Suffolk

ED Sheeran has revealed he has gone through with his plan to move to the US with his family.

Speaking in an interview for the 2 Johnnies podcast last month just before heading to the States, the A Team hitmaker said he was leaving Suffolk with wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra five, and Jupiter, three.

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The family had spent their time living in a £3.7million pad – dubbed Sheeranville – which boasts a gym and pool, as well as a tree house and even a separate bungalow.

Yet Ed, 34, has said: “I’m just about to move to America.

“I feel like I might be the only person moving to America.

“I’m going on tour there for a while and I have a family so I can’t dip in and out.

“We’re going and settling there.”

Giving a glimpse into his home life on Instagram previously, he uploaded one showing him in a cosy-looking living area complete with a telescope for stargazing.

It also captured a huge library which was the perfect space for Ed and his song writing partners to pen his smash hits.

Ed’s sprawling £3.7million complex is made up of multiple homes — including swimming pool, two-storey treehouse and pub — and is in the Suffolk town he grew up in.

Land Registry records show that Ed bought his main home — a detached farmhouse and surrounding land — for £895,000 in June 2012

Despite the move, the Afterglow hitmaker has understandably retained his home but he also revealed he has built a second private boozer at his studio.

He said: “People always look at stuff like that in my lifestyle and think it’s a bit weird, but I think to go out and really let loose with camera phones round, you can’t really do that any more – as in like if you’re well-known.

“So it’s having a place where you can have a few pints, a dance, a sing, get a bit silly and not worry about it being on TikTok the next morning.”

OWN GOAL

Ed then admitted he will no longer be able to watch his beloved Ipswich Town, where he owns a 1.4 per cent stake and was their shirt sponsor.

Chatting just before they lost on penalties at Bromley in the Carabao cup four weeks ago, he said the match was going to be the only game he’d be seeing this season before settling in the US.

He said: “I went to almost every game last season – I think I can only make one this season because I’m moving to the States.”

ALL CHANGE

The Shape of You singer previously expressed a desire to move into country music and potentially relocate to the US.

He said earlier this year: “When you transition to country, you can’t transition back.

“Nashville is my favourite city in the States and it’s always been my end goal to move to Nashville and transition to country.”

However, he did not reveal in his more recent interview just before planning to fly out whether it was Nashville where he was now setting up home.

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A MUM received a £3,500 payout after “disgusting” police officers were caught throwing her lingerie around and laughing at her sex toys while raiding her home.

Nichola Corr, 51, claimed the cops were like “children in a playground” as they searched her house as part of a drugs investigation into a family member.

Bodycam footage captured them discovering her £1,000 collection of erotic gadgets and chucking her racy G-string knickers at each other on her bed.

Nichola said: “The male officer that threw the underwear was looking through my whole toy box, laughing, joking, going: ‘Oh, look at this. Jesus Christ, look at this!’

“They were taking the absolute piss! It was like they were children in a playground the way they were acting. It was disgusting.”

She complained after no arrests, charges or prosecutions were brought by Suffolk Police following the raid of her home in Essex in October 2023.

Its Professional Standards Department found the officers’ behaviour was “unacceptable and unprofessional” but formal disciplinary action wasn’t required.

Nichola, who is now getting a divorce from her husband, added: “I don’t trust the police anymore.

“I always used to say if you ever need the police, they’ll be there for you. But no, not in this day and age. They’re using their power over people.”

Suffolk Police claimed the cops were all “very young in terms of service” and their behaviour was “considered to be more due to immaturity than spite”.

One officer had already left the force when the complaint was received but the remaining two were required to apologise and undertake ‘Reflective Practice’.

Last week, Hertfordshire Police cop Marcin Zielinski, 27, was jailed for four months after nicking a woman’s underwear while searching her home.

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POLICE are urgently searching for two women who “may be together” after they vanished months ago.

Lorna Nightingale, 70, was last seen in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in February while Emma Nightingale, 36, has not been seen since being spotted in Colchester, Essex, in June.

Cops said it is known that both women have connections to Essex, suggesting that they may have travelled there.

Suffolk Police added that officers believed the women “may be together.”

Both women are from Lowestoft, cops said.

Lorna is described as being 5ft 2in tall, of a slim build, with short grey hair.

Emma is described as 5ft 8 in tall, with mousey-coloured long hair.

If you have seen Lorna or Emma, or have any information about them, contact police by calling 999.

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I lost my heart to this beautiful part of the country and now I can’t wait to return

Tucked away in the undulating hills of Suffolk, The Wilderness Reserve offers a quintessential English summer experience. I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend there and was utterly charmed by this tranquil corner of the county, bathed in the glow of a June heatwave sun.

The walled garden was a riot of colour as I watched a couple tie the knot, and while enjoying elderflower cocktails, I felt like I’d stepped into a Merchant Ivory film. But it wasn’t just the stunning venue that captivated me to be honest, the entire region truly stole my heart.

Suffolk, with its gently rolling hills, expansive skies, and patchwork of fields, meadows, and ancient woodlands, epitomises rural England. The 8,000-acre private estate near Saxmundham is just one of many highlights in the area, with attractions such as Framlingham Castle, Sutton Hoo, RSPB Minsmere, and Yoxford Antiques Centre and Gardens all within easy reach.

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Scattered with picturesque villages, timber-framed cottages, medieval churches, and quiet lanes, much of Suffolk is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Then there is the stunning Suffolk coastline with its mix of sandy beaches, rugged cliffs and pretty seaside towns. Southwold is known for its beautiful beaches, iconic lighthouse and Victorian pier, while Aldeburgh Aldeburgh offers a more artistic atmosphere with its historic high street and rich cultural heritage, including the famous Aldeburgh Festival.

Nearby, there lies the 12th-century Framlingham Castle, while the town of Woodbridge is home to the impressive Tide Mill and a charming blend of Georgian buildings and independent shops. While a visit to the Wilderness Reserve was a delicious treat, there are so many other ways to explore the region, along with a multitude of places to stay.

Take Winkle Cottage for instance – a fishermans cottage bathed in Aldeburgh’s seaside charm. This classic fisherman’s cottage offers snug living spaces and can comfortably accommodate five guests. It has been praised by visitors as “a great place to stay.”

The village of Campsea Ash also hosts an ideal spot for larger family reunions, offering a glorious barn conversion on a private estate. Quill Farm Barn is touted as a “delightful” holiday home, nestled away in “the perfect setting.” Then there’s the Sea Tower, a chic apartment boasting sea vistas that has earned accolades as “a special place” or the grand Holly Lodge – a robust five-bedroom countryside house capable of hosting group getaways for up to 10 individuals.

For something completely different, the Pound Farm Mirror Houses in Framlingham offer contemporary dwellings in the heart of the countryside. An upscale alternative to traditional ‘tiny homes’ each house comes with its own hot tub.

Booking.com boasts a diverse array of accommodation options in Suffolk. The Swan Hotel in Southwold, a four-star establishment nestled within a historic building just 200 metres from the seafront, is one such gem. For those seeking a more traditional vibe, The Ship at Dunwich serves up home-cooked fare and real ales in an authentic inn setting.

Adventure-seekers drawn to RSPB Minsmere will find Moonlight Lodge an ideal retreat close by. Available through Holidaycottages.co.uk, it’s set against the backdrop of Dunwich beach and surrounded by woodlands – a nature lover’s dream.

For a touch of grandeur, The Great House in Orford stands as a majestic Grade II-listed holiday home right in the village’s heart. This quintessential country haven sleeps 12 and has been hailed as “a stunning house” and “absolutely perfect for larger parties” by visitors.

The tranquil beauty of Suffolk has garnered thousands of glowing reviews on TripAdvisor from enamoured visitors. One tourist said: “Loved our afternoon in Southwold especially the pier! Such a pleasant surprise to have a clean characterful pier with a brilliant quirky water fuelled clock at the end! The beaches looked amazing, beautiful clean sand and so pretty with the huts behind!”.

Another visitor, charmed by Aldeburgh, shared: “It was a dream in July to swim in the early hours of the morning and have fish and chips looking out to sea.”

Of course, the accommodation is key to any memorable holiday, and Sykes Cottages are dazzling holidaymakers, boasting a 4.6 out of five-star rating. One chuffed guest remarked: “We wanted a quiet weekend getaway and we found exactly that in Suffolk. Perfect for young and old…the cottage we booked we know it’s a fabulous place and beautifully presented.”

Another satisfied customer shared: “Suffolk in the sunshine. This was an important family holiday following my dad being very unwell last year, our holiday with Sykes gave us the quality time we needed and the chance to make some wonderful memories.”

However, not all feedback was glowing. A less impressed guest posted a three-star review: “Sykes offer a vast range of holiday accommodation. From experience so far, the description and photos of accommodation are fairly accurate, however, the cleanliness of the accommodation is another matter. It is difficult to get hold of anyone from Sykes by telephone.”

But praise continued with another beaming five-star critique: “We were looking for pet friendly cottages in Suffolk, Sykes cottages came up with the goods. A nice cottage plenty of details about the cottage giving us all the details we needed. So many thanks looking forward to our holiday.”

DIVE in to scrumptious staycays in England’s eastern counties.

From beautiful beaches in North Norfolk to stunning sustenance in Suffolk, we have it covered.

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The Nest Farmhouse, King’s Lynn

Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon and boyfriend Jamie found vineyards and seafood feasts in Norfolk.

THE PAD

Tucked away in the rolling fields of North Norfolk, guests are greeted with fizz from neighbouring Cobble Hill Winery at this former barn.

Rooms are bang-on theme with farmhouse-chic decor – ours had a vintage tub, dried flowers, distressed furniture and a spacious balcony from which green vistas extend as far as the eye can see.

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Fragrant home-made negronis made from a concoction of aged local spirits and spices, £14, are literally on tap from a miniature barrel in the homely bar.

Then tuck into rich bone marrow and crunchy focaccia, £12, followed by tender local Old Spot pork chop, £28, and barbecued cabbage smothered in a tangy, buttery anchovy dressing, £5.

Fluffy doughnuts dunked in toffee sauce, £10, are the perfect pud, and we splashed out on a bottle of local Cobble Hill Bacchus Reserve, £55.

Birdsong will wake you for an alfresco brekkie of local cheese, cured meats and trout, while you watch ducks bob about in the pond.

EXPLORE

Spy deer in the lush 667 acres of the palatial 18th-century Holkham Estate, before ogling rich tapestries, marble sculptures and the lavish guest rooms where Queen Victoria once slept.

Entry costs from £24 per person (Holkham.co.uk). Later, spot seals frolicking in the surf from the sweeping sand dunes of Holkham Beach.

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The neighbouring town of Wells-next-the-Sea is postcard-pretty – duck into The Old Station for whimsical ceramics that are made on-site, before sipping on local Crisp Eastern Gold, £2.55 for a half pint, on the rooftop deck at The Globe Inn (Theglobeatwells.co.uk).

REFUEL

Norfolk is renowned for crab, so tuck into a platter at family-run Wells Crab House and feast on creamy dressed crab, crayfish, oak-smoked salmon, juicy prawns, tangy cockles and rollmops, plus indulgent potato salad – £44 for two people.

Sip cucumber and apple coolers, £5, as you go (Wellscrabhouse.co.uk).

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Meanwhile, in cobble-stoned King’s Lynn, devour giant slabs of buttery ginger cake, £2.50, from indie cafe Norbury’s (Instagram.com/norburysfinefoods).

Then plump for dinner by candlelight at Grade-II-listed The Bank House, a stylish eatery on the banks of the River Ouse.

Order Pineapple Fogs, a blend of honey-lime juice, pineapple and tonic, £5, and savour flaky cod and seafood chowder with mussels, squid and prawn, £22.50 (Thebankhouse.co.uk).

DON’T MISS

Knowledgeable David at Burn Valley Vineyard (which has near-identical soil to the Champagne region), is the perfect host for wine-tasting, £25 a person.

You’ll get to swig six wines – our fave was sweet, acidic Solaris 2023 – before wandering around the vineyard to see where they’re grown (Burnvalleyvineyard.co.uk).

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BOOK IT

B&B at Nest Farmhouse costs from £160 per night (Nestfarmhouse.co.uk).

The Crown and Castle, Orford

Writer Sasha Cunningham and husband Grant checked into a foodie haven on Suffolk’s coast.

THE PAD

Nestled in the sleepy town of Orford, you’ll find 21 newly refurbished rooms and an intimate two-AA-Rosette restaurant.

Our bright and spacious deluxe sea-view room had amazing glimpses of Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, plus a large bath, rainfall shower, Temple Spa toiletries and cosy armchairs.

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Grab an Aperol Spritz, £9, or a pint of Mosaic lager, £5, before digging into dishes such as the spectacular soy-cured monkfish with glass noodles and sesame, £28.

Mains such as beef blade and fillet on a bed of spelt, celeriac and mushrooms, £32, won’t disappoint, either.

EXPLORE

You’re just over the road from 12th-century Orford Castle, which is well worth a visit for both the views from its tower and its captivating audio guide, £8.10 per adult (English-heritage.org.uk).

Or take a wander down to the River Ore – pick the distance and difficulty of your walk by scanning the hotel’s handy QR codes.

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Be sure to book your visit to the nature reserve in advance, from £4.50 per adult (Nationaltrust.org.uk).

Once used during WW2 for atomic bomb testing, it’s now home to many species of birds and a colony of 200 grey seals.

REFUEL

Share the griddled fish selection of prawns, squid, sardines and mussels brushed with garlic oil, from £19.50, at Butley Orford Oysterage, a short stroll from your bed (Pinneysoforford.co.uk).

Or hunt out Two Magpies Bakery in the nearby pastel-coloured seaside town of Aldeburgh for rich hot chocolate, £3.45 – it’s the perfect drink for a walk by the beach, where you can snap the giant scallop sculpture (Twomagpiesbakery.co.uk).

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Later, join a tour of Fishers Gin Distillery for tastings with a sea view, £35 for a 90-minute tour (Fishersgin.com).

DON’T MISS

Stop by Orford’s Pump Street Bakery for bear-claw almond frangipane pastries, £4.50 – just go early before they sell out (Pumpstreetchocolate.com).

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BOOK IT

Double rooms cost from £145 B&B (Crownandcastle.co.uk).

The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds

Fashion Assistant Emily Regan, boyfriend Harry and dog Ragnar enjoyed history and booze in Suffolk’s charming market town.

THE PAD

This central Georgian hotel – once a favourite of Charles Dickens – blends vintage furnishings with modern touches.

Book a Copper Room for a king-size bed, free-standing copper bath and a picturesque view of Abbey Gate.

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Then dig into mouth-watering Surrey Farm 10oz sirloin with peppercorn sauce, £34, in the hotel’s lively Eaterie.

Finish with chocolate crémeux, honeycomb and brownie ice cream, £8.50, and a pornstar martini, £14.

Come breakfast, a full English, plus sausage bites for Ragnar, were winners, and there are plenty of other doggy treats and toys on hand, too.

EXPLORE

A five-minute stroll away you’ll find St Edmundsbury Cathedral (Stedscathedral.org) and St Mary’s Church, with its hammer-beam angel roof (Stmaryschurchbse.org).

But to really learn more about the town’s history, join a walking tour around Abbey Gardens and the ruins of an 11th-century monastery, £10 per person for 90 minutes (Burystedmundstourguides.org).

Gift hunters should head to The Parsley Pot with its cute ceramics (Theparsleypot.com), while dogs will love scampering through the scenic woodlands of Nowton Park (Westsuffolk.gov.uk).

REFUEL

For mid-morning pick-me-ups, No.5 Angel Hill has excellent home-made sausage rolls, £4.95, and iced lattes, £3.90 (Fiveangelhill.co.uk).

Discover the town’s hop history on Greene King’s brewery tour – or just lunch on beef and ale pie for under a tenner at its Beer Cafe.

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Tours cost £20 per person (Greeneking.co.uk).

Named the smallest pub in Britain, The Nutshell has some of the quirkiest artefacts on display (Thenutshellpub.co.uk), while a 25-minute drive away,

The Swan at Lavenham serves up a cracking Sunday roast, £28 for two courses (Theswanatlavenham.co.uk).

DON’T MISS

Sip a glass of English vino, £6.50, and enjoy a live gig, if you’re lucky, at The Wine Cellar (Thewinecellarbse.co.uk).

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BOOK IT

Double rooms cost from £157 a night (Theangel.co.uk).

Plan your trip at Visit-burystedmunds.co.uk.

A MAJOR car dealership has suddenly shut down after forty-five years of selling 10,000s of motors.

Customers in Lowestoft, East Suffolk, were shocked by the owner’s statement announcing their closure.

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Stanley Street Motors, run by John Mitchell, has been serving a loyal client base since 1980.

But the boss revealed he will be powering down operations due to health reasons.

In a statement on Facebook, the firm said: “Stanley Street Motors has now ceased trading, due to ill-health and retirement.

“This facebook page is in the process of being closed down, and the automatic updates will shortly cease. Our website will have further details in due course.

“We at Stanley Street Motors want to thank you, our customers and friends, and all our suppliers, contractors and supporters, everyone who bought our cars, liked our posts and recommended us to others.

“For over 40 years we have bought and sold cars from Stanley Street. Over the years we have had tens of thousands of lovely customers, many of whom became, not just repeat customers, but friends.

“We will miss you all. Thank you and goodbye.”

The site will now be up for grabs at auction through Auction House East Anglia, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press.

Bidders will have the opportunity to bag the property on June 18.

A guide price has been listed for anywhere between £200,000 and £300,000.

A spokesperson from the auctioneers said: “Former car sales showroom and forecourt with development potential.

“This showroom with offices and workshop is to be sold vacant and ready for a new operator, or there is potential to change the current use subject to planning.

“The premises has been used successfully for used cars sales and repairs by the current owners for over 40 years but is now being sold due to retirement.

“The premises comprise of a generous showroom, workshop, two offices, presentation suite, kitchen and cloakroom.

“There is a large forecourt for upwards of 30 cars and the premises has three phase electricity and security alarm system.”

This comes as motor dealerships across the UK have been waving goodbye amid a string of devastating closures.

Last month a highly recommended company with excellent reviews shut down suddenly.

The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly with no warning given.

Elsewhere, a pioneering car dealership with over 91,000 vehicles is currently on sale – putting over 100 jobs at risk.

The German online used car marketplace has made heavy losses since opening in the UK in 2019 when it looked to rival Auto Trader and Motors.

Heycar’s majority shareholder, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), have pulled the plug leaving more than 126 employees across the UK, Germany, and France at risk of losing their jobs.

Meanwhile a fellow dealership pulled the shutters down as part of a “brand shift” with staff being moved over to another company.

The Sytner Group sold its former Manchester Carshop site to a used car company.

Shaun Lane, the CEO of Motor Range, announced the move on LinkedIn.

According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.

The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.

With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don’t even step foot into a dealership anymore.

Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.

Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.

Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.

The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.

A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.

They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.

The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.

This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.

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YOU have probably heard of Sutton Hoo, the Suffolk site where a huge Anglo-Saxon ship was discovered under ancient grassy mounds.

Excitement around the medieval treasure trove grew in 2021 when Carey Mulligan starred in a Netflix movie about the discovery, The Dig.

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But it’s not just ancient artefacts, old textiles and traditional silverware that make this area so special.

The site sits close to Woodbridge, an off-grid market town on the banks of the River Deben that was recently crowned the UK’s happiest place to live by Rightmove.

Having spent a weekend soaking up its moreish cocktail of history, gorgeous views and cracking food — including one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had — I’m inclined to agree.

It was a short trip for me and my partner across the Essex/Suffolk ­border, where we checked into one of Woodbridge’s best-known hotels, The Crown.

The charming inn features ten comfortable boutique rooms, with enormous beds and grand panelled bathtubs.

The property’s position, smack bang on the thoroughfare of the town, is perfect for soaking up the best Woodbridge has to offer, within walking distance of a high street scattered with independent shops.

Swing by The W Gallery if you get a chance.

We were captivated by a huge canvas of an avenue of neon orange trees by artist Samuel Thomas.

A few doors down, at Bois Jolie, the owner explained how he went from market researcher to owning his own woodcraft business.

Now, rather than staring at spreadsheets and pie charts, he spends his time creating interesting coffee tables and beautifully grained yew lamp stands, topped by his wife’s colourful handmade shades.

If we weren’t convinced before, we certainly were after that: Woodbridge really is a town of happy people — and they love to chat.

We had made sure we were well fuelled for our first day of adventure with a huge brekkie of juicy local sausages and perfectly poached eggs at the hotel.

Make sure you book in here for dinner one night, too.

The Crown’s restaurant and bar are buzzing with locals on a Saturday night.

If you ever tire of the hotel’s jam-packed burgers, fish and chips and flavoursome salads, you won’t need to venture far for a decent meal in Woodbridge.

I recommend The Woodyard Ltd, where the air was thick with the lip-smacking scent of smoke and garlic.

Its wood-fired pizzas are something special and we were grateful for our cold beers after devouring a Vesuvio — all charred dough, spicy nduja sausage and fiery salami.

The queue for tables stretched out of the door and, after eating, it was easy to see why.

The Anchor proved the perfect spot for a relaxed Sunday roast.

My plate came piled high with pork, doused in a stock-rich gravy that was so good I would have happily drunk it from a mug.

Once we were finished feasting, we walked it off along Woodbridge’s River Deben and the marina, where hundreds of colourful boats are moored.

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Take a peek at the tide mill on your wander.

The Grade I listed mill is one of the few remaining in the country and has a history stretching back 800 years.

We then made our way towards Kyson Hill, where the sun-drenched river is framed by salt marshes and ancient woodland.

This National Trust area is full of wildlife and we spotted a heron motionless at the water’s edge while, in the distance, deer darted between the trees.

While we didn’t get the chance to visit the mounds of Sutton Hoo itself on the other side of the river, its connection to the town is deepening.

It’s thought the ship and its treasure were hauled three miles up to the burial site from Woodbridge in the 7th Century, and now a community-led project is rebuilding the ancient craft in all its 90ft glory.

The locals are brilliantly enthusiastic about the mission, and you can take a look at the impressive work in progress in The Longshed.

After a weekend of eating, walking and soaking up the charm of this riverside town and all its history, I reckon Woodbridge is quite possibly the happiest place to live in the UK.

And it’s just as great to visit.

It may even feature frequently on my property searches . . . 

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