The Gallivant, Rye
Coastal chic is taken to an entirely new level at this beautiful boutique beach house next to the dreamy dunes of Camber Sands making it the most gorgeous of getaways
This one-of-a-kind beach house complete with a destination restaurant sits right on the beach and is a stunning stay-cation even during the cooler seasons. The hotel has a New York Hamptons feel but with beautifully British touches including their bias towards serving English wines. There are 20 rooms including luxury suites with direct access to the ‘coastal garden’ as well as snug cabins and the entire location is set on a single level so that views of Camber Sands beach can be enjoyed in almost every spot. And if you want to see a little more culture, the chocolate-box pretty medieval town of Rye is just a 10minute drive away. And the best bit? You’ve a wealth of vineyards in the vicinity but if you want to stay put, you can sample them the Muddy way over dinner at The Gallivant’s restaurant.
The hotel is loyal to a neutral look calming beiges, browns and pale greys with punches of colour thanks to navy accents and natural wood with plants aplenty. The rooms have a little more character – think statement headboards, framed posters of vintage swimsuits and books galore. Selected rooms have direct access to the outside space with deckchairs and table, while there are Hypnos beds and Bamford toiletries. All guests are invited to enjoy complimentary daily elevenses, to borrow beach equipment and to take advantage of daily yoga on the beach, Peloton cycling, English wine tasting and treatments at the Beach Hut mini spa.
Head chef is Jamie Guy and the menu is dedicated to fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, and he regularly joins his team to forage for seashore vegetables. This means you’ve just a few options for each course, delivering quality over quantity. They also are proud to have one of the most extensive English wine lists in the country and work closely with Sussex vineyards, regularly hosting wine tastings and lunch events. The restaurant is open exclusively to guests and members, with most nightly rates including dinner. There is a brunch menu from Friday – Sunday which you can choose to eat al fresco depending on the weather. The indoor lounge bar serves delicious cocktails and has a country-cosy vibe.
You’ll want to leave the kids at home, as this is purely for over 16s, and allow yourself to truly indulge. One way to do that is to try the Drinks in the Dunes package – designed to enjoy sunset with drinks, glassware, a beach blanket and reusable bag. Simply bliss.
Read Muddy’s review of The Gallivant