The Hope Anchor

Hotels
8.4 (2558 reviews)
Watch Bell Street , Rye , gb

listing image 1
Show all photos
Children allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
Packed lunches
Non-smoking throughout
Shared lounge/TV area
Board games/puzzles
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Good breakfast
Cons:
Small rooms
Limited amenities
Shower pressure issues

Categories

Cleanliness
8.15
Overall cleanliness was mentioned as good, but there were comments about small room size affecting perception.
Service
9.15
Staff were consistently noted as friendly and efficient, going above and beyond in some instances.
Location
9.15
Location was frequently highlighted as perfect for exploring the area.
Room Quality
7.65
Some reviews noted the rooms as small and dated, affecting overall comfort.
Amenities
7.65
Mixed sentiments with comments on limited beverage options and some amenities being dated.
Value for Money
8.15
Several reviews indicated that pricing felt high for the room size and conditions.
Food and Beverage
8.65
Breakfast consistently received positive feedback, indicating good food quality.
Overall Experience
8.65
Guests generally expressed enjoyment and a willingness to return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 07:18

Property Description

Charming 18th Century Former Inn with Seaside Views

Historic Charm: Immerse yourself in the history of The Hope Anchor, a former inn built in the mid-18th century for sailors and ship builders. Discover secret passages once used by smugglers, adding a touch of mystery to your stay.

Cozy Ambiance: Unwind in the traditional snug bar beside a crackling log fire, and retreat to individually styled bedrooms, some featuring elegant four poster beds for a touch of luxury and romance.

Delightful Breakfast Options: Start your day with a delicious full English breakfast or opt for a lighter continental spread in the charming breakfast room, offering a variety of cold meats, cheeses, yogurt, and fresh fruit salad.

Book now to experience the historic charm and cozy ambiance of The Hope Anchor!

Important information:

Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for £10 per person per stay when using an available cot.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 2558 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.15
Service: 9.15
Location: 9.15
Room Quality: 7.65
Amenities: 7.65
Value for Money: 8.15
Food and Beverage: 8.65
Overall Experience: 8.65
J
JASMIN • extended_group • es
9
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
M
Mandie • couple • us
3
Pick somewhere else to stay
Pros:

Location

Cons:

No water pressure in shower room 26. Bed uncomfortable and squeaky. This room is very noisy. You can hear all the people walking and talking up and down the stairs. Breakfast was included, but it was pretty awful. The staff was very very nice.

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
G
G. • couple • nl
8
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
E
Edoardo • couple • it
10
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
M
Monika • family_with_children • de
8
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
I
Ian • couple • gb
10
2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
A
Adi • couple • nz
9
I would definately recommend the hotel to friends and family
Pros:

The location was perfect - great hospitality

Cons:

Half the shops were closed or opened late in the morning

2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
A
Alice • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
H
Hayley • solo_traveller • gb
6
Wouldn’t stay again
Cons:

Room was really dirty and the shower didn’t work unless you held the button the whole time.

2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
T
Toby • couple • gb
8
We had a great romantic stay in Rye. The breakfast is good and the room was very nice and spacious. The views are stunni
Pros:

Beautiful building, beautiful views, lovely room

Cons:

Some of the staff in reception were not particularly welcoming. We had a bizarre experience with one when we asked if they do something for us for breakfast as we were leaving early in the morning. We were met with a straight no and no sympathy. They then proceeded to tell us about their holiday to Crete when they had a lovely time and the staff did breakfast for them before they left.

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
C
Caroline • couple • gb
8
Pros:

The hotel is dated and that’s the charm !!! Its price is great value and breakfast top quality.

The two female staff members we met were great, one gave local knowledge and just a friendly welcome. The evening lady was funny with that dry wit and nothing was too much trouble.
Sorry didn’t get your names.

The bed !! Room 6 so comfy and soft ! The pillows … all great.

2026-06-01 • via Nuitee
E
Emily • couple • gb
9
2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
E
eric • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

La propreté des chambres et leurs dimensions
L'emplacement exceptionnel

Cons:

Rien

2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
J
Judy • solo_traveller • gb
2
Not what we expected
Pros:

The location, and also breakfast was very good

Cons:

Hotel very tired could do with some general maintaining and decoration.
But we was woken up in the early hours of both mornings with the fire alarms going off which turned out to be false alarms but never the less had to be checked. Causing excessive tiredness and spoiling our long awaited weekend.
When commenting in the morning said it may have been dust or heat to the sensors?

2026-05-30 • via Nuitee
I
I • family_with_children • nl
8
2026-05-30 • via Nuitee
U
Ulrich • solo_traveller • de
7
Pros:

Die Lage und der Ort selbst.

Cons:

Möglichkeit zum Parken.

2026-05-30 • via Nuitee
S
Sewell • couple • gb
7
Lovely hotel, which has a lot of potential
Pros:

We liked the location and the history of the hotel we have been going for quite a long time the breakfast is always very good

Cons:

The property unfortunately is becoming very tired. The bar area no longer has draft beers and not fully open. Seems like a real waste of what was a lovely bar area. we stayed in exactly the same room back in 2019 and the state of repair was much better.

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
J
Jürgen • couple • de
2
Völlig überteuert und enttäuschend
Pros:

Frühstück war ok, Ambiente im Aufenthaltsraum und draußen, bis auf die überfüllten Mülleimer nebenan

Cons:

Zimmergröße incl "Bad" ohne Schrank, Fenster durften trotz Hitze wg. Tauben nicht geöffnet werden, Wasserdruck der Dusche völlig inakzeptabel, nächtlicher sehr lauter wiederholter Feuerfehlalarm aus offenbar sogar bekannten Gründen (Handwerker). Keinerlei Entschuldigung/Entschädigung durch das Hotelpersonal dafür. Angesichts geringer Qualität überteuerte Bar, Parkplätze tagsüber nur weit entfernt.

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
K
Kelly • solo_traveller • gb
4
Pros:

The town is lovely and the location was okay

Cons:

Really REALLY grumpy lady on the front desk. Barely spoke to us checking in. When checking out, we thanked her - didn't say a word. Didnt ask if we enjoyed it, thanked us - nothing. Super awkward interaction! Rooms quite outdated (there was a wardrobe in the bathroom - bit strange) and scruffy. Would come back to Rye but never to here. Stay at The Mermaid for sure!

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
I
Isabelle • couple • fr
7
Pros:

Très beau bâtiment et bel emplacement au cœur du village

Cons:

Petit déjeuner décevant (partie cooked breakfast)
Très peu de pression dans la douche

2026-05-27 • via Nuitee