Meet Natalie and Steve, owners of The Windmill Suffok – a glorious towering bolthole as seen on George Clarke’s ‘Amazing Spaces’ and overlooking idyllic countryside, just two miles north of historic Lavenham.
What first inspired you to create The Windmill Suffolk as a retreat?
The Windmill was a derelict shell that had stood empty for almost a century and we wanted to bring it back to life for people to enjoy. As the building had no inner workings or sails to restore it as a Windmill we decided that luxury holiday accommodation for adults would be the perfect option.
Have you always been in hospitality? If not, what else did / do you do?
No, we have both had quite vast and varied careers before restoring The Windmill. Natalie had always worked in customer facing environments and has always loved meeting and helping people and Steve had been a graphic designer and worked in the construction industry. At the point when we both gave up our jobs to bring The Windmill Suffolk to life Steve was an electrician and Natalie was a sales and office manager.
What’s the best thing about being the owner of The Windmill Suffolk?
It really is the most rewarding job! We brought The Windmill back to life so it really is our baby. Meeting the wonderful guests that we have been lucky to welcome to The Windmill and hearing their positive feedback either from online reviews or thank you cards is truly heart warming and sometimes a bit emotional!
It has been amazing to be part of helping to arrange lots of special stays, whether for birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoons, surprise weekends away or even romantic wedding proposals. It’s an honour and privilege to assist people bring their ideas and dreams to life with a stay at The Windmill Suffolk!
What’s your favourite feature of the retreat?
This is a difficult question as there are so many parts of The Windmill that we both love. When we were designing it, we really thought about how people would use the building when they stay and have tried very hard to ensure we have thought of everything so that our guests don’t have to!
The top floor lounge with the enormous oversized sofas and amazing far reaching views is a pretty special spot to be – in any season. The bathroom has a huge bathtub that easily fits 2 people and a monsoon rain shower with a window that overlooks the surrounding fields and we always say it feels like a spa sanctuary when we get the rare chance to stay at The Windmill ourselves.
What do you love about the local area?
SO much! We are so lucky to live here as we are in the middle of the countryside but only a few minutes drive to everything we could need or want. We have a plethora of great pubs and restaurants in Lavenham and Bury St Edmunds and there is so much history to discover and so many great experiences right on our doorstep.
What’s next for The Windmill Suffolk?
We both often say we would love to renovate another building to bring somewhere else back to life in a new guise so if any of your readers have any spots to suggest- let us know!
If you couldn’t stay at your place, where would your ideal holiday be?
We both LOVE to travel and experience new places so somewhere warm and sunny with lots of good food, history and culture to soak up and a comfy lounger to relax on and rest our bones!
Sum up The Windmill Suffolk in three words
Luxurious, unique and memorable!
If you were visiting, how would you spend a day at The Windmill Suffolk?
A day isn’t enough!
There is so much to do in the area and as our guests always say they are torn between heading out to explore or hunkering down at The Windmill for a proper rest and relax- because that’s what a holiday should have- a bit of both!
A lazy morning at The Windmill with breakfast in the garden or on the balcony in the warmer months followed by a long shower overlooking the open fields. Then a visit to nearby Tudor Lavenham to either visit one of the National Trust properties or have a cream tea after a country walk to get the appetite going,
An afternoon visit to Bury St Edmunds with the gorgeous Abbey Gardens and great guided walking tours around the town and then dinner in one of the many amazing restaurants in town. Perhaps a massage at Heritage Beauty or a glass of wine on the sofas watching a film at Abbeygate Cinema and then back for a big bubble filled soak in the huge bathtub to wind down before watching the sunset from the top floor viewing deck and then collapsing into the best beds in the county!
Find out more about The Windmill Suffolk via their Host Unusual listing below!
