Strattons is a small independent family run boutique hotel tucked away in the historic market town of Swaffham within an area called the Brecks, gorse covered heathland that straddles parts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

The building, a listed Palladian villa with a Victorian extension, was once home to Howard Carter who famously discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb.

The hotel opened in 1990. It has been renovated to give a luxurious, cool and contemporary feel. Art and strong design feature throughout. A huge stag sculpted from recycled agricultural iron greets guests on arrival and there are murals in the rooms, mosaics, painted canvasses and sculptures both inside and outside.

There are ten individually designed bedrooms. All en suite rooms come equipped with Bose sound systems and DVD and there are also facilities for families with babies.

Its award winning restaurant serves organic and locally sourced produce with a modern English accent.

 GREEN FEATURES

Strattons has a strong environmental commitment and its policy is revised annually. Owners Les and Vanessa Scott train their staff and ask their local suppliers to respect their green principles.

They have made significant reductions in waste including grey water, for instance through using fresh food so cutting down packaging, composting kitchen waste, and replacing bathroom miniatures with refillable pump dispensers and they estimate just 2% goes into landfill.

All toilet cisterns are fitted with ‘hippos’ made from recycled plastic bottles saving water on every flush.

Low energy light bulbs have been fitted extensively and the rooms have thermometers to help staff to adjust heating levels appropriately, and radiators have thermostatic valves.

The hotel has won several awards. It was named the Considerate Hotelier’s ‘Environmentally Friendly Hotel of the Year’ in 2005 and won Considerate Hotel of the Year Best of British Food in 2006. It was the first hotel in the UK to win the prestigious Queen’s Award for ‘Outstanding Environmental Performance’.