Printable hotel details
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98 High Street, Rye, East Sussex
TN31 7JT
The George in Rye
- Style
- Quirky-smart Regency inn
- Setting
- Cobbled streets of Rye
At this East Sussex boutique hotel – a striking coaching-inn conversion – the ballroom’s high walls are hung with a diverting bird-patterned wallpaper and the chairs clad in monochrome Florence Broadhurst textiles. The George in Rye has decor that makes for love-at-first-sight stuff.
Need to know
- Rooms
- 24, including five suites.
- Rates
- £125–£225, including breakfast. One-night bookings for Saturdays incur a £50 supplement.
- Check-out
- 11.30am, but flexible on request.
- Facilities
- Courtyard garden, DVD library, private dining and screening room, free WiFi, bike hire. In rooms, flatscreen TV, Vi‑Spring bed, Frette linens, marble‑edged (or roll-top) bath, rain shower head, Aveda toiletries.
- Children
- Welcome. An extra bed (£20) or cot (£10) can be added to rooms, along with baby essentials including a changing mat, wet wipes, nappies – and a rubber duck; babysitting can be arranged with advance notice.
- Also
- Lavender‑filled pillows and luxurious bottles of wild fig oil imported from Florence make nights in even more relaxing.
In the know
- Our favourite rooms
- Each room is unique, so you’re bound to have your own preference, but we like cosy, pretty room 3; room 10 in the eaves with a roll‑top bath; and elegantly decorated room 2. Room 6 has a gorgeous shower stall made from a wig cupboard. For a special weekend, book suite 1 for its double‑headed walk‑in shower.
- Packing tips
- Leave the coolbox behind; the George in Rye can pack you up a fabulous hamper to take on your coastal forays – the dunes of Camber Sands are the perfect picnic destination.
- Also
- Let the George organise you tickets to one of the world-class gardens nearby, or book some in-room pampering treatments with one of the therapists from the nearby Aveda spa.
Food & drink
- Hotel restaurant
- Formerly at Moro, head chef Rod Grossmann ruthlessly adheres to a ‘local, fresh and seasonal produce’ mantra, serving up Mediterranean‑themed dishes in the contemporary brasserie‑style Dining Room.
- Dress code
- Laid‑back layers; something a little smarter for dinner.
- Top table
- Nestle in a corner at either end of the long banquette, or outside in the Garden Courtyard on balmy evenings.
- Last orders
- The George Tap bar stays open until the last guest goes to bed.
- Room service
- Light snacks available 24 hours; from 7am to 10pm, you can order from the restaurant’s dinner menu.
- Hotel bar
- Sip on a Rye Smile whiskey cocktail or glass of Sussex wine amid the George Tap’s attractive mish‑mash of wooden tables, benches and chairs.
Smith card offer A Rye Smile cocktail each in the bar
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Smith concierge
If you’d prefer to talk to someone, or you’re having trouble booking online, ring our travel team on 0845 034 0700 (+44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK). We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.
Local restaurants
Good gastropubs – mostly clad in white clapboard – are only a shuffle away: try pot‑roast pheasant in The Globe Inn on Military Road (01797 223381), or rack of Romney Marsh lamb at Ypres Castle Inn, aka ‘the Wipers’, on Gun Gardens (01797 223248). Just outside the town’s mediaeval gate, Landgate Bistro has an excellent menu of classic and contemporary British dishes (01797 222829). Savvy diners will love The Place Camber Sands on New Lydd Road (01797 225057), where grill-focused grub is made with sustainable, free-range and organic ingredients (meats are locally farmed, and only non-threatened species of Rye Bay fish are used). For olde-world charm and traditional romance in spades, have dinner at The Linen Fold, the restaurant of the Mermaid Inn (01797 223065), a characterful oak-beamed hostelry dating back to the 12th century .
Local cafes
There’s no shortage of cafés and tearooms in Rye, but you’ll be magnetically drawn to the cream cakes and savoury temptations at Fletchers House on Lion Street (01797 222227).
Worth getting out of bed for
Browse the antiques shops along the Strand Quay, or stroll down to gorgeous Camber Sands with a bulging picnic hamper packed for you by the George in Rye. Ramblers will enjoy the High Weald Landscape Trail and 1066 Walk, both of which start at Rye; visit www.highweald.org for routes.
Diary
Every Wednesday There's a weekly farmer's market at Rye's Strand Quay, where (if you're up early enough), you'll also see the local fisherman landing their catch each morning. September The Rye Festival is a long-established celebration of art and music (www.ryefestival.co.uk).
For a full list of bars and restaurants in East Sussex, click here
East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Number of people
- 2-150
- Licensed for weddings
- Yes
Wow factor
This romantic hotel is located in the heart of historic Rye. Weddings are held in a Georgian ballroom with high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and walls covered in hand-painted silk panels.
Need to know
Saturday weddings are held for a minimum of 75 guests. The wedding party must also book the bedrooms closest to the ballroom.
Inspiration
The hotel offers a food and drink tasting session with the General Manager and Head Chef. The hotel has compiled a list of contacts to organise everything from the cake to the flowers. Even the tiniest detail can be arranged - one couple recently requested a special tea to be blended to use as wedding favours. Wine and champagne from Sussex and Kent vineyards are available.
Click here to view more wedding hotels in United Kingdom
East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Best for
- Babies and up - children of all ages welcomed.
Recommended rooms
Deluxe and Junior Suites are best for families because most can fit a cot or Z-bed (for an extra £10). Ask about rooms that share the same door onto the main corridor.
Crèche/day care
There isn't a creche, but babysitting can be provided during the day given prior notice.
Activities
The best beach for children is at Camber Sands, a long stretch of golden sands a short drive (or cycle ride) from the hotel. Ask staff to point you in the direction of family friendly activities, such as riding, crazy golf and sailing.
Meals
Children are allowed in the restaurant at all times. There's a dedicated children's menu, and staff are happy to heat up milk and food and organise packed lunches. There are light snacks available via room service available around the clock.
Babysitting
Staff are happy to arrange a registered nanny or babysitter. Please give as much notice as possible.
Baby-listening
Baby monitors work in all rooms. There are some available to borrow, and you can take it to your table in the restaurant or bar.
No need to pack
There are high chairs in the restaurant. A backpack with nappies, changingmat, babywipes and a rubber duck will be left in your room when you've a baby in tow.
Also
Every room has a TV, and there are DVD players available on request, plus a selection of child-friendly DVDs. Baby massage lessons for parents are available on request.
Click here to view more child-friendly hotels in United Kingdom
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