Our History
Situated in the scenic Suffolk countryside, Hintlesham Hall was originally built as a single-story Tudor hall. It was remodelled into a family home by the Timperley family in the 15th century and has undergone significant changes over the past 600 years.
Chef Robert Carrier purchased Hintlesham Hall in 1971. After extensive refurbishment, the hall became a small boutique hotel with 5 suites. Carrier created the herb garden and acquired a Michelin star for the restaurant; he also opened a cookery school at Hintlesham Hall.
In 1984, cookery enthusiast Ruth and David Wilson took over Hintlesham Hall, expanding and rebuilding to create a luxury 4-star hotel. All the rooms were remodelled, including the attics and the first floor of the north wing, which had remained untouched since Victorian times. A new reception, kitchen and office block was added, and after a major fire, the stable block was converted into the Courtyard wing.
In 1990, David Allan of Aquaglade Properties purchased the Hall and golf club. He put in a management team at the Hall and focused on the golf club, where he created the award-winning golf clubhouse in 1991.
In 2003, Dee Ludlow, fronting a Board of investors, purchased the Hall and consolidated its reputation as a famous country retreat with fine dining. She also refurbished all the bathrooms.
In 2012, Has Modi, one of the original board of investors, a businessman and entrepreneur from Milton Keynes, took sole ownership of the Hall and introduced a management team.
With its fascinating and diverse history, Hintlesham Hall remains one of the leading hotels and most notable landmarks in Suffolk.
Robert Carrier
Hintlesham Hall and our highly regarded Carrier’s restaurant are drenched in history spanning multiple decades and continents, thanks to its founder, Robert Carrier, who can only be compared to a modern-day celebrity chef.
Born in Tarrytown, New York, Carrier was originally an actor, playing lead roles in multiple musicals. After touring, Robert would return home to New York, spending his weekends with his beloved French grandmother, learning how to cook a wide variety of dishes.
After a stint in the US Army, Carrier moved to the south of France to work at a friend's restaurant. This was where he found his real passion for cookery, and he wrote regular food-related articles for ration-restricted Europe in need of fresh flavours and new ideas.
In 1953, Robert Carrier was invited by a close friend to visit London for the coronation of Elizabeth II. This prompted a move to London, where he began writing articles for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and the Sunday Times. Carrier soon became a well-known name and a popular celebrity of the 1960s.
In 1959, after the tremendous success of his book, ‘Great Dishes of the World’, Robert decided to open his own restaurant in the heart of London, called Carrier’s. He also opened up several successful cookery schools across the globe.
In 1971, Robert Carrier came across an advertisement in Country Life for Hintlesham Hall. After extensive renovations, the hotel and restaurant opened in 1972, and in the coming years, Robert would begin to transform the hotel's outbuildings into modern classrooms for cookery lessons. Carrier made a return to the spotlight in the late 70s and began presenting a television show based on the cooking cards from his earlier cooking books.