There seems to be a growing enthusiasm for British travel, and I feel like 2017 is a great year to explore the lesser known areas of England. Recently I spent a night in Rye, a charming town just 90 minutes drive from London. Our base for the weekend was The Gallivant, a perfectly quaint boutique hotel, minutes away from the stunning Camber Sands stretch of beach.
There are many things to see and do in Rye; I recommend walking down the picturesque Mermaid Street, grabbing high-quality coffee at Edith’s House and splurging on vintage kitchen accessories at Crock & Cosy. After a morning exploring the tearooms and antique shops of Rye, we headed to The Gallivant for a relaxing weekend.
There are 20 rooms at The Gallivant and many have recently been refreshed and redecorated. We were in Room 8, which was small but perfectly arranged. There is a subtle nautical theme throughout the rooms at the Gallivant, hinting at the beachside location. The interiors feel luxurious thanks to the lovely materials used… white marble table tops and soft indulgent bedding. Quirky features like the vintage bedside telephones and mini library of books add character to the rooms.
I was delighted to find a large bath complete with generous bottles of Bramley products. The Bramley collection are all natural and handmade in the South West of England. After a blissfully long bath I wrapped up in the fluffy white towelling robes provided by The Gallivant for guest use.
The Gallivant restaurant serves comforting dishes with an emphasis on fresh local produce. When we sat down for lunch I was impressed to see a food map on the table detailing where all the fruit & vegetables, meat & fish and wine has come from (most of which is within a 10 mile radius!). Everything we ate was delicious, from spiced roast parsnip soup to the dried aged Sussex Red beef sirloin. The kitchen really respect the ingredients they have, creating simple but sophisticated recipes. Don’t miss the sticky toffee pudding for dessert!
After a long and refreshing sleep, breakfast was enjoyed from the comfort of our own room. The cute window seats are perfect for morning snacking, we feasted on freshly made Waffles with banana and decadent Eggs Benedict, while watching the sun rise around us.
Within the garden of the Gallivant is the newly opened Beach Hut, a peaceful oasis for guests to enjoy spa treatments. I embraced the opportunity to be pampered for an hour, and felt my body de-stress while therapist Billie massaged my back and scalp with the Natural Spa Factory products.
The Gallivant is not far from the city, but offers busy city dwellers the opportunity to truly relax away from their busy everyday lives. With great food and new spa offerings, this boutique British retreat ticks every box.
More information and book a room at The Gallivant here.
