Country house with riverside restaurant in pretty Dedham Vale
Set on the Suffolk borders, Maison Talbooth has plenty of Wow factor – not to mention lavishly appointed rooms and a year-round heated outdoor pool.
Come Here For...
- Lavish country living just 90 minutes from London.
- Luxurious suites with deep bathtubs for two.
- The all-seasons outdoor heated pool, hot tub and tennis court.
- Riverside dining in Le Talbooth restaurant.
Hit the spot
Five minutes from pretty Dedham village, on the Suffok borders.
Amenities
There's a tennis court here and treatment rooms where you can book a range of body and beauty treatments. The outdoor heated pool (open all year) has a hot tub and pool house.
Good to know
Riverside Le Talbooth restaurant is five minutes from the hotel, with a complimentary car shuttle on hand.
Essential info
Check in
15:00
Checkout
11:00
Minimum Stay
Two nights at weekends
Closed
Never
Parking
There is free guest parking.
Airport
London Stansted – 60 miles. Transfers can be arranged.
Train
Colchester and Manningtree stations – five miles.
Pet Friendly
Dogs welcome by arrangement
Children
Welcome
Location
Dedham, Colchester, Essex, CO7 6HN, United Kingdom
Bedtime
Bedrooms
12 rooms
Special features
All rooms have DVD players, kingsize beds, goose feather duvets and Egyptian cotton sheets. The two Principal suites have a private terrace.
Pillow Talk
The Principal and Deluxe rooms have added luxe: we loved Shakespeare and Betjeman (a Deluxe). Among the lovely Superior rooms, Eliot has a wow-factor bathroom.
Eat & Drink
Dining in
Beamed Le Talbooth restaurant (five minutes away) serves modern English cuisine amid crisp white linen, smart leather chairs and Zoffany fabrics. Expect award-winning food and spot-on service: tuck into roast lobster tail and monkfish, breast of quail en croute and Valrhona chocolate Black Forest gateau. Try the hand-dived scallops, the roast lobster tail cooked in vermouth or maybe a Chateaubriand for two.
You can dine on the terrace beneath Le Talbooth's signature curved sail in the summer months – and there's a courtesy car to take you back. Come here on summer Sundays for a riverside BBQ with a jazz or steel band.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the Garden Room until 10:30am. Dine out on the terrace if it's sunny.
Room service
Available morning and evening. Daytime fare at the Maison includes Club sandwiches, wraps and freshly baked scones.
Activities
See & Do
Trawl for antiques in pretty Dedham, where you can stroll along the river – just pick up a walking map. Admire the equestrian prints and paintings of Sir Alfred Munnings in the museum of his name just outside the village.
This is Constable country, so don’t miss a trip to the painter's birthplace at Flatford Mill in the village of East Bergholt, where there's also a lock and barge dock. Earn your lunch by rowing along the River Stour with a picnic and a bottle of chilled white wine – there's a boating station in Dedham. If you prefer salt water, staff can arrange for you to hire a sailboat from The Pier at Harwich and head out to sea.
Spa
There's every excuse for some pampering in Maison Talbooth's treatment rooms. Opt for a side-by-side chillout and detox massage, some oxyjet skin-smoothing therapy, a sea mud wrap or a salt scrub and full body mapping. You'll also have full use of the hotel's heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi. There's also a tennis court and a pool house with sofas, a surround-sound TV and an honesty bar.
See our guestbook.
Our experience, from arrival to departure, was excellent. Staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and attentive, and the hotel itself was in a great location for a relaxing break. My girlfriend and I stayed in the spacious Keats suite – the bathroom was huge, with a great walk in shower, and the hot tub on our own terrace was just awesome. The La Talbooth restaurant had equally as good staff as the hotel and the food couldn't be faulted. The manager of the restaurant is extremely chatty and friendly with everyone. All in all, a faultless experience.
Testimonial left by Zahid N from Harrow on 18 November, 2010
The stay was absolutely amazing. Highly recommended.
Testimonial left by Miles S from Middlesbrough on 16 June, 2011
We had a wonderful stay at Maison Talbooth, which is a very special hotel. Everything went very smoothly from booking through to checkout. All our queries were dealt with promptly and efficiently and arrangements were made to accommodate our dining requests. I would highly recommend both Maison Talbooth and Room for Romance.
Testimonial left by Helen C from Market Harborough on 29 August, 2011
We had a fantastic stay at Maison Talbooth, the hotel was gorgeous, our bedroom was decorated beautifully and we loved having our own private hot tub with champagne. We enjoyed a swim in the pool in the morning prior to being served a smashing breakfast. Transport to and from to the restaurant was a lovely touch and the meal was first class and in a beautiful setting. We would not hesitate to return.
Testimonial left by Kay B from Peterborough on 3 July, 2011
This was one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in – both my wife and I really loved it. The quality of the accommodation was outstanding and the food was delicious, but the one thing that made the biggest impression on us was the staff. They manage to strike the perfect balance between professionalism and having a personal contact with you. It really felt like you were guests in someone’s house rather than being in a hotel. The pool and spa area is really nicely done – it was quite a chilly day but the outdoor fire is genius. Being able to help oneself from the bar on an honesty basis again just re-enforces the feeling of trust and openness between the staff and guests. We enjoyed our complimentary bottle of champagne from yourselves (thank you very much) in front of the fire in the spa and chatted to another couple that we met there – it really was like being at a friend’s house (albeit a rich one!). I’d also like to say how excellent I find the Room for Romance website and service. This is the 3rd time I’ve booked a weekend away through you and I will book again!
Testimonial left by James M from London E16 on 5 April, 2012
We had a fantastic stay, couldn't be better! Great staff, very comfortable rooms and lovely facilities. The complimentary chauffeur service was a nice touch, whether we went to their posh restaurant or the brasserie. The food in both restaurants was in our view excellent. What else can I say but thanks!
Testimonial left by David C from Marden Thorn on 23 May, 2012
One word... awesome! Exactly what we were hoping for. The room was great and service too. Food excellent. Spa fantastic. A few more DVDs or some sort of Netflix film option would be great another time.
Testimonial left by Will A from London N1 on 23 May, 2012
Words cannot explain how excellent our stay was at Maison Talbooth, from the minute we arrived the hospitality was first class and did not falter at any point during our stay. Our room was 5* standard and my wife loved it so job well done! and food was exquisite. Thank you for such a professional and stress free service.
Testimonial left by Stephen from Lowestoft on 3 July, 2012
Our stay at Maison Talbooth was excellent. It's a place of great beauty, set in the Essex countryside. To walk into the grand looking hallway and be greeted by name was a delightful touch, and a refreshing change to be walked straight into the stunning Principal Suite rather than a dull reception desk. A swift tour of the room had my girlfriend – who had no idea about this, in tears of joy – especially at the hot tub on the private patio outside. I'm glad I opted for the Champagne Getaway package as it became champagne breakfast in bed the following morning, courtesy of the bottle of Möet & Chandon placed in an often refreshed ice bucket. Dinner at the restaurant was a delight – divine food, beautiful surroundings, and some very courteous staff, and being on the waterfront made it more special on a warm evening. Loved the addition of a courtesy car to give you a lift. Ample bathroom space and an incredibly comfortable bed. Hot Tub was fun, relaxing, and warm. Easy to use and we didn't want to get out! But I'd booked my other half into the Spa for a relaxing massage. While she sank into that, I wandered the grounds to take some pictures of our stay – ready for uploading to show friends!
Testimonial left by Scott from Cambridge on 31 August, 2012
Maison Talbooth was simply excellent. From start to finish we had a great time. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the room was great and the restaurant was superb. The spa treatments were excellent. We'll definitely visit again!
Testimonial left by Colin from Tring on 14 January, 2013
Testimonial left by Jo, London E14. Stayed November 2012 from on 14 January, 2013
Testimonial left by Tahnee, Colchester. Stayed July 2013 from on 16 August, 2013
Testimonial left by Mel, Felixstowe. Stayed November 2013 from on 2 January, 2014
Our review
As reviewed by Mark MacGee
SET ON THE SUFFOLK BORDERS, Maison Talbooth has plenty of Wow factor – not to mention three in its lavishly appointed Principal suites. Set on a bluff overlooking the Stour valley, with green fields stretching out to the medieval church at Stratford St Mary, Maison Talbooth's pretty setting has inspired many a would-be Constable. His famous painting of Dedham Vale depicts the timbered farmhouse that is now the hotel's swish Le Talbooth restaurant.
Three signature top-floor suites – all named after famous poets – have added a new cool and contemporary dimension to Maison Talbooth's blissful bedrooms. We stayed in the Betjeman suite (a Superior), with its sweeping views over Dedham Vale, a huge sofa to curl up on and armchairs clad in mock zebra skin.
Poolside hot tub
A huge bed set centre stage was wrapped in the crispest goosedown duvet and piled in chocolate-brown cushions. Walls came in palest pistachio and our sleek bathroom – all travertine stone and glass – was definitely made for lingering.
The Maison's indulgent Principal rooms – Keats and Shakespeare – come with a private terrace. And the year-round outdoor heated pool is there for all guests – with a hot tub to soak in too!
Dining is taken seriously at the riverside Le Talbooth restaurant, where ducks bob outside on the water amid trailing willows. Arrive in summer, and you can dine alfresco on the pretty terrace or enjoy one of the regular Sunday barbecues.
Feeling jaded after the night before? Maison Talbooth's pool zone and treatment rooms will set you right. Go for a swim, soak in the outdoor poolside hot tub, knock up on the tennis court or lie back for a thoroughly therapeutic pummelling.
© Room for Romance
