Inside information about Rye, East Sussex
If you’re planning a visit somewhere new, get the lowdown from the locals! This month, a pretty East Sussex town
Who are you?
Paul Critcher, Deputy Editor of Practical Caravan. For me, caravanning has always been all about the pleasures of travel and being able to enjoy everything that the great outdoors has to offer.
Why are you a local authority on Rye, East Sussex?
I’m originally a Sussex lad (although I’m from the west side of the tracks), and I just love this part of the world – I’ve visited the town many times.
What do you love about it?
Rye has such wonderfully preserved history – walking the ancient streets here is like taking a step into medieval England – and even today, you might have an encounter with the odd growling pirate in some of the town’s many inns!
What’s your favourite place to visit when you’re in the area?
Mermaid Street – it’s incredibly pretty, packed with characterful houses and beautifully cobbled. Perhaps not the best place to drive, though!
Halfway up the street is the Mermaid Inn, a really atmospheric hostelry which was rebuilt in 1420 after the town was burned down by French raiders.
The Mermaid has it all: cellars that date back to the 12th century, a giant fireplace with a hiding place for priests and a bar where smugglers and highwaymen once rubbed shoulders with the townsfolk. A secret tunnel was used by the smugglers to reach the Old Bell Inn nearby. There’s also a ghost or two knocking about.
Which local campsite would you recommend, and why?
Rye Harbour Holiday Park has a great reputation and is in an enviable location, next to a nature reserve and alongside the harbour. With Rye’s fascinating and historic town centre only a couple of miles away and the beautiful white beaches of Camber Sands just along the coast, this is pretty much a no-brainer.
What food and drink is the area well known for?
Given Rye’s location on the Sussex coast, it will come as no surprise that fish is a speciality at many of the local restaurants. Much of this is landed at nearby Hastings, which has the largest beach-launched fleet in Europe and a reputation for sustainable fishing practices. Rye Bay is famous for scallops and in February, hosts a week-long festival dedicated to these delectable molluscs (scallop.org.uk).
Tell us somewhere great to eat!
The Mermaid Inn has a fine restaurant, but if you would also like to sample some of the wonderful fish mentioned above, try Webbe’s at the Fish Café.
This place is modern, smart, and as well as the aforementioned scallops, you’ll find supremely fresh cod, sea bass and lemon sole on offer.
For a traditional afternoon tea, Fletcher’s House, near St Mary’s Church, is hard to beat.
Where can you get spare kit?
JC Leisure in Harbour Road specialises in caravan and motorhome sales, but can also help with servicing and accessories. Alternatively, try the Caravan Tech shop a bit further away in Hurst Green.
Where can you find the cheapest petrol/diesel in the area?
Jempson’s in Peasmarsh, to the north-west of Rye, is competitively priced.
Where should you avoid when you’re in the area?
When the weather’s good, Camber Road, between Rye and Camber, gets packed with day-trippers. There isn’t really an alternative route, so just be sure to get down to the beach before 10am at the latest if you want to enjoy a traffic-free day.
Share a secret highlight that only a local would know...
If beer’s your thing, the Rye Waterworks micropub specialises in local ales and keg beers. Be sure to try one of the 12 ciders – the watermelon is delightful!
‘Mermaid Street is incredibly pretty, packed with characterful houses and beautifully cobbled’