The Gallivant

Location: New Lydd Road, Rye, gb

Star Rating: 4 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Policies

Check-in: 04:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Pets allowed
• Luggage storage
• Massage services
• Packed lunches
• Non-smoking throughout
• Board games/puzzles
• Outdoor furniture
• Spa/wellness center services
• Beauty Services
• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Fire extinguishers
• Smoke alarms
• Key access
• 24-hour security
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Free wired internet
• Golfing on site
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Beach yoga on site
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Reception hall
• Japanese garden
• Secured parking
• Fishing nearby
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Horse riding nearby
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Beach toys
• Vegetarian menu options available

Rooms Available

• Luxury Double Room, 1 King Bed, Garden View

  1 King Bed

  Deck/patio with garden views

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch Smart TV with digital channels and Netflix

  Food & Drink - Espresso maker

  Sleep - Premium bedding, turndown service, and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, separate bathtub and shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Yard and wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Heating and ceiling fan

  Non-Smoking, pet friendly

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Yard
  • Ceiling fan
  • Espresso maker
  • Premium bedding
  • Turndown service
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Smart TV
  • Deck or patio

• Comfort Double Room, 1 King Bed

  1 King Bed

  Individually decorated room

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch Smart TV with digital channels and Netflix

  Sleep - Premium bedding and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Heating and ceiling fan

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Ceiling fan
  • Premium bedding
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Smart TV

• Double Room

  These rooms have an organic, natural feel to them. Lined throughout in weathered timber walls contrasting with soft furnishings in warm golds and ocean blues, these romantic rooms are a perfect escape from the outside world.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Electric kettle
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access

• Superior Double Room, 1 King Bed

  1 King Bed

  Individually decorated room

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch Smart TV with digital channels and Netflix

  Sleep - Premium bedding and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, bathtub or shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Wardrobe or closet

  Comfort - Heating and ceiling fan

  Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Ceiling fan
  • Premium bedding
  • Free WiFi
  • No rollaway/extra beds
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Smart TV

• Superior Double Room

  Beautifully elegant bedrooms, that have a relaxing coastal feel with calming colors and chic detailing. Featuring super comfortable king beds, a bespoke sofa built into the window niche and white marble bathrooms with bath and shower above.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Refrigerator
  • Electric kettle
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access

• Deluxe King Room

  The largest bedrooms are truly special with an enormous handmade bed, a unique bathroom with roll top bathtub, monsoon shower and sliding wall. French doors leading directly to the coastal garden and your very own secluded private deck.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Minibar
  • Shower
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Private entrance
  • Electric kettle
  • Coffee machine
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access

• Deluxe Double Room

  The double room features a seating area, a patio and garden views. The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Seating Area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Smoke alarm
  • Key access

• Classic Double Room, 1 King Bed, Garden View

  1 King Bed

  Deck/patio with garden views

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Entertainment - 32-inch Smart TV with digital channels and Netflix

  Sleep - Premium bedding and bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, bathtub or shower, bathrobes, and a hair dryer

  Practical - Yard

  Comfort - Heating and ceiling fan

  Non-Smoking, pet friendly

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Yard
  • Ceiling fan
  • Premium bedding
  • Free WiFi
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Smart TV
  • Deck or patio

Guest Reviews

• Tamara (10/5): - Gorgeous aesthetic, wonderful food and drink, great yoga classes and luxurious rooms and pubic spaces. What’s not to like?!
• C3628ITcolins (2/5): Beware pricing policy - Having been quoted a price for a 2 night stay, when I went to confirm booking online the price was substantially increased. Dubious explanation provided by hotel for reason and so did not proceed with the booking. No wonder they seem to have rooms available! Not a good way to do business.
• 263edf (10/5): Wonderful stay by Camber Sands - Stayed for two nights in this wonderful little hotel by Camber Sands with wife and two grown up family. Happy seaside vibe. All the staff were amazing, super helpful and friendly. Cool bar area, and the restaurant is superb, just great cooking. Thank you!
• sheryl052018 (6/5): Disappointing and underwhelming - Service was friendly although seemed forced. Atmosphere wasn't the greatest and overall very disappointing given the michellin rating and the price tag. Presentation of food was very basic and lacked colour. Food itself was ok but again for the price tag you'd expect more.
• Dmitrii (10/5): - Our stay at this hotel was truly wonderful. The property is incredibly stylish and elegant, with beautifully designed rooms that feel very cozy. The garden is absolutely stunning, and we spent some lovely time enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Both the restaurant and the bar are exceptionally beautiful, offering a great atmosphere and delicious food. The staff was very friendly and welcoming throughout our visit. This is a perfect place to stop and recharge while on the road. Highly recommended! =)
• Aleksandra (9/5): -
• Pratik (10/5): Vibes . - The Vibe is perfect . Owner has nailed it with this . Perfect little cool beach house ( Miami vibes ) . Good room with a garden perfect for dog . Excellent bed ; slept really well . Warm and airy and quiet . Staff at night super helpful and very accommodating . Highly reccomended .
• Footprints137709 (10/5): Great Stay - Our first stay at the Gallivant. High room standard, very friendly and efficient staff, they went the extra mile with service/ information. Lindsay was absolutely first class. Food (breakfast and dinner) was very good, served in a lovely setting with a very pleasant atmosphere. There were also quite a few nice well thought out little touches (eg afternoon cake!). In summary, we had a great stay, and will come back again. Bill & Chris
• Bluebellplasnewydd (8/5): Luxury retreat - The Gallivant is advertised as a luxury retreat with exceptional food and service. Does it meet these expectations? It is situated on a windswept part of the south coast in a rather nondescript area. The other side of the road is Camber sands and beach. However the dunes are high so there is no view of the sea from the hotel. There is not much to do here apart from walking although Rye is a 10 minute drive away (not allowing for parking). Check-in was easy and informal. The rooms are beautifully furbished and comfortable. We had a very good bed and what appeared to be a window sofa/settee and slept very well. However the room was tiny with just enough room to walk around the bed. Heating worked well but there is a peculiar arrangement where windows to the bathroom open into the bedroom. They are frosted but it gives a feeling of lack of privacy. Our bathroom was beautifully appointed with matching white marble and high quality liquid soaps. We had a bath with built in shower. There was a fixed glass shower screen at the tap end of the bath which severely limited access. The bathroom was relatively as equally small as the bedroom with a 2 door entrance where the door handles were difficult to pull out and this soon became annoying. Cleaning of the room was exemplary. Breakfast was included with a small selection of meats and tasty croissants but there was no wow factor. The bar and lounge area is homely, very comfortable chairs, with a good ambiance for drinks and chat. There is a log fire so it is a great social centre for the stay. The staff are friendly and willing to chat so if you are alone in the bar you will not be bored. The dining experience is very favourable with an extensive and interesting menu although the use of sauce is copious. This is good food but not Michelin Star standard. Overall I enjoyed the stay but felt that there was a considerable mismatch between the high price paid and the size of the bedroom together with the annoyances mentioned above.
• peng (9/5): 100% relaxed, Camber Sands at its best. - We enjoyed our stay very much. The interior is thoughtfully designed and well maintained. Also appreciated the warm service provided by everyone on staff. Restaurant was good at breakfast, and dinner was excellent as well. Value on point for what was delivered. Nothing
• Mer Domenech (8/5): Great stay and will return, just make sure you are firm about room allocation - It’s a lovely concept, ideally located, and it really feels like a mini retreat. A great staycation option. The room I stayed in walled the restaurant’s bathrooms and kitchen so I could hear absolutely everything that happened, which was a bit off putting. It was also at the start of the corridor so I could hear constant opening and slamming of doors.
• TrustedBook (10/5): - Excellent service, from reception to the waiting team. Absolutely no issues at all- a gorgeous place.
• JMP488 (4/5): Don’t stay here - only come to dine - I suggest that people who look into this hotel carefully read though the reviews below because if I had, I wouldn’t have stayed. Dinner is really good. The service of the f&b team are great. The only reason to come here is the evening food. Read below the reviews of the breakfast. You get a miserable breakfast tray. That’s it. The real issue is the rooms. They are simply not in any manner worth £350+ a night. Rooms are tiny and there is no storage space at all. None. You will not be able to unpack your bags and you will have to negotiate around them as you attempt to move around the remaining small space. The rooms are cute in the manner of a design show room, but if you intend on spending anytime at all in them, or want to unpack they are not tenable. The rooms are also not very well sound proofed and you will hear everything in the adjacent rooms. We had a disagreement with one of the staff members on our first night. My partner wanted to leave straight away, I wanted to leave. But hey 3 hours back to London on a Friday night would have been more painful than staying. It is, however, not a comfortable place to sleep or stay and the hotel staff don’t match the calibre of the f&b team. By all means come for the food. It’s great. But read through the multiple reviews pointing out its failures as an overpriced place to stay. They’re all true.
• tracylondon (6/5): A bit disappointing for the money - We stayed at The Gallivant for one night in February - it’s been on my bucket list for a while and I was excited to try it. All of the staff were very welcoming and friendly and the breakfast was lovely but in all honesty, we were underwhelmed. With dinner (and not a blow out as we don’t drink much and we’re not massive eaters), it was £600 for 1 night. This felt really pricey for the size of room. Our room was pretty cramped (a garden room). It was nicely decorated, with a good bathroom and the soundproofing was excellent so that even though the rooms were right next to each other, we didn’t hear the neighbours at all but for a cramped room in a hotel with no spa or gym, a fairly small restaurant and limited parking, it was disappointing.
• Nicola (7/5): Expensive, well run and comfortable, great location, should provide a cooked breakfast - Comfortable bed, over the road from beach, great dinner Expensive and would like a cooked breakfast considering the price
• bethclifford1 (10/5): Zen January break - A brief January stay in a luxury garden suite was fantastic. The hotel was very dog friendly, Monty learned where the treat jar was very quickly… we had a fantastic deal on the visit as it was midweek and in January, but this included all the nice touches including cake at 4pm, oyster happy hour at 5pm. We ate at Harry’s, the hotel restaurant, twice and very much enjoyed both visits. All the staff were very accommodating, friendly and personable. Great location if you want visit the beach, although Camber Sands is only dog friendly in the winter. We were glad we brought the car so we could hop between surrounding villages easily. We spent evenings in the bar area reading or playing board games, a very cosy and relaxing atmosphere. Would highly recommend The Gallivant!
• GingernutMixer (6/5): Lovely touches but hard to truly relax - The Gallivant clearly puts a lot of thought into guest comfort, with many appreciated touches including a comfortable bed, quality tea and coffee, dressing gowns, bottled water, wellies, yoga, dog-friendly policies, on-site parking and excellent food. Unfortunately, the stay was undermined by a series of small but constant frustrations. Check-in was awkward and confusing due to a malfunctioning tablet. The room had several design quirks that made simple things difficult, including hard-to-open windows, limited bathroom privacy, a temperamental kettle, confusing light switches and a bedroom door that was difficult to unlock. Service in the bar was inconsistent, with no clear system in the evening. There were also comfort and safety issues, including very slippery bedside mats, awkward shower temperature controls, low water pressure in the toilet and taps, and noise from dogs and the corridor overnight. While the food was excellent and many details were thoughtful, the overall experience required too much effort to relax. We wouldn’t choose to stay again.
• Melanie (7/5): -
• Monique (10/5): Loved It - From arrival to departure, a truly memorable stay. The staff is exceptional - welcoming, friendly, helpful, courteous, professional. A low-key luxury, relaxed ambiance prevails throughout. It's the little things that make the difference: lending us dry robes for a chilly walk on the beach, wellies, a beach towel for the dog, 4pm cake and coffee, 5pm wine-tasting - all included. Delightful dinner. Charming room, albeit small, opening out onto a lovely natural, sea-grassed garden - the dog loved it. We will definitely return Minor, minor gripes: the room (No 3) was a tad small for two adults and a large dog; no hot food at breakfast. Porridge for a chilly day would have been nice.
• Michael (10/5): A fantastic and relaxing experience with good food and really attentive staff - Everything. A really homely, professional and relaxing experience.
• Denise (10/5): Completely resettled and ready for the new year - Friendly and very comfortable. Relaxing with exceptional service that isn’t overbearing. A perfect getaway
• propertyspiv (4/5): Average average average expensive . - Visited late December for pre birthday meal with my wife and daughter . In simple terms service was poor based upon them apparently being busy .Forgot wine and when reminded they didn't have what we ordered , starters arrived before drinks. Food in general unexceptional based on exceptional prices .In my view another over hyped establishment with average food and service .
• PeterMMM253 (10/5): A Christmas Break that was exceptional - Christmas at the Gallivant was magical. An adults only occasion created the perfect setting to enjoy being thoroughly spoiled and cared for. The staff were without exception kind, caring and polite offering excellent customer service. The accommodation was it's usual superb standard, we had a luxury garden room that was exceptionally comfortable. With only 20 rooms the hotel is not huge but offered everything that we needed for a relaxing Christmas break. The food, well all I'll say is that their Michelin star is well deserved. Fabulous. The selection of wine by the glass included a Monratchet and a Gevry Chambertain, both were excellent. No down sides to report, the Christmas package was very reasonable and good value for money. Our expectations were exceeded at every step, that doesn't happen often!
• Hall (8/5): Relaxing. - Breakfast was lovely and the staff were very friendly. Really liked the added touches, like Wine hour and the free cake. Very cosy bar area by the fire. Food in Harry’s was delicious. The room needed more amenities. It didn’t have any hanging space or proper storage. No fridge and no proper way to contact reception for room service as the QR codes provided didn’t work. Would have been helpful to have access to water closer to the bedrooms too. Service in the restaurant was a bit slow. We had to ask our waitress for a couple of things a few times.
• Debbie (10/5): - The Service, calm ambience closeness to the beach
• Sarah (10/5): Relaxing stay in a warm and inviting hotel. - The Gallivant offers a cosy and relaxing vibe. Upon entering you are greeted by a dual sided log burner, which like the staff, radiates a warm welcome. The property is open plan with snug seating areas and an array of books and games on offer. Near the bar is an upright piano which the guests can freely play. The hotel offers complimentary cake between 4pm and 5pm , followed by a complimentary glass of wine at 6pm. The food is exquisite, the staff attentive and friendly, and throughout the hotel framed vintage swimming costumes can be found. The hotel is opposite the Camber sands, and for those who wish the hotel has a selection of Hunter Chelsea wellies that guests can borrow, along with waterproof coats. The town of Rye is only a 10 minute drive away. There was nothing no to love!
• Tasha (10/5): Amazing! - The hotel was so beautifully decorated and cosy and clean. It’s a past our expectations and the food was amazing. You should definitely eat here and the rims were really beautiful and we loved our bath!
• charlotte (10/5): -
• Jonathan (9/5): -
• ryaneV2691TU (10/5): Relaxed Coastal Retreat With a Warm Atmosphere. - A peaceful boutique hotel near the beach, perfect for recharging. Thoughtful details, comfortable rooms and a great restaurant on site..
• Trail46654885772 (10/5): Just WOW! The most amazing weekend!!!!!! - My daughter got married at The Gallivant at the end of November and WOW what an amazing experience. We booked the hotel for the weekend and every member of staff went above and beyond to make sure the whole experience went smoothly. The rooms were beautiful and the food amazing. I honestly can't recommend this hotel enough. The whole weekend from start to finish with absolute perfection. Thank you to Lindsay and all the staff for making it such a special weekend!!!!!
• Alister (8/5): -
• Marion (10/5): Inviting place to stay,relaxing and very welcoming - Lovely place ,warm and inviting .Nothing was too much trouble and the food was excellent .I took my little dog and everything was there for her comfort too nothing really
• SM (9/5): Possibly unique - This is a very quirky hotel in a location which has nothing going for it other than it is near Rye. For owners of English brogue shoes beware as no proper shoes were in evidence neither with the clients nor the staff. If you expect to dig in to a full English then think again. All that said, the owners have created a very individual experience in hotelerie which even brogue owners such as myself were very impressed with. Small bedrooms but cleverly designed as luggage needs here are minimal. The lounge, bar and restaurant all flow into each other and are very comfortable. At 4 o’clock there is free cake and at 5 a free glass of local English wine. Lots of games and books to read. Dogs welcome in parts of the lounge and a separate dining area. Food very good, breakfast odd but the marmalade is 11/10. The prune and Armagnac tart at dinner 12/10. Amazing olives. Overall worth the visit as it borders on unique. Bedrooms a bit small. No full English
• Curious_Traveller636 (8/5): Very pleasant long weekend, maybe it helped we were at the end of the season - This was our second experience of TG - first time was just for Sunday lunch in the height of summer - this time was arriving on a Sunday afternoon for a 2 night stay. Travelling with our son and daughter in law, and large dog, so they had a garden room. Both rooms were very comfortable. Dinner is good without being fussy or overly pretentious - good food, well cooked. Good young team running the show. Breakfast is quirky but we like that. Everyone came away thoroughly having enjoyed themselves. We are in the camp of “we like TG”. No, it isn’t cheap.
• hilary (10/5): A wonderful winter weekend break. - Beautiful decor, the most comfortable of beds and great food. Service was wonderful too. Nothing - was all fantastic.
• Clare (7/5): -
• Emily (10/5): A gem of a hotel with personal touches! The staff made us feel so welcomed and looked after. - Everything! Such a lovely hotel with amazing staff and interiors. Rooms are quiet with comfy beds and beautiful interiors. Our waitress from Portugal was fantastic as was all the staff. From the minute you step into the small foyer you feel completely relaxed. We also did Yogo which was included in our package which was an added bonus. We loved the breakfast it was perfect as was all the locally sourced food. Thank you we will be back! Nothing!
• Lee (10/5): - Lovely hotel. Very comfortable. Nothing close.
• Camper62457106154 (10/5): A dream of a Gallivant - Just back from our corporate offsite at this absolute treat of a hotel. The Gallivant do everything well - the gardens, the snug, the fire, wellies and dry robes if you fancy a jaunt across the road to the beach. The rooms are gorgeous and impeccably clean. But what really made our stay exceptional was the service. The staff were genuinely outstanding – warm, discreet, and incredibly attentive. The answer to everything was "yes". It felt like we had a five-star team looking after us the entire time, without any fuss. Properly outstanding. Thanks in particular to Victoria and Lindsay who went above and beyond. The food was, as you would expect, really terrific and they were super accommodating flexing the menu to our group preference. Fabulous wine list with a great selection of English wines (thanks Fergus!). Drinks in the dunes were highlight. And thanks for arranging the sunset and supermoon! It was the perfect blend of business and boutique bliss. This place delivers in (buckets and) spades and I can't wait to return.
• 275LisaH (10/5): Tranquil retreat with friendly staff, good food and wonderful decor - I am working on a project locally so have became a member of the Gallivant to occasionally drop in for breakfast, coffee and somewhere peaceful to work. I have visited The Gallivant on several occasions over the last few months and I am so impressed with the ambience and service. A small, single storey hotel which has been lovingly restored with a fantastic eye for detail. It's a 3 minute walk to Camber Sands over the dunes. After a 'blow-the-cobwebs-away' walk on the beach, it's very cosy indeed. The fire is lit at this time of the year and you can read the paper in peace. I've had breakfast on 3 occasions - simple menu but tasty (grapefruit, boiled eggs, sourdough toast etc.) with an extended continental option available which I've yet to try. Excellent coffee. Breakfast comes served with a smile. Because it's a small property and very close to Camber Sands, the hotel runs a membership system to maintain the peaceful atmosphere and ensure overnight guests take priority. This makes absolute sense, though I note from 1 or 2 reviews that some local people get a bit frustrated they can't just drop in for coffee. I'd encourage anyone spending a lot of time in Camber to become a member. The welcome from staff is always warm and genuine - everyone is unfailingly polite. There's an endless supply of tea and coffee for members and guests alike and the atmosphere is tranquil and very pleasant.
• Nicnics78 (2/5): Disappointing stay despite lovely surroundings! - Disappointing stay despite lovely surroundings! I was really looking forward to my stay at The Gallivant in - the website made it seem like an exceptional, almost boutique-style retreat. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t live up to the expectation. I almost drove straight past it when I arrived, as the hotel’s curb appeal was definitely lacking and didn’t reflect the high-end image portrayed online. Inside, the hotel felt a little tired and in need of some care and attention. While a couple of the staff were genuinely lovely and tried their best, the majority came across as inexperienced, unaware that customers should come first and just plain rude! Everything seemed to be a bit of a chore for them, which made for quite a disappointing atmosphere. The dining experience was also underwhelming. The food was basic, and surprisingly, there wasn’t even a cooked breakfast option — not what you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre. When we asked for more wine during dinner (our glasses had been empty for quite a while), the waitress decided clearing the table for 14 people was more important. We had to ask three times before our glasses were finally refilled. The drinks selection was limited too. I ordered an Espresso Martini - the first one was freshly made and delicious, but the second was a pre-mix. I was told they couldn’t make it fresh again as they’d “run out of ingredients”! As a smoker, I was advised I couldn’t use the courtyard because the ash might “litter it,” which seemed unreasonable given that our party had hired the entire hotel for the night. When I asked where I could smoke, I overheard staff explaining that it was a “wellness location” - though with no spa, no swimming pool, and no gym, that felt like a stretch (apparently, there is a yoga room). Even more frustratingly, despite having booked the entire hotel, another party arrived at breakfast the next morning. They proceeded to block the hallway with their luggage and use the courtyard (members of our party who were using it at the time for work purposes had to leave because of the noise), even walking through the breakfast area - not what you expect when check-in isn’t until late afternoon. When we raised this with staff, they simply shrugged their shoulders. Lastly, despite the website’s suggestion, the hotel is not located “steps from Camber Sands”. It’s actually a fair walk over sand dunes to get there, which might not be ideal for everyone and something to bear in mind if mobility or practicality is a concern. Overall, The Gallivant could be a charming and relaxing spot with the right management focus and staff training, but as it stands, it falls well short of the premium experience it advertises.
• Paul (9/5): -
• Catia (10/5): A gorgeous hotel, we’ll definitely return. - A comfortable, cosy and luxurious stay. It felt like a home from home and the staff were superb.
• RGW_Books (10/5): Lovely Stay at The Gallivant - Absolutely loved our stay at The Gallivant and our meal at Harry’s — beautiful setting, amazing food, and outstanding service. Huge thanks to Lindsay for her exceptional help throughout!
• Peter (9/5): The hotel met our expectations - Lovely room of good size . It was a garden room which opened out onto its own little garden space Breakfast was a little different . There was no cooked option apart from boiloing your own egg . You were served a tray with granola muesli croisaants and selection of cold meats . There was no chef on duty for breakfast Staff were very pleasant and went out of their way to be helpful There was no means of ventilating the room
• kirstybP3649NI (10/5): Such a special hotel with amazingly, attentive and friendly staff! - We chose The Gallivant for our wedding in October and we can honestly say it was the best decision ever. From the moment we first visited, we were made to feel so special and looked after. The hospitality was incredible each time we visited in advance of the wedding day with all the staff making sure we were suitably catered for and helping with everything and anything we needed. What was amazing was that it just felt they were genuinely nice people who wanted us to have a great experience at the hotel, which we thoroughly did! All the run up to the day was efficiently organised by the team - they dealt with everything and had an answer for all queries, no matter what. It felt like such a smooth process with excellent attention to detail. The wedding day itself just exceeded our expectations. The venue is clearly stunning and the team had created the most friendly and welcoming space for all our guests. The food was devine - all the guests commented on the excellent quality which was a big win! And we loved the breakfast! But it was really all the staff who made the day for us - they could not have done more to help us and our guests and it was all done with smiles and care and I can honestly say all our family and friends were also blown away by The Gallivant and the team there. It's an absolute gem of a place and we can't wait to go back and stay again! Thank you so much Team Gallivant for being your wonderful selves, we will be forever grateful to you!
• Explore27918541716 (4/5): Over-rated. A tired, motel type property situated on the roadside not beachside. Only the restaurant saves them. - Absolutely dreadful service. Avoid. No idea why it was given a Michelin award. Staff were rude and unexperienced. Website’s images make it look better than real life.
• louisewK2966ME (10/5): Exceptional Stay - Attended my friend's wedding and this is truly an exceptional venue for a wedding or event. The hotel is beautiful with very well thought out decor, the service was impeccable from all members of staff and the food and drink divine. I would very much recommend The Gallivant for a special event, company retreat or just for a lovely short getaway break. Thank you Gallivant Team!
• Adz99 (10/5): Fantastic Place! - What a great place. Brilliant staff with impecible attention to detail, and who genuienly enjoy thier jobs, and nothing is too much trouble. The food was exceptional.
• DavLon18 (2/5): If you're looking for customer service - avoid. - Whilst the Galivant has a laid back, stylish beach vibe, priced at a luxury market, the service over our two day stay was truly abysmal. Our group of colleagues had hired the entire hotel, and were there to relax and have fun, and at every opportunity, our fairly simple requests were ignored, diminished or declined. Chilled wine with lunch? Apparently they hadn't anticipated that anyone would want wine with lunch. Another hand-made espresso martini? No, you can only have the watery, ready-made version. Actually getting served wine at the meals? No, they kept missing people out - and even when this was drawn to their attention, they were extremely tardy in rectifying the service - with a patronising instruction 'don't you worry'. Even when our concerns with these and other issues were raised with the manager, they were dismissed. The concept of customer service does not exist at the Gallivant. Avoid.
• Timothy (8/5): excellent food with good rooms - breakfast was especially good
• Rachael (10/5): -
• 27sjl (10/5): A brilliant 24 hours to remember - We hired the Gallivant to host our daughter’s wedding. We were not disappointed and nor were the bride and groom. We had 24 hours where the staff were totally at our service and could not do enough for us. The food was delightful, this was echoed by many guests. Meat, fish and vegetarian dishes were served- simultaneously and to perfection. The breakfast is also something special. My room was perfect and I had a very good nights sleep- although of course the partying may have something to do with that! There was a truly International guest list and everyone was considered - I shall be back for the fish and chip lunch I noticed on the way out!
• 840issyc (2/5): Turned away… - I decided I would pop into the Gallivant today for a comfy surrounding with a roaring fire on a grey miserable day! I wanted to sit with a coffee and my laptop and enjoy a few hours to myself. Credit to the lady who greeted me, extremely friendly and chatty, however she quickly informed me that I wasn’t allowed to use the bar area as I wasn’t a guest of the hotel. I was shocked to hear they would turn away a willing paying customer. We have visited the Gallivant in the past and it’s a gorgeous setting with beautiful ambiance, so I was extremely disappointed to head elsewhere! We live locally now and I would have loved the Gallivant to be somewhere I could have often visited to socialise and work. Where are we supposed to go for a nice quiet day time venue?
• Karine (10/5): -
• Go05133351913 (6/5): Overall Disappointing - I found The Gallivant a place that is still trying to decide what it wants to be. On one hand it has the feel of a 'boho' beach retreat, but still takes on corporate bookings, which is what we were. Unfortunately they have ended up neither one nor the other. I loved the attention to detail and the quirkiness of the decoration, you can feel the love that has been invested into it. My bedroom was very comfortable, although neither the hand basin nor the shower drained properly and I'm not a fan of standing ankle-deep in soapy water. The food was excellent, great quality and beautifully-presented, so I ate very well. Breakfast was a bit weird because you have to eat what they want you to eat rather than what you want, and the lack of 'fried' breakfast items is just odd. You have to have a set tray of breakfast food, regardless of whether you want it or not. Coffee was very good! Where I was left disappointed was with the standard of service. They have a fantastic wine list, not a cheap one, but a very good one. But we were a large group and they hadn't chilled any additional bottles, so again we had to have what they had and not what we actually wanted. It did seem as if someone just hadn't put any thought into what we might want...............and also what they would make money selling. The bar staff didn't seem particularly bothered about this, and that was the pattern of service for the couple days we were there. Everything seemed to be an inconvenience for them, and despite the fact that we didn't ask for anything out of the ordinary, almost every request seemed to be met with an expression of irritation. If this were a three-star hotel and we were a stag or hen party, I would be able to get my mind around it. As it was, I just found it very disappointing as we are pretty nice people and weren't asking for anything too much. We just wanted to have an enjoyable time. I'm afraid I wouldn't go back and I wouldn't recommend it either, not for corporate events or for a seaside break.
• P1942GLjays (2/5): So very disappointed ! Shocking service and very tired all round - This was truly a very disappointing trip. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the gallivant on a business trip with 14 of my colleagues. The whole venue was hired for our stay. To say I was excited is an understatement as I have wanted to go for sometime. However, everything about our stay was disappointing and lack lustre ! Considering we were a small party and had the whole hotel I expected good service. Upon arrival I was greeted with a grunt and felt like I was an inconvenience from the get go. We all felt in the way and the ambience was awkward. Staff had no understanding of customer experience and were either not present or talking about us with no awareness that we could hear them. The hotel is tired as are its staff it seems! They had no wine cooled which may sound silly but everyone wants wine with their lunch and unfortunately our beach walk had to be cancelled due to heavy rain so we had to stay inside. Which also seemed to bother the staff. It was all the little things like wanted our cheese in the snug after dinner - too much trouble ! Asking for an express martini -To much trouble ! Opening a door for fresh air, the door would be slammed shut The smokers in party were treated like social outcasts too ! Asking for anything seemed to much trouble ! We were also invaded by other guests during our breakfast which was again terrible service considering we had hired the whole hotel ! Poor service again ! I also belief that they market their property in a way that isn’t transparent and misleading ! There is not outside area other than a small crt yard and a car park ! The Beach is a good ten minutes walk and over sand dunes which isn’t for the faint hearted . This should be illustrated more clearly . Overall a poor experience I will not be retuning
• 379ningl (6/5): Not Quite the Luxury Promised... - The Gallivant didn’t live up to the impression created by its website or its Small Luxury Hotel listing. Credit where it’s due, the marketing is polished, but the reality was underwhelming. The hotel felt almost deserted, with little that could be described as “luxury” in either the service or the atmosphere, more reminiscent of a business in decline than a boutique retreat. Dinner was the highlight: tasty, freshly prepared, and enjoyable. Still, it was far from a luxury dining experience. It’s also important to note that there’s no genuine sea view; to glimpse the water you’ll need to walk about 10 minutes and climb over a sand dune. Overall, it was a perfectly adequate overnight stop, but forgettable, certainly not the memorable luxury stay the branding promises.
• Judith (7/5): Amazing location ideal for overnight stay - The breakfast was very good, a continental breakfast tray brought to the table. Dinner was excellent one night and not good at all the other. My food was cold and the fish very overcooked. The room was tiny but cleverly appointed and comfortable. The point of the Gallivant is it's proximity to the beach and cosy atmosphere when returning from a day outside. Size of the room and inconsistency of food standard
• M4555PYandrewk (6/5): Overall very pleasant, very disapppointing breakfast! - We enjoyed pretty much everything about our 2-night stay at the Gallivant, with one glaring exception...breakfast! It's pretty extraordinary that a hotel of this supposed quality (and at those prices frankly!) doesn't offer a cooked breakfast. The staff did a pretty good job of selling the 'continental' breakfast, but sadly we won't be returning to the Gallivant until they start offering a 'proper' breakfast. The staff were great, some a bit inexperienced, but all friendly & helpful.
• Stella (10/5): - Friendly staff and comfortable hotel.
• deliagracer (10/5): Wish I'd stayed longer... - I had an absolutely fantastic stay at the Gallivant! First impressions are everything - being greeted at the front door of the hotel by the team (and not seeing them standing behind a desk) immediately made me feel welcome. Lindsay, Head of Rooms and Residents optimises the hotels theme of "happiness" with her infectious smile and eagerness to make your stay special. I could not fault the hotel itself, the rooms are beautifully designed (I stayed in the Luxury Garden Room) with all the little touches that you would expect and the open spaces are warm, well lit and again beautifully decorated. The themes of "cake time" and "wine at five" really encourage you to relax in the main bar area and are a fantastic opportunity to sample local English wine. The evening meal at Harry's was delicious, Sophie was so friendly and attentive. To top it all off, I enjoyed a very relaxing morning yoga session with India and a ginger shot to start my day, the perfect 24 hours! The Gallivant really is special, whether you're sitting by the fire hiding from the rain or returning after a long walk on the beach it is full of cosiness.
• jackmY7741PJ (10/5): Wedding at The Gallivant - Our wedding at The Gallivant was unforgettable. Agnes, Victoria, Lindsay, Oscar, Naketa, Lorena, Matthew, Mariana, Fergus, and the whole team were warm, attentive, and made everything run seamlessly on the day. The venue was beautiful, the service flawless, and the food outstanding - many guests said it was the best wedding meal they’d ever had, with plentiful canapés and perfect timing around speeches. We’re so grateful to everyone for giving us the most incredible day.
• Addy (8/5): A special , small hotel. Exceptional staff and great ambiance. - The welcome, all staff were very welcoming and helpful. Breakfast was unique , a breakfast tray was presented with a brilliant selection. Wine tasting of English wine each evening. The ambiance was warm and stylish.Dry robes and wellies for use on the beach! Small room, especially to accommodate a dog. Having to eat in bar area or small , separate room as we had our dog with us. Also banned from Snug
• hilarysZ367IP (10/5): What a jewel of a place - The staff were incredible - they couldn’t do enough to help! Personal care is in abundance with Lindsey Louie Mariana Nekita Fergus Maisy to name but a few! LOVED the breakfast - such great food - we will be back for sure!
• G8435FZheatherc (2/5): Very disappointing - The marketing department of The Gallivant deserve a medal. We went to check out the hotel having seen so many favourable reviews in newspapers. We were planning to book and, as we were nearby, dropped in. It's not the best location, no sea views, looks like a motel from the outside. Once in, we requested coffee as there was noone on reception. The place was empty. The breakfast waitress didn't know if she could sell us coffee. On checking it turned out she couldn't. Mind you, even without that experience, I don't think we would have booked anyway.
• Kristin (9/5): - Veldig hyggelig! Imøtekommende og hjelpsomme ansatte! Nydelig mat :-) Gjennomført stil. Rent og ordentlig. Rommet var litt trangt med en litt smal seng og kun én dyne (slåss om dynen om natten og redd for å falle ut av den litt smale sengen. Litt lytt fra gangen og de tilliggende rommene.
• Mohammed (10/5): -
• J3688TClydias (10/5): A little slice of heaven! You just go! - What can I say, I’ve visited twice in the space of a month.. if that doesn’t say it I don’t know what will! The Gallivant is a special place, their attention to detail, their hospitality, the quality of food, serene location and so much more. The team has thought of everything you’d need for a restful, fun and relaxing gateway. If you’re debating whether to go - go! Special thank you to Lindsay, Lorena, Fergus, Naketa & Millie (who makes the best margaritas). Thank you Gallivant for this little slice of heaven, away from the noise. I can’t wait to come back.
• Alex (9/5): Lovely stay but £600 for one night dinner bed and breakfast, is steep - It’s a brilliant location for coming off the beach and just relaxing The restaurant, though lovely is expensive
• Walktolunch (4/5): Very disappointing - Soon after we got home from our stay at the Gallivant I received the now customary email requesting feedback. I replied fairly promptly, making three suggestions for improvement. On sending the feedback I got an automated reply saying thank you, the feedback would be reviewed and someone would be in touch. That was more than a month ago and since then I have not heard a word. I could write a lengthy review - although previous contributors have already noted such things as barely adequate breakfast, limited bar offer, erratic service, okay evening meal, dubious value for money and under-delivery compared to hype - but that treatment of feedback more or less summed up how we felt about the hotel. The only specific comment I would make is that, to my surprise, after a month or so the best palate-memory I have from the trip is of the tandoori chicken skewers I had for lunch at the New Inn, Winchelsea; lunch not being offered at the Gallivant. In fairness, a bright spot was the cheerful and hard working young staff, something others have also mentioned. But even their efforts seemed misdirected and to, at least some degree, ineffective.
• Andrew (9/5): - Loved our room - decorated to reflect its position near to the beach and very well planned. Dinner at Harry's was exceptional and great value. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Overall, a very well managed hotel.
• Olga (7/5): - Prachtige tuin, gezellige lounge en heerlijk bed. Veel te duur voor totaalpakket.
• Deborah (10/5): My favourite mini-break - Loved our stay at The Gallivant. My third stay and it is better every time. Very clear that there are constant efforts to provide the best offering for visitors. Perfect for relaxing thank you Everything was perfect. Only whinge is the bar didn't have our favourite drinks - mojito, bloody Mary and espresso martini
• 2412927s (10/5): Outstanding customer service - What a gem. Unassuming building from the outside but the decor and design once you step inside is superb. Stunning outdoor areas and excellent restaurant. But the standout quality was the staff. The professionalism and service were truly exceptional. Will definitely return.
• Simon (8/5): Lovely decor, great evening food, nice bar area but severely let down by breakfast. - Lovely rooms, very helpful and friendly staff and restaurant food in the evenings was to the highest standard. Extremely relaxing stay. We ate in both nights. Breakfast is an issue. The "Breakfast Tray" is really sold as a luxury addition to get excited about. In reality they have taken a business decision to not have chef's on site and the breakfast tray is a way of serving cold, preset, no choice breakfast quickly and efficiently. There are not even warm pastries. I get this from a business sense but a small sliver of salmon, some ham and cheese and cereal, does not remotely cut it when you have paid £1000+ for a weekend and expect to be able to order some cooked breakfast. It smacked of cost saving and that fact wasn't lost on anybody.....
• Shaniqua (10/5): - Great stay, we will be coming back over the next few weeks. Shoutout to James who was the reception host who made us feel at home. Lily also was great at organising the stay and making sure all my questions were answered and gave us an early check in. Really pleasant stay - great team of people all round.
• Anne (8/5): Very good -
• Melanie (10/5): Exceptional -
• GL0nd0n (10/5): Almost Perfect, but not quite. - The rooms are lovely, the service friendly and laid back, an aura of calm and relaxation permeates the place. It is delightful. An oasis. There is complimentary tea and cakes and English wine early evening. The biggest draw, Harry's, under the redoubtable chef Matthew Harris (brother of the legendary Henry) and the superbly affable Maitre D, Fergus, serves top-notch food which, whilst not ground-breaking, is superbly executed and excites the palate. Wonderful. Excellent knowledge of wines and a very tempting wine list. My only complaint is that after a superb dinner, I awoke fancying perhaps some avocado on toast with bacon or smoked salmon and scrabbled eggs, the way you do when you're in hotel which hits the mark every time. Sadly, compared to dinner, breakfast is a somewhat frugal affair. No cooked choices, continental style but without the fun bits like croissants, pain au choc and pastries. Just bread. Compared to the sybaritic fare at Harry's, it felt like we had woken up in a particularly strict health retreat, determined to deny you any calorific pleasure. An error. Lastly, a tip on traffic. We arrived on a Thursday and left Saturday morning (on the hottest weekend of the year). However, if you had been arriving on the Saturday, at 11am, the tail back for the car parks at Camber Sands ( which are opposite the Gallivant) stretched about a mile, adding maybe an hour to your journey. Plan accordingly!
• Rachel (7/5): Lovely hotel, phone line not staffed - The hotel is beautifully decorated and they have made the most of the small space they have The food is delicious Rye is beautiful The staff on site are delightful It was impossible to contact them by phone ‘their guest happiness answering machine is full’! Did not make my happiness soar! We were spending close to £5k for a birthday weekend for 4 rooms and they can’t answer the phone! Poor response to emails and miscommunication made this worse - we had to cancel a room late because of illness. They refused to partly refund even the meals unless room was sold. Find that policy really bad. They did not put rooms back onto booking.com for 3 days due to a ‘miscommunication’ but I couldn’t reach them to discuss. Having received a full refund because room did sell last minute, I have now called them to pay my drinks bill and can’t get through!
• Julian (4/5): Won’t go back. - Very little The rooms and beds were tiny, very expensive for an average hotel. The photos on the web site give the impression the hotel is on the beach, it isn’t!
• GrahamP858 (8/5): Lovely stay but you are paying heavily for the location but it is genuinely dog friendly - We stayed at the Gallivant for three nights and had an enjoyable time. The staff are very friendly, rooms on the small side but clean and well maintained. The garden is spectacular semi wild coastal. Most importantly it is genuinely dog friendly even having a shower for your pooch when it comes off the beach which is conveniently located across the road. The big let down is the food given dinner for two tops £250 with drinks. Whilst very well done it is basically gastropub food. The oysters are excellent, fish and meat perfectly cooked but nothing you couldn't cook for yourself at home. Breakfast is a good buffet probably designed to stop people stuffing a picnic bag to take on the beach.
• Laura (8/5): Relaxing and friendly - Brst breakfast ive ever had Rinner disappointing except for deloicious soups
• Lucyacp2016 (2/5): Not the experience we were anticipating. - We visited The Gallivant as we had read some good reviews. We found the hotel did not live up to our expectations. We had paid over £600 for bed and breakfast with an £80.00 dinner allowance. We were therefore expecting a luxury room and setting. The staff were friendly, though they were understaffed. The room was clean but small. The shower was tiny with a blocked drain. Dinner was fine, though our table was not ready at the agreed time. The walls were very thin so we could hear conversations in the hall, and the TV next door. The breakfast service was chaotic and a far from relaxing expereince. The whole set up was that of an average pub with rooms, and despite the lovely staff, an overall disappointment.
• Teresa (8/5): Staff were very attentive and helpful - Breakfast was excellent
• Mcneill (10/5): Exceptional -
• Sharon (7/5): Poor breakfast - Light and airy, clean and modern No sign at all that it’s a hotel, we passed it three times! More signage needed please
• sarahcX4138TJ (10/5): Would recommend! - Incredibly lovely stay! Never been before, will definitely return. Staff were all so welcoming, rooms delightful, food excellent. Location also brilliant - love the little extras they provide to make heading to the beach a joy! Would absolutely recommend.
• James (6/5): Pleasant -
• Berkshirebabes (4/5): A very expensive mistake - OK - so our circumstances were unusual as we couldn't leave the hotel, but hospitality is hospitality. Bottom line - they didn't look after us. The staff are indeed lovely but on one day they had a complete melt down in the restaurant, for breakfast and dinner. Specifically - for us the breakfast was a disappointment. All designed not to employ someone in the kitchen in the morning. Nothing available or offered for lunch but the supermarket in Rye was fantastic. We bought ice as nothing was topped up in the room. The garden area attached to our room was lovely. No safe. Tiny shower and mould on the lining of the curtains. Couldn't use the hairdryer sitting down as the mirror only showed shoulders It's difficult to write. If things had gone better initially we wouldn't have noticed the mould for example. We felt very let down. We will write a separate review of Harry's restaurant, which was excellent. We went on to a far nicer hotel. At £550 a night - you are having a laugh.
• PaulF278 (10/5): Wonderful staff - Utterly brilliant. The staff were wonderful. Quite easily the most helpful staff we have ever encountered. Rooms comfortable and well designed, food excellent. Really convenient location. Couldn't have asked for better. Many, many thanks.
• spurs55565 (10/5): Bliss - We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Gallivant. Lindsay was very welcoming as suits someone who is titled "Head of Happiness" and all the staff were always very cheery and helpful and generally could not do enough for you. We loved the room although must say we found the bed a little too soft for our liking. What really stood out were the breakfasts and dinner we had there with the latter honestly being one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Although it did not spoil the overall enjoyment, I thought the supplementary charge on the final bill for water and internet a little unnecessary.
• sybarites (10/5): Excellent brasserie-style restaurant, firmly rooted in delicious Kent produce - Having stayed/dined at the various iterations of The Gallivant and its precursors over the past 18 years or so, we enjoyed two excellent meals over the early May bank holiday weekend at its restaurant, Harry’s, while staying in Dungeness. We were very impressed by the successful combination of a relaxed ambience and utterly delicious food - unpretentious but classic high quality cooking, with careful attention to detail and provenance. (Two tiny observations - to trim a gorgeous Barnsley chop was possibly unnecessary given the characteristic nature of its delicious long ends. Also a tuile was a little darker, thicker and smaller than perhaps conventionally served?). Everything else was perfect and there were many dishes we could have chosen - the asparagus was superb, goat’s curd with spring vegetables was so delicate and delicious with tiny peas and carefully podded tiny broad beans. The rack of lamb, beautifully trimmed as expected, was outstanding, with accompanying delicious champ, spring greens and jus - perfect! The wine list was excellent (and the sommelier very helpful) and I especially appreciated the range and quality of non-alcoholic sparkling wine alternatives. The tall maître d’h was charming and low-key and anticipated what we needed before we did. Our young waitress (smiling, with a pony-tail) was also excellent. We loved the character of the sunny plant-filled room and white linen and we’ll definitely be back, ideally for a stay too (hopefully for my birthday in August). You have created a superb restaurant and thank you all for two lovely evenings. We have unreservedly recommended you to our friends.
• Poulter (9/5): Superb -
• 142camm (10/5): Fabulous - We had a lovely birthday weekend at The Gallivant Hotel. It was perfect from start to finish. All members of the team are very welcoming and happy. I think it must be a very nice place to work. The food in Harry's was fabulous. We both had fish on Friday and Saturday night and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The sharing apple tart was amazing as was the Chocolate dessert! The breakfast was lovely - we really liked the breakfast spread - so nice to not have an English breakfast - a breath of fresh air. The Granola and Smoked Salmon were lovely. We give the breakfast 10/10! The weather was so good we ate outside on the Sunday. We were lucky enough to be upgraded as it was a birthday weekend - thank you very much :). Cake at 4pm and wine at 5 pm was a really nice touch. All together a lovely relaxing weekend in a lovely environment eating lovely food. Harry you have a really nice Hotel and ethos going on there. Thank you. We will be back.
• Rodger (10/5): Exceptional - Just a perfect stay
• Andrew (8/5): Very good -
• Peter (9/5): Lovely seaside break, style a cut above the usual - Great atmosphere, lovely rooms, staff warm and welcoming. Nothing

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