The Domestic Sluts have been on a little bit of a road trip to see in Sussex Week. Boutique hotel specialists Mr & Mrs Smith helped us pick their most interesting Sussex hotels and then put us up for a few nights so we could explore the area. First up? The George in Rye.
There are a few words that can be used to describe The George: comfortable, friendly, stylish. Welcoming. Which is good, because it's not easy to find and our SatNav took us all over Rye and around a complex one way system of tiny cobbled streets before we pulled up outside. There's not much in the way of parking but you can drop your bags off at the hotel before driving down the hill to the nearest car park a few minutes walk away.
The magic with The George is that it's not a really fancy hotel, but it feels like it is. It's luxurious without being pretentious. There are cute little touches throughout the hotel - magazines, little lavender pillows, board games if you've finished your book in the car. And my goodness, THAT BED. Truly one of the best I've ever slept in. My shoulders are knot-free for the first time in weeks.
Could anything be more perfect than a huge freestanding bath after a day of sightseeing? They'll bring a cocktail up to your room if you give them a call while the bath is running. (And they'll bring you fresh milk if you don't fancy UHT in your cuppa.)
The rooms are a little bit of a classy shabby chic and designed by the hotel owners. The style continues throughout the hotel and we enjoyed a very lovely pint of local ale before dinner. Full marks to the barmen for chatting to us about the beer. And not raising an eyebrow when we asked for pints.
The restaurant, The Grill, has the same relaxed charm as the rest of the building. Service is friendly without going over the top and food was fantastic on the whole. We ate a (sadly a little bland) perfectly cooked squid starter and phenomenal Donald Russel rib-eyes, following them up with one of the best lemon tarts either Sel or I have tried (we pretty much treat lemon tart like it's a food group). We even had a little room left to nibble on half a slightly hit and miss cheese board. Still, their Oxford Blue is one fine cheese and while we didn't finish it, we were tempted to sneak it up to our room. We'd love to tell you about the wine, but we stuck to beer all night.
The George in Rye is a perfect base to explore Sussex. It's relaxed and it's easy to feel at home. Rye is an idyllic town to stroll around, full of little antique shops and gorgeous restaurants and pubs, including the very exciting Mermaid Inn - said to be one of the most haunted in England (sadly, the Sluttery ghost count was zero when we popped in for a lunchtime drink).
Pretty though it is, you probably won't find enough in Rye to keep you busy for a weekend, but with Camber Sands nearby and gorgeous countryside, you'll be itching to explore. Prices through Mr & Mrs Smith are around £135 per night including a tasty breakfast (the full English fared slightly better than the Eggs Benedict and for a fiver they'll bring it up to your room). You'll feel like you've spent more money than you really have and you'll sleep like a dream. Make sure you pack flat shoes. Those cobbles would be a bitch in high heels.
Comfy beds are always a winner, I reckon.
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