The Mermaid Inn, Rye, East Sussex, Part 2

The entrance hallway looking down to the Giant's Fireplace Bar.

Entering the Mermaid Inn is like walking into another age, it is a beautiful building and a wonderful place to stay for one night or more. As I said in my last blog we were lucky enough to spend a night in the Inn last month, but the first time we stayed there was in 1979, when we had a few days honeymoon there :)

And looking back to the front door.

There are a number of staircases in the Inn, this is the one that we had to go up to get to our room. You can just see the Dining Room on the left of the photo. 

Rows of bottles in the Giants Fireplace Bar.

This lovely building is steeped in history, you can just imagine the Hawkhurst Gang of Smugglers sitting round the fire in the photo below, plotting their next 'run' of illegal goods whilst enjoying a tankard of ale.

A lovely way to spend a chilly afternoon, just dreaming the hours away with a drink or two. We got really cosy in that corner, and were almost reluctant to move to go and get our dinner.

The Cherubs above the the Giants Fireplace,

....and the fire itself :D

This amazing painting of Elizabeth I is painted on the panelling in the hall just outside the Giants Fireplace Bar.

Dr. Syn's Chamber, named after the famous Dr Syn books by Russell Thorndike, this 'chamber' is a Lounge for the residents.

Two views of Dr Syn's Chamber.

Looking out of the window to the other half of the building, which is used for functions.

Another very comfortable Residents Lounge.

A Mermaid statue in the fireplace of the Linen Fold Restaurant.

Above and below are some photos of the gorgeous Restaurant, the food is excellent here, and it is a real treat to eat in such lovely surroundings.

Paintings on the walls of the Restaurant.

The Linen Fold panelling in the Restaurant.

A hunting scene.

The Mermaid water feature in the tiny central court.

This was our room for our mini break, gorgeous, we had a good nights sleep here :)

The fireplace adorned with a lovely painting.

Our room was at the front of the building, overlooking Mermaid Street, which I loved. 

And finally, just two of the saying which can be found on the walls in various places in the Inn.

If ever you find yourself in Rye, do go and find the Mermaid and treat yourselves to a bar meal in the Giants Fireplace Bar, I think you will thoroughly enjoy the visit. 

The Mermaid Inn, Rye, East Sussex Part 1

The beautiful Mermaid Inn, Rye.

The original Mermaid Inn was built in the 12th Century, it was rebuilt in 1420, with further alterations done in the Tudor times. At that time Rye was a sea port and the Inn was used by the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of Smugglers. The Inn is situated on the cobbled Mermaid Street, once the main street of the town, which leads down past the Mermaid to what was once the port. Many important people have stayed here, including Queen Elizabeth 1 and Johnny Depp!!

Looking down Mermaid Street, so pretty, although the cobbles are hard to walk on!

Mermaid Street, I took this photo by leaning out of our bedroom window :)

The Mermaid sign again, this time in silhouette.

As I mentioned in my last blog my husband and I spent the night in the Hotel a couple of weeks ago, and had a wonderful, very restful time there.

The front entrance for the pack horses and carts, leading through to the back of the Inn.

The back of the building, with a lovely terrace, the doorway to the Giants Fireplace Bar is on the right, just above the statue.

The famous poem by Rudyard Kipling painted on the wall of the Hotel.

The photos in this blog were taken over a number of years showing the outside of the building, the next blog will show the interior. I have so many photos taken over the years, it has been really hard to chose which ones to include.

One of the Mermaid statues, this one just next to the entrance to the terrace.

Beautiful roses climbing up the back of the building.

Looking through to Mermaid Street from the back of the building.

The side entrance to the Hotel, the building on the right of this photo is used for functions, I would think this would be a fabulous place to have a wedding reception.