Why go there? 1 Sallyport was voted best B&B in England in 2005 by the Sunday Times, and featured in the Independent's 50 Best British Hotels of 2007 – and you can see why. The entrance to the 17th-century Grade II listed buildi
ng is hidden down a cobbled lane. Inside, the decor is chic with an eclectic twist, thanks to owner Lizzie Middlemiss's impressive eye for detail. Before you're shown your room, you'll be asked by one of the friendly staff to leave your shoes at the door. Be sure not to trip over Marley, Middlemiss's handsome Irish water spaniel, as you go.
We stayed in the Mulberry suite, one of six bespoke en-suite rooms, complete with plasma screen, DVD, Bose radio/CD, funky radiators, Harvey Nichols tea and coffee and yummy home-made cake. A cast-iron standalone bath takes centre stage in the bathroom. A nice addition was the 20-year-old bottle of port (accompanied by two glasses) and the Crabtree & Evelyn and L'Occitane goodies.
How do I get there? A regular National Express train service runs from Edinburgh to the south, stopping at Berwick.
Bed test The huge bed covered by a goosedown duvet and a mountain of pillows provided a great night's sleep.
What's the food like? Thanks to mouthwatering menus that use locally sourced meat and fish, the fully licensed hotel was included in last year's Michelin Guide and Which? Good Food Guide. The two-course breakfasts are a real treat. Fresh fruit with yoghurt or homemade muesli, full Scottish with haggis, Seahouses kippers, home-made kedgeree, waffles and eggs Benedict are just a few of the delicious options to choose from.
The three-course dinner menu changes daily. Expect the likes of local wood pigeon breast on a warm salad of black pudding and pancetta, and west coast king scallops with fillet of Eyemouth hake on linguine and lobster bisque.
Out and about Bridge Street is home to a collection of independently owned shops and galleries – unlike the uninspiring High Street. Take a stroll around the Elizabethan walls (Berwick is England's only completely walled town), which are a couple of minutes' walk away and which offer some great views of the Northumbrian coast as well as of the town itself.
The bottom line Each room has a different rate, starting with the Manhattan Loft at £95. The Mulberry suite costs £140. These prices (which are on a per-person, per-night basis) include breakfast. Weekend stays must be a minimum of two nights, while over Bank Holiday weekends it's a minimum of three nights. The three-course dinner costs £39.95.
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