Milsoms Kesgrave Hall to build self-catering woodland lodges

A successful hotel and wedding venue in Kesgrave is set to build self-catering woodland lodges within its 38 acre site.

Milsoms Kesgrave Hall in Hall Road, was granted planning permission in 2014 to create seven two-bed lodges with en-suite facilities, with the hall’s bosses not ruling out work starting later this year.

Paul Milsom, who owns the Grade-II Listed mansion with Geraldine Milsom, said: “The hotel is doing really well and we looked at how we could have some further rooms.

“It’s set in 38 acres of woodland so having self-catering facilities has a lot of advantages – a lot of hotels have gone down that way so that’s why we decided to look at it.”

When the hotel opened in 2008, the renovated mansion had 15 bedrooms before a further nine rooms were added to meet the demand.

The lodges will each feature two bedrooms, en-suite facilities and central sitting room, and will take advantage of its location close to the rural Suffolk countryside and coastline.

“We get quite a lot of long stay customers and the hall is ideally placed that side of Ipswich where you open up to the whole of Suffolk and the coastline,” Mr Milsom added.

While a firm date for work has not yet been announced, Mr Milsom said that work “may start at the back end of the autumn, but it is under review.”

The plans follows the hall’s recent re-opening of The Hangar as a conference and party space following renovation work.

Mr Milsom added: “When we build the lodges they are going to look amazing, we think it’s a nice balance with the traditional hotel.”