Market Place, Southwold · Hotel
A restored coaching inn on Southwold's market square, owned by Adnams, with the brewery next door and the beach a short walk away.
The Swan has stood on Southwold's market place for centuries and was substantially rebuilt after a fire destroyed much of the town in 1659. It is owned by Adnams, whose brewery sits directly behind it, which makes this about as close to the source as a pint can get. A thorough refurbishment brought the interiors up to date without stripping out the coaching-inn bones, and the result is comfortable rather than fussy.
Rooms divide between those in the main house, which vary considerably in size and shape as old buildings do, and the Lighthouse Rooms in a separate block around a courtyard garden. The latter are more contemporary, several have private patios, and they are the better choice if you want quiet or are travelling with a dog. Upper-floor rooms at the front look out over the square and, from some, towards the sea.
The restaurant and Tap Room both take the local supply chain seriously, with Suffolk pork, coastal fish and a beer list that runs the full Adnams range alongside the distillery's gins. Breakfast is included in most rates. There is a small gym, and the hotel arranges brewery and distillery tours a few doors away.
The location is the strongest argument for it. Everything in Southwold is walkable from the front door, including the pier, the lighthouse, the beach huts and the harbour along the Blyth. It suits couples wanting a comfortable base without a car, and families outside the peak weeks, though August rates on the coast are high and the market square can be lively on summer evenings.