Congham Hall Hotel is offering guests free entry to the nearby Sandringham Estate, the Queen’s Norfolk retreat, to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s coronation on 2 June 1953.
 

The newly relaunched hotel, which sits on the edge of the Queen’s 20,000-acre property, will give guests who book one room for two or more nights in June (Sunday to Thursday) two complimentary tickets to Sandringham, so that they may explore the House, Gardens and Museum (www.sandringhamestate.co.uk).

Congham Hall is proud of its proximity to, and historical links with, Sandringham. The Queen Mother was a regular visitor for Sunday lunch when visiting Norfolk, and the hotel has played host to members of the royal household and their guests over the years because of its convenient location.

Keeping up the royal connection, the hotel’s recently relaunched restaurant menu features the seasonal addition of Red Poll beef – from the Queen’s own herd, which is reared on the estate.

Guests who take up the opportunity to visit Sandringham in June will be able to enjoy a new exhibition in the Ballroom, which recalls last year’s Diamond Jubilee. On loan from the Royal Collection, it features 60 photographs and a selection of the 100,000 cards of congratulation that were sent to Her Majesty from around the world.

The Queen has owned the estate since her accession to the throne in 1952 and it has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862. King George VI, was born in York Cottage within the grounds and died at Sandringham House, while Park House was the family home of the Spencers and the birthplace of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Every Christmas, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh stay in the main house, an Edwardian mansion, along with other family members. Their attendance at the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, in nearby Sandringham village, is always a time of celebration for the local population. The estate has also long been a favourite retreat of the Duke of Cambridge. And last month it was revealed that planning permission had been granted for major improvement work to Anmer Hall, in the estate grounds, which it is believed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will make their family home.

A double room at Congham Hall, with breakfast, costs from £125 per night for midweek stays. To book, visit www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk or call 01485 600250.

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To arrange an interview with owner Nicholas Dickinson, or to request images or further information, or enquire about press visits, please contact Little Black Book Creative: Simone Kane on 07811 161839 and simone@lbbcreative.co.uk, or Kate Simon on 07939 526109 and kate@lbbcreative.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

Congham Hall Hotel was taken over by the international hotelier Nicholas Dickinson on 30 March 2012. He and his team have just completed an upgrade of the property, which included remodelling and refreshing the interiors and restaurant, the addition of a new bar and improvements to the Secret Garden Spa, which went full-service in early April. Works were completed at the end of April 2013 in time for its official relaunch on 9 May.  

In November 2012, Congham Hall Hotel won Best UK Small Hotel at the International Hotel Awards (www.ihotelawards.com).

Congham Hall offers guests a choice of 26 rooms, including one suite and 11 new garden rooms with private terraces. Facilities include the state-of-the-art Secret Garden Spa, featuring a 12-metre swimming pool, and an award-winning restaurant with 2 AA rosettes, which serves seasonal, local produce, including many home-grown vegetables. The hotel is set in 30 acres of gracious parkland and has a croquet lawn, putting green, tennis courts, orchard and a famous Herb Garden.

Nicholas Dickinson has spent his entire working life in the luxury hotel business. In the early part of his career, he worked at the five-star country-house hotel Chewton Glen and Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. In 1994, Nicholas formed a partnership with Nigel Chapman, who had developed Woolley Grange in Wiltshire. Together, they created Luxury Family Hotels, which soon became the market leader in the UK for luxury family short breaks, and Alias Hotels, for the stylish mid-market corporate and leisure sectors. Both hotel groups were successfully sold and Nicholas and Nigel went on to develop Martinhal Resort on Portugal’s Algarve.

Speaking about his first solo project, Nicholas Dickinson says: “Congham Hall has huge potential
and provides the ideal springboard for a new generation of hotel group based on traditional hospitality but with an array of leisure activities for guests to enjoy and much home-grown produce for the table. Congham is set in 30 acres of fabulous Norfolk countryside with a luxurious spa and kitchen garden and just 12 miles from the coastline with its idyllic beaches. It really is a very special place to stay and I am thrilled to be given this opportunity of charting Congham Hall through the next phase of its life.”

King’s Lynn can be reached by train from London Kings Cross in 1hr 35mins. Return off-peak fares start from £42.40 (www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk).