The Randolph hosts private dinners for up to 60 seated guests and buffet receptions for up to 200 standing, in a light restaurant that can be partitioned for smaller groups. The hotel also takes business meetings, team lunches and work parties. It stands in the village of Reydon, a 15-minute walk from Southwold, on the Suffolk Heritage Coast.
Seminars and company events
The hotel describes itself as a venue for business meetings as well as for celebrations and holidays. A small team can meet in the partitioned part of the restaurant, then take lunch or dinner in the same room. For a larger company gathering, the full restaurant takes a seated dinner of up to 60 guests or a standing buffet of up to 200. At Christmas the hotel runs a festive menu for work parties of up to 60. With 11 bedrooms on site, a board or a small sales team can meet one day and stay the night before or after.
Weddings and receptions
The official site presents its functions offer as celebrations and special occasions, planned with each host to fit the event. Family celebrations, anniversaries and buffets, including wakes, are named. The site does not advertise weddings, so a couple should ask the hotel directly what it can host.
Rooms and capacities
The restaurant is the event space. Its stated capacities are 60 guests seated for a dinner and 200 standing for a buffet. It can be divided to make a more intimate room for a smaller party. Guests also have the bar, which pours local Adnams ale, and a patio shown on the hotel's gallery.
Accommodation
The hotel has 11 en-suite bedrooms over two floors, reached by the main galleried staircase. Each room is individual: some have walk-in showers, others a shower over the bath, and guests can state their preference when booking. Rooms have flat-screen televisions, hairdryers, tea and coffee facilities, homemade shortbread and toiletries. Breakfast is included and served from 8 to 10 a.m. Check-in starts at 2:30 p.m.
Catering
Food is cooked in-house under Chef Patron Gareth Knights. Menus follow the seasons and use locally sourced produce, with vegetarian options and adaptations for allergies and diets. For an event, the kitchen writes a menu to the host's budget or prepares a buffet. The hotel also offers off-site catering for hosts who already have a venue and only need the food. Day to day, it serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a Sunday roast.
History and setting
The building dates back to 1899. It is owned and run by Gareth and Jenny Knights. Gareth was head chef at The Sibton White Horse and earlier ran the kitchen at The Swan in Southwold. Jenny built her career at Adnams, the Southwold brewer. The hotel holds a Visit England rating and a ROSE Award.
Getting there
The Randolph is on Wangford Road in Reydon, Suffolk, about a 15-minute walk from the center of Southwold. A large car park offers free parking for hotel guests, which helps when a group arrives by car.
