The Gallivant

I am sure it is a lovely place to stay but beware of the cancellation policy hidden in ‘Property T&C’ which means they take the full amount if you cancel within 14 days. I mean most hotels allow cancellations up to the day before. We found out to our £1500 detriment when we cancelled our 20th wedding anniversary treat 7 days in advance due to my wife’s 102 year old Grandmother falling and breaking her wrist. A sympathetic email with 20% discount but not even an offer of the dinner credit was made. We have been left having spent our entire budget on a 2 night treat away from the kids with nothing to show for it. They should be much more transparent about the cancellation policy, make it more visible and actually label it a cancellation policy.

OK - so our circumstances were unusual as we couldn't leave the hotel, but hospitality is hospitality. Bottom line - they didn't look after us. The staff are indeed lovely but on one day they had a complete melt down in the restaurant, for breakfast and dinner. Specifically - for us the breakfast was a disappointment. All designed not to employ someone in the kitchen in the morning. Nothing available or offered for lunch but the supermarket in Rye was fantastic. We bought ice as nothing was topped up in the room. The garden area attached to our room was lovely. No safe. Tiny shower and mould on the lining of the curtains. Couldn't use the hairdryer sitting down as the mirror only showed shoulders It's difficult to write. If things had gone better initially we wouldn't have noticed the mould for example. We felt very let down. We will write a separate review of Harry's restaurant, which was excellent. We went on to a far nicer hotel. At £550 a night - you are having a laugh.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Gallivant. Lindsay was very welcoming as suits someone who is titled "Head of Happiness" and all the staff were always very cheery and helpful and generally could not do enough for you. We loved the room although must say we found the bed a little too soft for our liking. What really stood out were the breakfasts and dinner we had there with the latter honestly being one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Although it did not spoil the overall enjoyment, I thought the supplementary charge on the final bill for water and internet a little unnecessary.