Salthouse announces £2m waterfront spa and floating sauna

Why it matters: The three-part project will create more than 20 new jobs at the family-owned hotel which is marking its 60th anniversary this month.

The details: The hotel is calling the project its '60 Years Bold' campaign, with three distinct additions planned for the waterfront:

• A complete ground-floor restaurant and bar redevelopment opening late March 2026, expanding social space for lunch, afternoon tea and evening dining.
• A wet spa opening late spring 2026 featuring saunas, steam rooms, foot spas and a bespoke wallow pool overlooking the marina, plus treatment rooms and deep relaxation spaces.
• A sauna boat launching late spring 2026 offering wood-fired heat, cold plunges, open skies and waterfront views.

By the numbers: The hotel said the investment will create at least 20 new positions across spa therapists, wellness hosts, marina sauna attendants and bar and restaurant staff.

Robert Gough, managing director, said: "For 60 years our family has been proud to welcome guests to Suffolk. This anniversary proves we're not slowing down: we're stepping up. We know how to look after our guests but we'll never stop finding new ways to inspire them."

What's next: The hotel claims it will be Suffolk's only town-centre waterfront hotel with a dedicated spa when it opens in spring 2026.

For context: Gough Hotels was founded in 1965 by Dick and Mary Gough and remains a family-owned business operating two independent hotels: The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds and The Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich.

The bottom line: This is a significant investment for the waterfront and town. The £2 million project will create more than 20 jobs and bring something unique to Ipswich's leisure and hospitality when it opens spring 2026.