Retreat East

My wife and I had heard so many positive things about Retreat East that we decided to have a long post valentine weekend stay, even though it was a mere 15 mins away. When we arrived we had a lovely lunch before checking in. The self catering lodge we stayed in was beautiful and spacious and the four poster bed was exceptionally comfortable. The lodge was more than warm enough, but we lit the log burner at night to add to the cosy ambience. On one day we went on a local hike. There is an abundance of well maintained footpaths, so plenty of options for a distance to suit your needs, and everywhere was so picturesesque. We also made good use of the spa, undergoing treatments and used the steam room, sauna and hot tub. The friendliness, thoroughness and helpfulness of the staff is one of my residing memories, whether that was at reception, or in the spa or restaurant. We shall return.

Had a wonderful time at Retreat East from start to finish. Booking the venue for our event was easy and no detail was left. The team did a fantastic job in exceeding our expectations, They were efficient and helpful on the day whilst bringing our event to life. Couldn't think of a better venue for an event. I will definitely be returning to this venue and would highly recommend.

We had high hopes for Retreat East as a venue for a significant family event, given our previous stays. However, our experience with their service has been nothing short of appalling. We arranged an in-person visit to discuss hosting our event and made a considerable effort to get there, bringing my partner and our newborn along. Retreat East isn’t exactly somewhere you just “pop in”—it involved time off work and a three-hour round trip for us. Upon arrival, we were told that the events manager, Caitlyn, wasn’t there—she had simply forgotten about the meeting. No apology, no explanation, no attempt to rectify the situation. Thinking this must be a one-off mistake, I followed up with Leyton, their commercial director, expecting at least some form of acknowledgment. Instead, I was completely ignored. No response, no accountability—just silence. Retreat East is undeniably a beautiful venue, and we’ve enjoyed staying there before. But while the accommodation might be 4-star, the service is firmly in the 1-star category. Their brand promises a premium experience, yet their actual service is completely misaligned with that image. No doubt they’ll respond to this review with a generic insincere “We’re sorry you feel this way” message, but if you look at other negative reviews—both here and elsewhere—you’ll notice a consistent theme: poor service, lack of accountability, and an unwillingness to improve. Unfortunately, our experience was just another example of that. Very disappointing, and I’d strongly caution anyone considering them for an event.

Worst service given then expected to add service to bill !!! Food good, drinks expensive, service awful .. it was as if the waitresses didn’t want to be there, no smiles no pleasantries, it was an effort for them to serve us. Surroundings lovely but let down by sullen waitresses

We had a weekend booked for almost a year. 10 friends celebrating a 50th. A month before an email arrives stating urgent attention required on the farmhouse we had booked. our booking was cancelled. We were lied to. Another member of staff told us the truth. It is being used for filming. Trying to organise a date for 10 working women/mothers/carers is something that takes a lot of planning a year to be exact! offering us the following weekend was no help and not an option for any of us. We were offered a voucher to go towards anything we wanted at Retreat East but the untruth told by Leyton left us all feeling like he didn’t care less and the complete disregard and lack of accommodating us means we would not want to stay at the hotel. Unfortunately Retreat East is great at publicity and social media- they’ve sold themselves short. And quite frankly you couldn’t pay us now to stay there- they’re only interested in what serves them… capitalism at its finest…

We stayed at this resort for one night to celebrate our 10th anniversary, opting to spend a little more than usual for what we hoped would be a special experience. While the location is tranquil and picturesque, offering a peaceful retreat close to Ipswich, the overall experience fell short of our expectations given the price point. The resort seems to lack the warmth and attentive service that would make it feel truly worth the premium. Our one-bedroom barn accommodation was beautifully designed, with a charming four-poster bed and modern heating systems, but there were practical issues that impacted our comfort. The TV was awkwardly positioned, making it difficult to watch from either the sofa or the bed, and the absence of bedside tables left us scrambling for places to put drinks. Despite the impressive heating, we couldn’t adjust it, leading to an uncomfortably hot night. These small oversights detracted from what should have been a seamless, relaxing experience. The spa facilities were a significant disappointment and not what we’d expect from a premium resort. The limited amenities—a single steam room, sauna, hot tub, and one changing room—require advance booking for short 30-minute slots. Waiting in our dressing gowns in the middle of the restaurant between sessions was uncomfortable and awkward, and we were left standing at reception for 10 minutes before anyone attended to us, cutting into our session time with no sincere apology. The steam room had an unpleasant damp smell, and the hot tub water appeared unclean, with a creamy residue on the surface. While the massage I received was relaxing, the overall spa experience was underwhelming and not something I’d recommend for a special occasion. The restaurant had a cosy, romantic ambiance with fairy lights and a roaring fire, but the service didn’t match the setting. Despite being one of only a few tables, we found the staff inattentive, and the food was just average. At the end of the meal, we waited quite a while to receive the bill, which left us feeling underwhelmed. In summary, this resort has the potential to be truly special but is let down by a lack of attention to detail and customer care. Improving the basics—responsive service, well-thought-out facilities, and small moments of surprise and delight—would go a long way in making the experience worthy of the price and occasions it hopes to cater to.