The George in Rye

Like all proper boutique hotels, each of the George in Rye’s 34 guest bedrooms is individually designed and many of them make you feel as if you have stepped on to the pages of a design magazine. If you really love your room and want to recreate the experience at home you can pop into The Shop Next Door, which sells homewares featured in the hotel’s rooms.

All the hotel rooms feature comfortable bespoke Vispring beds, a flat-screen television, digital radio, a small work desk, an armchair and an en suite bathroom.

Free Wi-Fi wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel and a full English breakfast is included in the price.

The George opened in 1575 but moved to its current location in 1719. Although the building’s facade dates from the 18th century, many parts of the building are at least 200 years older than this. Although the decor is mostly contemporary, it incorporates period features of the building including original exposed beams.

The nature of the 16th-century building means that it is not particularly wheelchair friendly although there is one accessible room on the ground floor. There is no lift so you should avoid rooms on the higher floors if you have trouble climbing stairs.

The hotel has a bar (The George Tap) and restaurant (The George Grill). The George Tap has cosy nooks and crannies where you can nurse a pint of local ale by an open fire and The George Grill features a menu comprised of modern British and European dishes prepared in an open kitchen with an emphasis on meat cooked on a Josper grill. Both the restaurant and bar appeal to both locals and visitors to Rye.

When a hotel gets everything just right, I am often happy to put up with an inconvenient location. However, in this instance that simply isn’t necessary as The George has the best spot in town. It is right in the centre of the high street and virtually everything of interest in Rye is no more than a five-minute walk away. A drawback of this central location means that there is no on-site parking but staff can direct you to public parking nearby.

Throughout history, The George in Rye has played host to several prominent Georges. Three different King Georges have visited and George Clooney stayed here when he was filming Monuments Men in 2013. If it was good enough for George, then The George should also be good enough for you. It may be a little more expensive than many other hotels in Rye but for the most part, the extra you pay to stay here is money well spent.