A Suffolk hotel is set to undergo an expansion this month.

The Bell Hotel in Saxmundham reopened in December 2022 with a fresh look after a year of refurbishment and a changing of hands.

New owner, Beales Group, invested in excess of £1million in renovating the Grade II listed building.

Now it has been announced that "phase two" of the refurbishment project will begin in the coming days.

This will see additional dining space, lift access, a terrace and three new guest bedrooms added to the hotel.

The expansion will not force the hotel, which was named one of the hottest new places to stay by The Independent, to close its doors as work takes place.

It is estimated that the refurbishment will take three months to complete, meaning the extra rooms and new outdoor space will be ready for the summer.

Ashley Beale, manager of The Bell Hotel, said: "Since reopening, we’ve had some lovely mentions in the media, and that’s meant we’ve enjoyed a steady stream of room and table bookings.

"So, I’m excited to be adding more space, and a private dining area, for our guests to enjoy.

"It means we can give more people the chance to discover what makes The Bell Hotel so special.”

“Saxmundham is surrounded by areas of natural beauty, with the likes of RSPB Minsmere, Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings just around the corner.

"It’s great to be bringing tourism to this beautiful and friendly area.”

The hotel also has plans for a final phase of refurbishment but no dates have been confirmed for this work as yet.