Stoke by Nayland Hotel

Stoke by Nayland Hotel frequently asked questions

Who owns the Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

The Stoke by Nayland Hotel is a family-owned resort in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is part of The Boxford Group, which now includes Stoke by Nayland Resort, Boxford Farms fruit growers and Peake Fruit packhouse and marketing enterprise. Susanna Rendall is the Managing Director, and she is joined by her siblings, Tamara Unwin, Jonathan Loshak, and Carmella Meyer, who also work in the business and serve on the Group board. Additionally, Susanna's son, Robert Rendall, heads the farming enterprise and is a member of the board.

How do you get to Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

The hotel is located on Keepers Lane in Colchester. It is easily accessible by car, and has ample, free on-site parking. It is just 20 minutes from Colchester, 30 minutes from Ipswich and one hour from the M25. Colchester North Station is just a 20-minute drive from Stoke by Nayland Hotel - at peak times, regular direct trains operate from Colchester Station to London Liverpool Street. Trains also depart for Ipswich, Norwich, Clacton-on-Sea, Walton-on-the-Naze, and Harwich. The nearest airport is Stansted Airport (36.8 miles away), which is approximately a 55-minute drive by car.

What is included in a spa day at Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

What is included in a spa day at Stoke by Nayland Hotel depends on the experience that you book. Spa facilities include a 18-metre heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sanarium, a concept shower, a poolside terrace, gym, rasul mud therapy chamber, and a Hammam. There are 12 treatment rooms where therapists use ESPA products, in a range of face and body treatments.

What is near Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

The hotel is situated within 300 acres of rolling countryside in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Stoke by Nayland Hotel is ideally located for exploring the Colchester and Essex area. Nearby attractions include:

• Colchester Castle Museum
• Suffolk’s Wool Towns including Sudbury, Lavenham, Long Melford, Clare and Hadleigh
• Kentwell Hall, Long Melford
• Hedingham Castle
• Ickworth House, Bury St Edmunds
• Hollytrees Museum
• Layer Marney Tower
• Natural History Museum
• Hylands Estate

When was Stoke by Nayland Hotel built?

The estate began as a 120-acre apple farm in 1938 and is still family-owned. Through the generations, they've successfully balanced growing fruit and creating the Copella fruit juice brand, with running a golf and spa resort. The Stoke by Nayland Hotel was built in 1973, and was designed to integrate into the surrounding Constable countryside.

What amenities does Stoke by Nayland Hotel have?

A four-star hotel surrounded by rolling green countryside, lakes, streams, woodland, and the hotel’s own 18-hole golf course, Stoke-by-Nayland has 80 rooms and suites. Opening onto the south terrace, the Lakes Restaurant has two AA Rosettes featuring inventive takes on British favourites, including vegetarian and vegan delights. There's also a lively Sports Bar, as well as the Orchard Lounge Bar & Terrace for a coffee and catch-up or pre-dinner drinks.

Spa facilities include a 18-metre heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sanarium, a concept shower, a poolside terrace, gym, rasul mud therapy chamber, and a Hammam. There are 12 treatment rooms where therapists use ESPA products, in a range of face and body treatments.

Accessible facilities include:

• Disabled parking spaces are available. The car park is tarmack with gravelled spaces. It is also on a downward slope toward the hotel and is well-lit from the front of the hotel
• There is a drop-off point directly outside the front of the hotel, there is no intercom or call button to gain access to the hotel
• There are no steps/ramps needed to gain access to the hotel with all doors being automatic
• The hotel reception is directly at the front of the hotel at the main entrance. There are no steps or ramps as the ground is flat. The layout of the reception and main entrance is level throughout, with room around all furniture in the welcome area for wheelchair access
• The front desk is wheelchair accessible. Seating is available with lots of furniture and tables in the welcome area, the flooring at reception is tiled and the welcome area is carpeted.
• The reception is very well lit by lots of natural light and lighting from ceiling and wall lights. Guests can only be checked in at reception.
• There is no hearing loop system available at the hotel.
• The hotel has 26 ground-floor bedrooms and it offers twin, doubles, singles and triple occupancy rooms. Each room has its room number on a plaque on the door. Ground floor rooms are wheelchair accessible but four rooms in the hotel are disabled-friendly. Rooms are very well lit by wall and ceiling lighting as well as natural light. Fire alarm devices for deaf occupants are available from Reception on request. All bedrooms are carpeted. The televisions in all rooms can be adjusted so that they show subtitles if required.
• Bathrooms in bedrooms are level access and feature tiled flooring. They all have mirrors within. Two rooms have wetrooms. Two ground-floor bathrooms contain twin sinks, one at wheelchair height and one that stands at an average height, and grab rails.
• Corridors are well-lit throughout by wall and ceiling lights with some areas being extremely well-lit by natural light, particularly the reception/welcome area. The hotel is carpeted throughout, including stairways. Floor numbers are marked and signed clearly. Handrails are provided on all stairwells. Corridors and stairs are approx. 1.5-2 metres wide.
• Lounge/Lobby rooms are all level access with no stairs or ramp required. There is ample room around furniture to allow wheelchair access. Tables and chairs in these areas are at an average height and size, and there are sofas available for seating more than one person or a group of people. The lounges and lobby areas are well-lit with wall and ceiling lights and some areas allow lots of natural light. Flooring is carpeted in all areas except the reception which has some tiled flooring. Food and drink can be served in all of these areas.
• Inside the Sports Bar, there are three steps leading down into the bar. These are within the bar as opposed to being entrance steps.
• Most restaurants and dining areas are level with no ramp or steps needed to gain access, apart from the Gallery, which can be accessed via a lift, and the Lakes Restaurant, which has a single step to the central part of the room. These areas allow plenty of room for wheelchairs and pushchairs and all are carpeted, well-lit throughout with wall and ceiling lighting and some rooms very well-lit by natural light.
• All chefs are made aware of dietary requirements and are happy to cater for them. Food is available via table and self-service at certain times.
• WCs are available throughout the hotel on the ground floor and spa areas only.
• Gym, pool, sauna and studio are all available to guests. There are steps down to these facilities (approx. 25) and lift access is also available.
• Once down into the gym and spa, the access is level throughout with no ramp needed, apart from the fitness studio which has steps. Changing rooms are accessible for wheelchair users. The area is very well-lit by wall and ceiling lights, with the gym and poolside well-lit by natural light. The flooring in these areas is tiled throughout.
• There are WCs in changing rooms and these facilities are open from 6:30am - 10pm.
• The spa and fitness managers/team can be contacted at any time via phone to book appointments or to discuss anything.
• The surrounding areas include lots of woodland and terrace areas that overlook the two golf courses. The grounds are very hilly with lots of undulation and there are buggy paths all through the grounds that are clearly marked and visible, as well as some being lit at night. These buggy paths are approximately two metres wide and many are paved or covered with tarmac. The terraces also include ample seating with food and drink being served to these areas throughout the day.
• Treatment rooms are located in the spa and therefore are accessible via steps and a lift if required. Again, these areas are level throughout and are all tiled flooring.
• The areas are well-lit by wall and ceiling lights. WCs are situated in the changing rooms.
• All conference and meeting rooms are level access, apart from the Gallery, which can be accessed via a lift. All meeting and conference rooms are very well lit by wall and ceiling lights, alongside natural lighting. All rooms are carpeted. Furniture can be moved however required, as long as this is made aware to the hotel prior. Contact the
• Sales Team to book or make any enquiries regarding conference/meeting rooms. WCs are located throughout the hotel on the ground floor, a short distance from any of the meeting/conference rooms. There is no hearing loop system in place currently.

What are the food and drink options at Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

Opening onto the south terrace, the Lakes Restaurant has two AA Rosettes featuring inventive takes on British favourites, including vegetarian and vegan delights. There's also a lively Sports Bar, as well as the Orchard Lounge Bar & Terrace for a coffee and catch-up or pre-dinner drinks.

How many treatment rooms are there at Stoke by Nayland Hotel?

There are 12 treatment rooms where therapists use ESPA products, in a range of face and body treatments.

What time is check in/check out?

Check-in at Stoke by Nayland Hotel is at 2pm and check-out is 11am. Spa opening times are from 6am to 10pm on Mondays to Fridays and 7.30am to 8pm at the weekend. It is suggested you check your specific arrival times however for your spa break, as well as any changes for bank holidays.