The Mermaid Inn

Mermaid Street, RYE, East Sussex, TN31 7EB
3 AA Stars 3 AA Stars 3 AA Stars 3 AA Stars Hotel

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1801 reviews1801 reviews
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From £90.00
Dr Syn's bedchamber at The Mermaid Inn, Rye

About

Welcome to the unique Mermaid Inn, rich in history and a reputation for being haunted, 600 years of history and there are so many stories. Cellars dating from 1156 and rebuilt in 1420 with 31 unique rooms to choose from.

The Mermaid Inn offers a totally different experience; sloping ceilings, creaking floorboards and numerous staircases, a rich tradition that is maintained by careful stewardship.

Experience a drink in the Giant’s Fireplace Bar and imagine how the Hawkhurst Gang, local smugglers in the 1730s and 1740s, caroused there. Can you see the secret passageway entrance? Dine in the linenfold-panelled restaurant and enjoy the food, service and special ambience that our 2 AA Rosette restaurant offers. (Book here on OpenTable.) Relax in one of the two lounges. 

Take a tour with our interactive walk-through!

The Mermaid Inn sits on the cobbled Mermaid Street ,which is one of the main routes into the citadel of Rye. It is one of the most photographed streets in Britain, and leads the vistor to The Mermaid Inn, which is the perfect location from which to explore Rye.

One of the best preserved medieval towns in England, Rye is home to the impressive Norman church of St Mary’s, a rich selection of specialist shops and a thriving fishing fleet. Camber Castle, built by Henry VIII is located in the dramatic Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

Rye was once surrounded on three sides by the sea and its maritime heritage dates back to Norman times. To defend it against frequent attacks from the French, Rye became an ‘antient town’ of the powerful Cinque Ports Confederation.

Visit the Rye Museum which has sites at East Street and the Ypres Tower, the second oldest building in Rye open to the public, built in the early 14th century and part of the town’s defensive walls. Take time to discover its architectural treasures and narrow passageways.

Climb the tower of St Mary’s Parish Church for fine views to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and the beautiful hilltop town of Winchelsea, with its maze of medieval wine cellars.

Rye has always been a magnet for writers and artists. Lamb House, a National Trust property, was once the home of Henry James and later E.F.Benson, creator of the Mapp and Lucia books. The artists Paul Nash, Edward Burra and Captain Pugwash creator John Ryan all lived in Rye.

Guide Prices

Number of Rooms / Units
31
Room / Unit TypeRoom / Unit Tariff*
Double en suitefrom £140.00 to £220.00 per room per night (breakfast included)
Family en suite£210.00 per room per night (breakfast included)
Single en suite£90.00 per room per night (breakfast included)
Twin en suite£150.00 per room per night (breakfast included)

*As a guide, prices are per room per night for hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and serviced apartments and per week for self-catering accommodation.

Note: Prices are a guide only. For further information please visit the website.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
  • Travelers Choice 2023
  • Service
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Value
    4 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Location
    5 of 5 stars
  • Excellent
    1127
  • Very Good
    432
  • Average
    153
  • Poor
    51
  • Terrible
    38

Recent Reviews:

  • DanMolesey
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    A Perfect 50th Birthday Getaway!
    5 of 5 stars
    Tuesday, 16th May 2023
    After a stressful 18 months the Mermaid hit the spot in everyway and also for the perfect 50th birthday getaway! The hotel could not look more stunning steeped in its history and beauty. The food... Read full review
  • 696julesg
    This beautiful, quirky, higgledy piggledy, olde worlde inn lives up to it's hype
    5 of 5 stars
    Thursday, 18th May 2023
    My Husband & I spent one night here as it's been on our bucket list for a while so we took a few days off to do some exploring, & it was one of the nicest overnight stays we've had. The beautiful... Read full review
  • 460magdalenaj
    Gothenburg, Sweden
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Good but expensive!
    4 of 5 stars
    Thursday, 25th May 2023
    Very cosy hotel with long history and charm. Room small but nice, small bed and bathroom. Pretty expensive for that small room. Food was good, breakfast lovely. The only negative was the stressed... Read full review

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Rye is a short drive from the M20, leaving the motorway at Ashford on the A2070 or if travelling south, on the A21, take the A268 to Rye.

Public Transport Directions

From Rye Station, follow the road straight up past the post office, onto Market Road, then take right onto High Street. Then left opposite Old Bell Pub.

Facilities

Accessibility

  • No dogs (Guide dogs accepted)

Catering

  • Additional Meal Details - Vegetarian/Vegan
  • Bar
  • Bar meals
  • Cater for vegetarians - and other special dietary requirements
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Serve breakfast - 0800-1000. Full English also continental available.
  • Serve evening meal - 1900-2115, main restaurant, bar meals. Not sun.
  • Serve lunch - 1200-1430, main restaurant. Bar food also available.
  • Special diets catered for - Prior notice may be required.

Children & Infants

  • Accept children (Minimum age) - 0
  • Cot
  • Food/bottle warming available
  • Highchair

Establishment Features

  • 24 hr return laundry service
  • Accept coach parties
  • Available for wedding receptions - Beautiful Tudor room. Maximum 90 seated. 80 buffet. Dance floor also.
  • Business facilities (eg. Fax/ modem) - We can provide business facilities, i.e. fax, send/receive e-mails.
  • Central heating throughout
  • Children aged 5+yrs welcome
  • Conference facilities
  • Event venue
  • Garden/patio for guests' use
  • Ironing facilities
  • LGBT Friendly
  • Night porter
  • Open Christmas - Inclusive package 2, 3 or 4 nights.
  • Open New Year
  • Pre-school children welcome (0-4yrs)
  • Public Telephone
  • Real log/coal fires
  • Separate guests' lounge
  • Welcome single sex groups, eg stag/hen parties
  • Wireless Internet Access

Leisure Facilities

  • Fitness facilities close by
  • Golf Course close by
  • Swimming Pool close by

Parking & Transport

  • Car parking - Room for a limited number of cars in car park at rear of hotel. Public car parks nearby.
  • Free parking
  • Railway station within walking distance

Payment Methods

  • American Express accepted
  • Delta accepted
  • Euros accepted
  • JCB accepted
  • Maestro Accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Solo accepted
  • Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
  • Visa accepted

Provider Preferences

  • Celebrity connection - Visited frequently by celebrities.
  • Film or TV location - Many times. Especially by Prince Edward. Many ghost programmes and cookery programmes shot from here too.
  • Haunted - Reputed to be several ghosts. Visitors have witnessed fights in period costume with the loser being thrown down an old hidden staircase.
  • In town/city centre
  • Inn
  • Non smoking establishment
  • Of historic, literary or architectural interest - Grade II Listed building. Rebuilt 1420. Cellars 1156.

Room / Unit Features

  • All rooms non-smoking
  • Baths some rooms
  • Broadband - WiFi available free of charge.
  • Colour television in all bedrooms
  • Four poster beds available
  • Hairdryer in all bedrooms
  • Non smoking rooms available
  • Radio in all bedrooms
  • Shaver Point/s
  • Tea & coffee making facilities in all bedrooms
  • Telephone in all bedrooms

Specialist Features

  • Aim to attract conferences and business meetings
  • Marketed as gay friendly
  • Special provisions for cyclists - safe car park
  • Special provisions for walkers

Opening Times

Open Christmas
Open New Year
2023 (1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023)

Video

  • Ghosts

Events

Sunday, 4th June 2023 - Sunday, 4th June 2023

A Midsummer Night's DreamBack by popular demand!
more info

Gradings

  • 3 AA Stars Hotel
3 AA Stars Hotel

Awards

  • AA Awards -2 AA Rosettes 2 AA Rosettes 2019
  • Regional and Miscellaneous -WTTC Safe Travels WTTC Safe Travels 2021

What's Nearby

  1. National Trust's Lamb House is a portal into a world of literary connections.

    0.03 miles away
  2. Magic, Monsters and Mystery are all here in this unique immerse interactive family…

    0.06 miles away
  3. Rye's delightful cinema, café-bar and function venue in renovated Victorian buildings.

    0.09 miles away
  1. Not just a model, but a complete sound and light show that brings the history of Rye…

    0.11 miles away
  2. Sometimes called the "cathedral of East Sussex", the Parish Church of Rye, dedicated to…

    0.12 miles away
  3. The East Street Museum was originally a bottling factory but it now houses exhibitions…

    0.14 miles away
  4. Many displays on smuggling, military, police, coastal and maritime history and with…

    0.17 miles away
  5. Look no further for live music, warm vibes and entertainment in the heart of Rye.

    0.28 miles away
  6. Rye Bay E-bikes is a small, family run electric bike company currently based just south…

    0.94 miles away
  7. Camber Castle was one link in the chain of forts built along the south coast by Henry…

    1.1 miles away
  8. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is an important wildlife site set in an exceptional coastal…

    1.38 miles away
  9. Join Full Throttle Boat Charters from Rye Harbour and head out to sea for an exhilarating…

    1.56 miles away
  10. Cycle the nature reserve at Rye Harbour.

    1.59 miles away
  11. All the family can participate in watersports at our beautiful lake situated between Rye…

    1.67 miles away
  12. This stunning stretch of sandy beach is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex.…

    1.71 miles away
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