tal27
I really did not want to leave. We were in Lavenham for a wedding held at the Swan, and to provide a bit of distance decided to stay 100 yards down the road at De Vere House. What a great decision! From booking to arrival, Jane was easily contactable and very helpful. We parked out the back, came in through the gorgeous "cat and kitten" door, and into the comfortable sitting room. The house is beautiful, and very well preserved, in keeping with the Tudor style. Hearing Jane's stories of the compliance needed for a Grade 1 listed house, I would not be keen to take it on, but I am glad she has!||We were in the Elizabeth Howard room - both rooms are similar size, the only real difference being the John De Vere has a four poster king sized bed and window in the bathroom, and overlooks the road. The Elizabeth Howard is slightly larger, has a double bed, no window in the bathroom, and beautiful views over the garden and fields beyond.||You are given a key to the house and side gate, so can come and go freely. The sitting room has comfortable sofas, a fire (which was lit for us even tho it was April, as there was a very slight chill), newspapers, books, magazines, and fresh milk in the little fridge.||The room had every amenity you could need - television, hairdryer, sewing kit, fluffy robes, books thoughtfully chosen and piled by the bed, small sofa, bathroom stocked with not just nice toiletries, but cotton balls, cotton buds, nail files, nail clippers. There are tea and coffee making facilities in the room and fresh water each day, with good quality biscuits and tea selection. The bedding was very clean and comfortable, with a luxurious but practical approach. Loads of towels.||Then you get to breakfast... Breakfast is when you want it - unlike most of the B&Bs in Lavenham, served in a separate room downstairs . We had it at 10-ish. Each day we waddled from the room, and did not eat again until dinner. There is a bowl of fresh fruit each day, assorted cereals, and a huge bread and toast basket with danishes, hand cut toasted bread, croissants, and even on our final day, a huge milk loaf. Two types of fresh juice and bottled water. The cooked breakfast is eggs however you like them (and the scrambled were superb), fresh bacon, sausages, mushrooms, red onions, tomatoes, eggy bread, new potatoes. All beautifully prepared and served piping hot in the ovenware dishes on a side table so that you can help yourselves. The plates are all heated, and oven gloves thoughtfully provided to carry them from the side table once laden with food to the table. Enough food for 4 people really, and we did have thirds one morning. Every type of condiment from HP sauce to mustard. Five types of jam and marmalade (eg damson jam, stem ginger curd, tangerine marmalade, apricot preserve, blackberry preserve), as well as lovely butter. Any type of tea and coffee. Everything is fresh from the village and local farms, Jane even sourced some different types of tea for us to try, and had such enthusiasm about the food each day that we knew what to look forward to the next day.||The only downside is that there is a possibility that later in the year the B&B may convert to self-catering as Jane may be relocating for family reasons. So get in quick!||We really did not want to leave, but any longer there and we would have needed to go straight to a weight loss farm!
