Bell Hotel Sandwich

Now in 2006, two bay trees stand at its street entrance. The old-fashioned revolving door is still there, as is the elaborate Victorian reception office with sliding sash windows, but now the whole area is decorated in cool, modern colours. Gone is the flowery red carpet and in its place is polished oak parquet.

After handing over the key, the receptionist directs us - via a wide staircase - to a large first-floor room with French windows leading on to a balcony that looks down to the River Stour and a little quayside where boats are tied up. Walls are painted a pale grey-green colour. The bed has huge headboard panels covered with what looks like suede, above which are two wall lamps. There are two oatmeal-coloured tub armchairs and a couple of tall table lamps to read by. It's all very comfortable. The only slight disappointment is the small television, with not many programmes to choose from. But the digital radio with clock is a first.

The renovation of the bedrooms is clearly still going on. The stairs to the upper floors have the original red flowery carpet, so that the dramatic contrast between what was, and what will be, is plain for all to see.

Downstairs, a conservatory has been added to the restaurant (now called The Place Brasserie), where the tables have stainless-steel bases and blond wood tops. The bar is through the restaurant, down a few steps.

Everything has been beautifully designed, with great attention to detail. Over wine, we are brought menus by Pauline, the restaurant manager. Discovering that we are from London, she tells us that her dad used to live in Islington. "It was a rough place then, he couldn't wait to get away from it," she says.

Soon she is taking us to a table with a view of a street and a couple of pubs. For my starter, I'm having twice-baked lemon thyme and goat's cheese soufflé with root-vegetable crisps; this comes with a filo basket of Jerusalem artichokes, mixed roast peppers, sweet cherry vine tomatoes and Kent organic potatoes. The soufflé is light and delicately flavoured and I am now a root vegetable crisp fan. My husband's bouillabaisse, with bay fish and shellfish, has chunks of fish and prawns and stand-up mussels that remind us of the Sydney Opera House. He also gets a bowl for shells and another for finger-washing.

For our main courses, I have free-range corn-fed chicken breast roasted in lemon and served on herbed couscous with a mixed leaf salad, and he the wild rabbit, slow-cooked with mixed root vegetables in a herb cream sauce. "Delicious!" he says, while I try not to think of Flopsy, my childhood pet.

And puddings? I choose the Bell's own gorgeous treacle tart with thick local cream; my husband something called the bell tower, which is rhubarb sponge 'piled high with honey and clove coulis and organic vanilla ice cream'. And yes, after all this deliciousness, we stagger up the stairs to our very comfortable bed.

Next morning we come down to breakfast and find one table laid with cereal, nice unsweetened muesli, nuts, fruit and yogurt and another with ham, cheese and a do-it-yourself toaster. We find ourselves surrounded by a large party of large Belgians. In the car park are a couple of large, antique, Belgian-registered cars.
When it's time to pay, the receptionist tells us that whoever quoted me £117 for the room had made a mistake. "We're having a special promotion this month," she says, "and dinner, bed and breakfast will be £123.22." We leave, thinking we could almost afford to live here!

The Bell Hotel, The Quay, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9EF has 34 rooms, some not yet modernised.

Pets now welcome at The Bell
We know how difficult it can be for pet lovers to take a break, so now your pet can enjoy a stay with us.

With summer upon us, many pet lovers would prefer to take their favourite furry friend away with them, but finding a pet friendly hotel can sometimes be hard. Now your pet will be as welcome at The Bell Hotel Sandwich as you are.

To make your pet's stay as comfortable as your own, we have a yummy pet menu. If you forget to bring something, we even have a small selection of collars, leads or indeed a pet basket to help out.

There are certain restrictions and limited availability and therefore please email our reservations team or call reception on 01304 613388 now for further details.
This room is ideal for private dining, it is relaxed, elegant andcomfortable. The Club Room has just undergone a comprehensive refurbishment.
Enjoy carefully chosen malts, classic cocktails and fines wines, in the intimate and traditional atmosphere of the Club Room.


THE OLD DINING ROOM WINS AN AA ROSETTE
 
Congratulations to Head Chef Steve Piddock and team who have  won a Rosette as a result of an incognito visit by an AA inspector. That's every chef's nightmare.

"Using fresh, seasonal and local produce" said Steve when he heard the restaurant had won an AA Rosette, "obviously pays off. They are the core ingredients in all our menus and are essential  for the quality of food we serve. The menus uses the very best local produce available including line caught fish straight off the day boats out of Deal and Ramsgate, Romney Marsh lamb and the seasonal produce from Kent farms." Mmmm..