In our Suite Staycation column, Gina Jackson – hotel expert and author of British Boutique Hotels – tours some of the best hotel suites in the UK. Next up, The Gallivant in East Sussex.
Best for: a coastal-chic seaside stay
Down by the dunes along East Sussex’s rugged coastline, The Gallivant offers a relaxed beachside stay just minutes away from sweeping Camber Sands.
Give us the lowdown
This Californian-chic, motel-inspired getaway oozes plenty of coastal charm, with cabin-like bedrooms just steps away from the shore. Set back from the sand, a clutch of beach bungalows form the main body of the hotel, where nautically-inspired interiors reign supreme: licks of blue, striped cushions, and vintage swimwear sourced from Orange County itself lining the walls. Guests sprawl across the space, curling up in the cosy snug with a book, or spilling over squashy armchairs into the light-filled restaurant and terrace beyond.
What’s in the suite?
There are just 20 bedrooms here, all designed as breezy, Hamptons-style hideouts. I stayed in Cromarty, one of the hotel’s largest Luxury Garden rooms, each of which is named after a different beach (there are just four rooms in this category). Rooms are awash in dreamy, sea-inspired swatches – think pale greens and blues – while marshmallow-soft beds feature wavy linen headboards, and are cocooned by panelled bookshelves. Were it not for the dunes on your doorstep, it would be quite tempting to hole up inside here all day: huge flat-screen TVs are plonked directly opposite the bed, and minibars are amply stocked with artisan treats. Sliding shutters reveal the bathroom, where a freestanding tub takes centre stage, while double doors open onto a manicured semi-private garden, where you’ll find an outdoor seating area framed by foliage.
How’s the crowd?
This is an adults-only escape: you’ll rub shoulders with couples and friend duos retreating here for relaxed seaside jaunts. Small and medium-sized pooches are allowed, with a few of the hotel’s bedrooms being dog-friendly.
Where can we eat and drink?
Harry’s is the hotel’s centrepiece restaurant, having been transformed earlier this year with ex-Bibendum chef Matthew Harris at its helm. The relaxed dining room oozes plenty of Californian cool, with leafy plants angling out at each corner, and vintage swimwear from the 80s (sourced from various costume houses in Los Angeles) framed along the walls. Given the hotel’s beachside perch, fresh seafood takes pride of place on the menu: shuck down fresh oysters before moving onto curried mussels and hake swimming in buttery pine nut sauce.
There are more meaty items on the menu too: côte de boeuf for two to share, or veal loin paired with creamy Irish champ. Seasonal, local produce is championed throughout all of the dishes, with most ingredients sourced from within a 10-mile radius. Come morning, you’ll return to Harry’s to graze from a breakfast table laden with freshly baked breads, jams, and pastries, before the hotel’s signature breakfast trays arrive tableside, laden with a variety of Kent produce: think local cheeses, smoked salmon, and homemade granola.
What’s on the to-do list?
The Gallivant’s unrivalled location along the dunes places you just minutes away from Camber Sands, one of England’s most magnificent beaches. It’s worth heading here in all kinds of weather: on rainy days, you can borrow wellies from the hotel for a stomp beside the sea (note that you’ll have to scrabble over hefty sand banks to reach the beach). In the mornings, shake off your slumber by joining the hotel’s daily yoga class, which takes place every day in the light-filled yoga studio, or out on the dunes in the summer months.
Are there any stand-out touches worth mentioning?
It’s impossible to go hungry here, with lots of complimentary nibbles on offer throughout the day. Come teatime, freshly baked sweet treats are rolled out from the kitchen, along with teas and coffees that you can help yourself to. At happy hour every evening, English wines from nearby vineyards are generously poured for all guests, and when you return to your bedroom after dinner, you’ll find a flask of hot tea waiting for you. Fresh juice shots and coffees are handed out after yoga classes each morning.
What should we know before we go?
Nearby Rye, the coastline’s historic Tudor town, is a leisurely ten-minute drive away, and home to plenty of boutique shops and cosy pubs well worth a pootle. While there is a bus route that passes by The Gallivant, you’ll want to visit by car for easy and spontaneous trips into town. English vineyards span out in every direction from the hotel’s doorstep: head to nearby Tillingham for vineyard tours, wine tastings, and spectacular Sunday roasts at their acclaimed restaurant.
What should we pack?
Dressing up isn’t strictly necessary: relaxed knitwear and jeans will take you from beach walks through to dinner, while raincoats are a wise choice at all times of year (this is England, after all!). Remember swimsuits if you’re visiting in summer and fancy a bracing dip in the ocean – and bring activewear if you plan on joining one of the morning yoga sessions.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?