors inspired by the decadence of the 1920s and 30s.
Children welcome
Which child wouldn’t want to get back to school after half-term and tell their mates they slept in a house with a moat? That’s if they didn’t bring their pals with them. With space for 23 in eight bedrooms, it’s possible they’ll get an invite if you run out of grannies, cousins, aunties and uncles.
Whatever happens, kids won’t be getting homesick here, because you’ll have brought them all with you. They’ll also be too busy. There’s a Great Outdoors here in over 13 acres of parkland, woodland walking, wildflower meadow and, well, moat that competes handily with the Great Indoors.
The moat’s the scene-stealer (be careful with young children) but the real fun comes with the outdoor play area complete with swings, slide, balance logs, Wendy huts and a woodland-den building. Make comme les Français and play boules on the purpose-built court. Or stay Anglais with cricket, croquet or rounders.
Bigger kids will enjoy the eight-seat hot tub and everyone will love the pizza oven and barbecue. Indoors, raid the karaoke and dressing-up room for wigs, costumes and more, and hit the games room for the PlayStation, darts, pool and board games. Finish the day popcorned up in the salon watching Sky, Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
What people say
Mind, body, chickens and goats
Hone your heritage-building skills at Orchard Barn, take the farm trail and meet goats and chickens at Hollow Tree, or paint ceramics at the Craft and Glass workshop. Lose an hour or two at Alder Carr, with farm shop and great ice cream. Sort your mind and body out at Kersey Mill and pick up some fizz for supper at Shawsgate Vineyard.
