Glamping site that opened just last year wins in prestigious award ceremony

Kaia Nicholl
·2-min read
Winners of Muddy Stilettos awards for Suffolk and Cambridgeshire have been announced. From left: The Garden Room Shop at Blackthorpe Barn (Rougham), World of Play (Ixworth) and The Four Bells Glamping (Hawstead) <i>(Image: Ditty Lens Photography)</i>
Winners of Muddy Stilettos awards for Suffolk and Cambridgeshire have been announced. From left: The Garden Room Shop at Blackthorpe Barn (Rougham), World of Play (Ixworth) and The Four Bells Glamping (Hawstead) (Image: Ditty Lens Photography)

The owner of a west Suffolk glamping business has said it feels "out of this world" to have been named the best boutique stay in the county.

The Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards took place on Wednesday, June 5 where 21 businesses from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire celebrated at The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds.

Amongst the award winners was The Four Bells Glamping which, based in Hawstead near Bury St Edmunds, scooped the accolade of Best Boutique Stay.

Alex Brewis, who co-founded the business with his wife Lucy last year, said: "We really seem to have caught people's imagination in terms of getting outside and getting into nature.

"It means an awful lot to us, we've invested a lot of time and money into building up something here. It is an area that we absolutely love and Lucy lived in the village all her life so we were really keen to share it with others.

"To have the response that we have had and that translating into an award is just out of this world. It is fantastic to have that recognition so early in our journey."

The Four Bells Glamping offers a luxury stay with king size memory foam beds, hot tubs and outdoor baths on offer at their bell tents, as well as high speed internet which can be on or off to allow visitors to get off the grid or remain connected.

Mr Brewis said the site has enabled him to quit his nine to five job and work full time on improving the experience, along with his wife.

More than 515,000 votes and nominations were cast nationwide in this year's event, making it the most popular Muddy Awards to date.

Winners from Ipswich and Felixstowe (clockwise from top left): Look Wright Aesthetics, Peony & Peach florist, The Ipswich Regent Theatre, La Vida Showbar Felixstowe and Beach Street Felixstowe (Image: Ditty Lens Photography)

Here's the full list of Suffolk winners:

Best Arts, Culture and Theatre Venue: Ipswich Regent Theatre

Best Bar: La Vida Showbar (Felixstowe)

Best Beauty Salon/ Clinic: Look Wright Aesthetics (Ipswich)

Best Boutique Stay: The Four Bells Glamping (Hawstead)

Best Café: The Lakehouse Café (Stowmarket)

Best Casual Dining: Beach Street (Felixstowe)

Best Children’s Business: World of Play (Ixworth)

Best Destination Pub: The Queen’s Head (Bramfield)

Best Event Venue: High Lodge Leisure (Darsham)

Best Fitness Instructor: Infinite Potential Fitness (Stowmarket)

Best Florist: Peony & Peach (Ipswich)

Best Lifestyle Store: The Garden Room Shop at Blackthorpe Barn (Rougham)

Best Local Food/ Drink Producer: Little Pig Bakery (Stonham Aspal)

Best Yoga/ Pilates Studio: HD Core & More (Kesgrave)

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