Long Melford B&B, The Mill, forced to close after being caught in flooding during Storm Babet - but has vowed to be back
An award-winning luxury bed and breakfast has been forced to close after being caught in dramatic flooding in Long Melford.
The Mill, at Hall Mill House, Hall Street, was hit after Storm Babet wreaked havoc across Suffolk on Friday.
More than 20 people arrived on Saturday morning to help with the clean up.
Owners Paul Jarrett and Clare Livens vowed to be back ‘bigger and better’ in an emotional post on Facebook on Saturday.
They said: “So Chad Brook burst its banks yesterday for the first time in a very long time, and unfortunately it got us here at The Mill and some of our close neighbours.
“We are gutted.
“Unfortunately, we have had to close the business for a little while.
“We need time to think and take stock of yesterdays events, and most importantly, to clean.
“It was an emotional time with lots of tears and we would like to say a huge thanks for the army of more than 20 angels that turned up this morning at The Mill bringing mops, buckets, water pumps and cakes.
“Some of the people turning up we knew, and some of people that arrived were total strangers; so we just wanted to say that we were overwhelmed by your kindness.
“Thanks to you all - we will be back, bigger and better – and still the number 1 place to stay in Long Melford.”
The Mill has featured twice in The Sunday Times and The Guardian newspaper, which recommended it in their ‘top 40 cosy B&B’s for the winter’ article.
In 2021, The Mill appeared in The Sunday Observer in a feature called ‘Literary stays’ featuring Edmund Blunden, and has recently achieved a 2022 KAYAK travel award.
The main house is steeped in history and is Grade II listed.
The house dates back to around the 16th Century.
It was once the home of Edmund Blunden (1896-1974) a famous World War poet and soldier who lived at Hall Mill until his death in 1974.
Edmund was the longest serving First World War poet seeing continous action between 1916 – 1918.
