Review of the Mermaid Inn Hotel, Rye, England
Charming traditional English welcome at Mermaid Inn, Rye.
Despite my usual blind faith in Sat Nav I did doubt its accuracy when I saw the steep incline and narrow cobbled street leading to what it told me was my destination on the left. So like any self-respecting doubting Thomas I checked first.
I hauled myself up the sharp incline on foot to arrive at the ivy covered front entrance of the Mermaid Inn. The waiter told me that yes I had arrived at the correct place and yes I could drive up the cobbled street but I should be careful because it was a two-way street. How this could be a two-way street when any pedestrian you met had to plaster themselves to the nearest wall to let you pass was a mystery to me but who was I to question? Since my ambition had once been to be a rally driver I gladly bombed my little rented car up the 50 degree incline to squeeze into the tiny car park under the pretty arch connecting the two sides of the Inn.
Since my second ambition is to actually live in Shakespeare’s time and converse with the good man himself, I felt that I was about to fulfil the first part of that ambition too. A good day so far.
The Mermaid Inn is just what I’d been looking for in a traditional English country Inn. Beamed ceilings, four-poster beds, maize-like hallways and leather Queen Anne chairs. Add to this charmingly nervous and deferent staff and I knew I was in for a good stay.
This is one of the oldest inns in England dating back to 1420 when it was rebuilt using ships’ timbers and French stone ballast fireplaces. It’s been welcoming guests continuously since then so they’ve learned a thing or two along the way. I felt at home and relaxed there sitting in the comfortable couch of the library, sipping a pre-dinner cocktail.
The restaurant was equally relaxing. Rather than being pretentiously stuffy, as you might expect an AA Rosette one to be, the atmosphere was laid back and friendly. The arrival of my starter caused quite a stir and the people at the next table were as curious for me to sample it as I was so we naturally ended up talking about the joys of motor biking (as you do).
But that was after I had closed my eyes to savour the delicious explosion of tastes and textures of the Slow Braised Shoulder of Pork and Black Pudding Bonbons. They may have been tiny but they were big on flavour and impact. My main course of Lightly Smoked Breast of Pheasant didn’t disappoint either. It was cooked to perfection and tasty. But it was dessert that stood out. I’m not usually a dessert person but I’d gladly go through you for this one. In fact, if I hadn’t been pretending to be a lady I would have licked the plate. The Lightly Spiced Poached Summer Fruit Soup with Clotted Cream Ice-Cream was divine; the type of dessert that melts in the mouth and leaves you wanting more.
Certainly some of the staff members could have been a little more knowledgeable about the food. When my new friend at the next table asked what was in his starter the waiter didn’t know and I don’t think he ever found out the answer. But they were generally eager to please and efficient so it didn’t take from my enjoyment of this old world restaurant.
Next morning’s breakfast was plentiful and varied, with good service. Even when I was interrupted with the news that another resident had banged into my car in the car park the staff did all they could to help and the issue was sorted in no time. I could easily settle back with a cup of tea in the lounge – my calm due more to the fact that I had a rented car that I didn’t care about rather than anything the staff could have done.
Overall I would recommend the Mermaid Inn for a relaxing and quiet village visit. Allow yourself to step back in time and enjoy some down time.
I paid £90 for a single room for one night through booking.com.
A three-course meal in the restaurant was £37.50
The Mermaid Inn
Mermaid Street
Rye, TN31 7EY
+441797223065
http://www.mermaidinn.com
© Irene Togher 2013
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Nice review Irene, I might have to put this on my list of potential stays if I’m over that direction. What were the rooms like?
Thanks Robbie. Rooms were compact and clean. Some have four-poster beds. My en suite looked like you were walking into a closet but was cute and neat! Very comfortable.
Great review Irene. Sounds lovely and it is great to hear how helpful the staff were. Rooms sound really cosy, how many quests can the Inn hold?
Thanks Siobhan. There are about 30 rooms of varying types from single rooms to family rooms.
Sounds like a fab place,definitely one for the list when I eventually get to travel around England!
Yep, definitely to be put on the list, Sharon. Hard to beat a little driving trip around England. I’ll be adding more blogs on England soon, so make sure you check back in.