Its antiquity. An ancient hostelry dating back to the 1100s (‘re-built’ in the 1400s!) beautifully furnished and well maintained, with excellent food and service. My en-suite single room even had a four-poster bed. The Mermaid is on one of Rye’s old cobbled streets and is an ideal centre for exploring the town. The hotel has a very good website with videos and detailed information about every room, including the secret passages and ghosts!

Nothing! I loved it all. However, because of its age there are lots of little steps, uneven floors and steep narrow stairs which possibly wouldn’t suit those with mobility issues.

Beautiful surroundings, decor and amenities. Room 12 was a Small Double, but it was more than big enough for the two of us. The high ceilings in this room were a pleasant change compared to other places I've stayed in Rye, and I had no issues at 6'4". The wonderful porters, cleaners, waiters, receptionists and bar staff were very friendly, welcoming and accommodating. We appreciated the luggage storage both before and after checkout. The cleaning team did a great job with housekeeping throughout the stay and food was exceptional. We also thoroughly enjoyed the free breakfast options available. It was a lovely romantic stay for Valentines, and another reminder as to why we come back every year.

Gorgeous and unique period property - it oozes history! Lovely welcoming staff.

Couldn’t bring our dog into the bar or restaurant - I knew this beforehand but is still a shame! The hotel needs to find a way to allow people with dogs to come down for breakfast inside as I doubt many would leave their dog alone in the stunning rooms, so we went out for breakfast instead despite it being included, as it was rainy and foggy outside. Think they could also have one of the bar rooms as dog friendly quite easily - we went to the Old Bell instead for drinks which is just over the road and gorgeous!

I completely fell in love with the Mermaid Inn. The moment you arrive, it feels like stepping into a storybook — the charm of the old beams, the cosy corners, and the history of the place is just incredible. The location is perfect, right in the heart of pretty Rye, with its cobbled streets and lovely little shops just around the corner. Our room was beautiful and full of character, with a very comfortable bed and thoughtful touches that made the stay even more special. The staff were so welcoming and made us feel at home straight away. Thank you, Barbara! We also really enjoyed our breakfast. The food was excellent and the atmosphere just added to the experience. It’s rare to find a place that feels this authentic and enchanting.

Unfortunately, although the hotel allows dogs in the guest rooms, they're not allowed in any of the shared areas like the bar or restaurant. This meant we couldn’t fully enjoy the lovely bar and restaurant in the evening, as we didn’t want to leave our little one alone in an unfamiliar place. It would have been perfect if there were a few dog-friendly areas to relax together.

The location, ambiance, staff (99%), history, huge fire in bar, food, it was warm and cosy during a very cold Feb stay. Staff were very good when we asked to move from room 25, because it has the noise from the kitchen extractor fan. Beware the bathrooms if you have mobility problems. Food was excellent.

The way the cold meats & cheeses were presented at the breakfast buffet - the plastic lid on the serving dish should be kept closed; the reception staff member who did our bill was rather perfunctory..she didn't ask for any feedback on our stay or whether we had enjoyed ourselves & she made no attempt to go through our bill, or wish us a pleasant day.

The Mermaid Inn has fantastic history and is in a superb location right in the centre of Rye. The service was excellent. The breakfast was very good, and the evening meal restaurant was very good too. There are several snug rooms with comfy chairs and fire to make yourself cosy on a cold evening. The place oozes history!

Because the room is in a very old (1420's) building, some of the facilities are not to the same standard as that of a modern hotel. Eg. Not enough plug sockets, small TV screen, etc. But, you have to remind yourself you're staying at the Mermaid because of its history and location, not because of the facilities.

The room was comfortable although I found it challenging to navigate where your room is as all the floors look the same! For me, this only adds to the attraction and if I'm invited to another event in Rye, I shall make plans to stay at The Mermaid Inn again. For my breakfast, I chose eggs benedict with toast and coffee. Summing up, I would recommend this place to stay for whatever you might be doing in Rye.

I don't think there is much that can be done, but the Mermaid car park is too small and so it is most likely that you'll need to find an alternative parking space. I chose the Market car park near the train station, which is only £2.50 for 24 hours stay. This car park is quite large and is only a short walk (about ten minutes) back to The Mermaid.

The staff were amazing, my food was exceptional. My partner did not enjoy his steak sadly. It was too under for his taste and gentlemen s relish is an acquired taste and a curious thing to put on steak..the chips were the best ever tho apparently. It was a lovely and relaxing experience, and the staff could not have done more to make us feel valued and important. I loved that they could all answer any questions about the history of the building. They were clearly very busy but were so happy to share their knowledge. Thoroughly recommend the mermaid. We will be coming again

Unique atmosphere, helpful, friendly staff, absolutely gorgeous building with squeaky floorboards and doors and narrow stairs, and lots of vintage decor and furniture. Like stepping back in smugglers time. We were even provided with material to read about the room names and ghost encounters. Love it!

Unfortunately the heating system had a problem and the windows in the room and bathroom were pretty drafty. The staff was very helpful and I was given a little electric heater, but on a super stormy December day that was not enough and the bathroom was absolutely freezing in the morning. Still though, it wasn't too bad for one night and it sort of added to the experience!

Beautiful building, lots of character and excellent location. Lovely bar with great staff. Nice restaurant for dinner and breakfast. Had a large room with loads of beams. Very clean, linen and towels lovely.

Parking not easy, we were lucky and got a space others in our group were not. But receptionist was super helpful marking on a map where they could try. Large room with roll top bath but would have preferred a shower. Lovely old bed but creaked with every movement! If you have any mobility issues this may not be the place for you as lots of small staircases, all of them reflect the age of the building!