Mistley Thorn, Mistley, Essex - Explore & Book

"What do Vincent Price and Mistley Thorn have in common? Well, Mistley Thorn stands on the site where the notorious Witchfinder General held his witch-hanging trials in the 1640s, and Vincent Price played him in the 1968 movie. But perhaps the real sorceress in the story is Sherri Singleton, a can-do Californian who refurbished the rundown pub and turned it into a smashing restaurant. It has garnered rave reviews for its seafood and has a buzzy bar that the locals love. With its spacious, contemporary bedrooms (a couple with fine views of the Stour Estuary), the Mistley Thorn makes a delightful lure to this corner of East Anglia.Mistley itself was destined to become a spa town and several structures still bear the distinctive Georgian designs of Robert Adams - the circular water basin opposite the Thorn with its graceful metal swan is one of them. Swans are symbolic here - you need only to stroll along the estuary edge to view a bevy (and that’s the correct term) of these beautiful birds. Highs Comfortable rooms with kingsize beds and ensuite bathrooms. We loved the river view from our top-floor roomReputable restaurant with fresh seafood and seasonal, locally sourced ingredientsSmall, lively bar that draws a local crowd, especially for the oysters and prosecco!Friendly staff in both the restaurant and hotel; when Sherri is around she makes an effort to chat with guestsA wonderful on-site cookery school with regular classes and a tempting gift shop Lows Some of the bedrooms are above the bar/restaurant and sound can travel up if it's a busy night (although everything winds down by midnight)The inn faces a road but traffic is minimal Mistley is a small town with only a few shops and pubs - and a train stationThe cookery school building is situated across the road, but this means bigger rooms" - Glenda Richards