The Mermaid Inn
Mermaid Street, Rye old town · Hotel
A fifteenth-century coaching inn on Rye's most famous cobbled street, with panelled rooms, huge inglenook fireplaces and a smugglers' history.
About The Mermaid Inn
The Mermaid Inn occupies one of the oldest and best-known buildings on Mermaid Street, its timbered front and uneven cobbles instantly recognisable from countless photographs of Rye. The current building dates largely from 1420, rebuilt after the town was razed by French raiders, and its cellars are older still, said to have sheltered the Hawkhurst smuggling gang in the eighteenth century.
Bedrooms are individually decorated, many with four-poster beds, exposed beams and inglenook fireplaces, giving each room a distinct character in keeping with the age of the building. Low doorways and uneven floors come with the territory, adding to the atmosphere rather than detracting from the comfort of the rooms themselves.
The inn's restaurant and bar serve modern British food alongside a well-regarded wine list, drawing on local produce including Rye Bay seafood and Romney Marsh lamb, and the walled garden offers a quiet spot away from the steady flow of visitors along the street outside.
At a glance
- Property type
- Hotel
- Location
- Mermaid Street, Rye old town
- Star rating
- 4 star
- Guest score
- 8.4 / 10 (1,450 reviews)
- Prices from
- £195 per night
- Destination
- Rye