REVIEW: Getting in to bed with Inn Places at The Packhorse Inn, Newmarket

I’ve been spending alot of time at hotels and Inns as of lately and it’s not even been for work – everytime it’s been for leisure. I’ve somehow over the past few months developed an incredibly unhealthy addiction to overnight accommodation and everything else that goes with it. Staying away in a hotel or Inn, offers something you can never (unfortunately) recreate at home. Convenience, a comfier bed than your own, some truly stunning settings, a spa (occasionally) and my favourite – very good food. I’m particularly fond of Inns – they’re cosy, owned and run by real people and serve locally sourced and seasonal food. Only in Britain do you find such unique overnight accommodation. So when I found out about new website, Inn Places I just had to give it a whirl.

So who are Inn Places and what can they offer?

It’s a good question, considering the sheer amount of booking sites on the internet these days for accommodation – yet none look as good as Inn Places and neither are any of them as easy to navigate around or come with such a personal touch. Each Inn is handpicked meaning you’ll never make a wrong decision. So many times I’ve used sites such as Booking.com and so many times I’ve had a bad nights sleep – they’re a big site, offering overnight stays, at big hotels and they can’t guarantee quality. But Inn Places can.

“InnPlaces.co.uk is a brand new curated, expert guide and booking site for travellers wanting the reassurance of knowing they’ll be staying and eating at the best inns available across Britain. Each inn is personally invited by David – no inn can buy their way onto the site – and is then further inspected by an industry expert to ensure it meets the highest standards.“

Personally, I don’t know any site which offers such a personal service. When I’m normally booking my Inn or hotel on-line it takes me a while to decide. I’ve got to find the right price, then find the venue and then research about the food – but with Inn Places that’s already been done for you and they give you all the facts up front, from Michelin stars, venue awards, how to pay and all the other important things I’d want to know, with lots of detail. No jargon, just facts.

Where did we stay when booking through Inn Places?

I can honestly tell you now, I spent a good six hours browsing through the site, comparing one venue from another. The selection of Inns has been chosen so well by David Hancock (past-Editor of Sawday’s Pubs & Inns Guide) that I find it incredibly difficult to just pick one – I wanted to stay at them all. Every single venue on the site has something unique to offer, whether that be a luxurious bedroom, stunning location or award-winning food. As a foodie I loved the dedicated ‘Food Trails’ tab within each venue page, mapping the local highlights – however we didn’t need it given how outstanding the food was at our chosen Inn, The Packhorse Inn.

The Packhorse Inn is a beautiful venue located on the outskirts of Newmarket, in a little village called Moulton – home of the 15th century Moulton Packhorse Bridge. The place looks very luxurious from the outside and it doesn’t disappoint inside either. A lovely private dining room, cosy bar area and rooms to die for. We stayed in the Primrose room, complete with double king sized bed, stone bath and a good walk-in shower – however I highly recommend the bath and the spa products are excellent. The room has fantastic too views over the lush green common and that iconic bridge can be seen from the bedrooms windows. I woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed.

So what about the food & drink?

In one word, fabulous. Much better than we’d anticipated and the bar was filled with locals, creating a fantastic atmosphere – we even sat down to a game of chess and glass of wine before dinner. Food wise it was incredibly good value and very creative. It still had all those classic dishes you’d hope for in a gastro-pub, alongside a selection of exciting dishes – perfect for the foodie in you. The trio of Fordham pork with apple, creamed cabbage & salsify was a dream and full of flavour – it was stunning. Breakfast the next morning was taken in the same room and equally as good. Lot of local produce, very generous (especially the pastries) and made even more perfect if you get a seat next to the roaring open fire.

Verdict

The Inn? Well it was rather fabulous and very much exceeded my expectations – especially the food. As for Inn Places – well it helped me find this overnight gem so I think that answers your question. Inn Places is a fantastic, quality driven website for seeking out the UK’s best Inns around, with a clear and simple booking process which takes you only a few minutes to complete. Improvements wise I found myself looking for a search box quite a lot, but the inspire me section really will inspire you – I couldn’t keep my cursor from exploring each option. Inn Places should come with a warning, because it’s a beautifully addictive site.

For more information on both Inn Places and The Packhorse Inn visit: InnPlaces.co.uk