LUXLIFE MAGAZINE | 95 Winter 2019 tart punch ripping through sweet cream. Lobster with cannelloni and beurre blanc, cooked to perfection. The last course was a delicate souffle with cherry and pistachio - a combination that made my palette positively sing. There’s much to love about The Swan, and, as I found myself wandering the halls and rooms of the hotel, I discovered more to enjoy. Little touches here and there that completed the idyllic visage. Housed as it is in rural Suffolk (a favourite of mine), it is a tranquil haven and historic heirloom – a treasure that has been preserved to be enjoyed by generations. A touchstone, a reminder, that has been transformed into something special and precious. My time at The Swan was almost hedonistic – pleasing to the eyes, mind, soul and body. The sort of place where worry just slips away, whether at the hands of a skilled masseuse, or a quiet moment taken for oneself in the dining hall. Wonderful. The Swan at Lavenham Address: The Swan at Lavenham, High Street, Lavenham Suffolk, CO10 9QA, United Kingdom Website: theswanatlavenham.co.uk Magical Christmas breaks at 15th century Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa Log fires, ancient oak beams, twinkling fairy lights Spend a magical Christmas in the heart of Suffolk at the 15th century Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa. The luxurious half-timbered hotel with its oak beamed interiors, roaring log fires, cosy nooks and delicious food, is the perfect place to enjoy a special three-night festive package. The hotel’s boutique Weavers’ House Spa is open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day for pamper treatments or enjoy a relaxing soak in the outdoor vitality pool – heated to 38-40 degrees you will be warm and cosy even if its frosty! Arriving on Christmas Eve, 24 December you will be warmly welcomed with a glass of hot mulled wine, then settle into your cosy room before enjoying a cream afternoon tea in front of the crackling open fire. Later mingle with fellow guests over champagne and canapés as the local choir sing carols and sit down to a four-course candlelit dinner in the AA two rosette Gallery restaurant. Afterwards you can join local villagers at Midnight Mass in the beautifully decorated Lavenham Church of St Peter and St Paul, before returning to the hotel for a latenight glass of mulled wine and mince pies. Celebrations start at 12noon on Christmas Day with a champagne reception amidst the ancient oak beams. The traditional five-course lunch with all the trimmings will be served from 12.30pm in the Gallery restaurant, where the high vaulted ceiling and minstrels gallery create the perfect setting for a festive feast. For those who are still hungry, there’s a buffet and Christmas quiz in the evening. On Boxing Day a three-course lunch and a candlelit dinner are also included plus an optional guided walk around the historic medieval village of Lavenham, which will be seasonally decorated with greenery, festive lights and a huge Christmas tree. After a leisurely breakfast on 27 December its time to check out and bid farewell to new friends and the Hotel Folk. The three-night package starts from £1,839 for two sharing. To book call The Swan on 01787 247477, www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk. Additional nights can also be booked and room upgrades are available at a supplement.
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