Baths, Bubbly and Books: winter at The George in Rye

Rye in the winter is bewitching – it’s as close as you can get to that perfect festive town of the imagination.

It began on 11 November, when the town threw its annual bonfire and fireworks night (and where the festivities traditionally return to The George Tap, as they have done for the last 300 years!). Check out the guy propping up the bar in the picture on the right.

At The George, December ushers in a season of cosiness and magic: afternoons whiled away reading in bed, comforting food, and a glass of wine by the fire in The George Tap.

If you’re dreading the palaver of New Year, of friends asking in panicked voices what you’re doing to celebrate, The George may just be the escape route. Our New Year inclusive break (detailed here) is essentially about getting away from hassle and having a quietly resplendent time. It starts, once you’re settled, with Afternoon Cream Tea. Then maybe a glass of champagne in the bath, before New Year’s Eve dinner in The George’s Dining Room.

On New Year’s Day (probably towards the latter part of the morning…), a seriously good Bloody Mary and Brunch in The George Tap should provide fuel for a restorative walk along Camber Sands, a beach which is even more stunning and serene in the winter when the crowds have gone. We’d also recommend a rummage in the historic Martello Bookshop on the High Street, which stocks the kind of esoteric books you won’t find in the big chains, along with the best in new fiction.

Once all things festive come to an end, The George’s midweek breaks provide a much-needed antidote to the sludge of a working January or February. These offer complimentary dinner in the restaurant, and if you’re a real foodie, we’d recommend making sure you’re here on a Wednesday, when the weekly Rye Farmers Market does a great job of showing off the best of local produce for example, organic bread from Judges Bakery in Hastings, run by the husband and wife team who founded Green & Blacks chocolate.

Get in touch if you’d like to find out more on what The George is up to: T 01797 222114 or email stay@thegeorgeinrye.com

Best Wishes

Alex and Katie Clarke