More about The George in Rye
Needs a very good manager to sort out problems here
by TripAdvisor Member binslie
We stayed at The George last month. We had high hopes for it having looked at the website and read several press articles about the lovely interior design, plus the Moro connection really appealed as it's one of our favourite places to eat in London. The fact that it was so close to London meant we were really hoping it could turn out to be the sort of place we'd return to again and again for some much need relaxation, pampering and wonderful food.
In short, it didn't. This place has lots of potential but needs a good, very experienced manager to sort it out.
After a hurried check-in from a hassled receptionist, we decided to have lunch in the bar. The lunch was tasty, but accompanied by the sounds of lots of ***ing bar staff making derogatory remarks about guests and customers (the ringleader we later discovered to be one of the deputy managers.)
After lunch en-route to Camber Sands we stopped off at reception to make a dinner reservation. 'Fully booked' we were told. After much umming and ahhing we were grudging told we could have a table at 6.30 as long as we finished by 8. Not a problem, we have a toddler with a short attention span.
After a sunny day on the beach we returned to get ready for our early reservation to discover we had no hot water. This was treated by reception as if it was a total inconvenience for them, and after several calls to see if it was fixed yet, the deputy manager was dispatched to our door. How surprising to discover he was the ***y barman. He rolled his eyes and said it wasn't his fault, everyone was having showers at the same time. Strange that, at 6pm in a hotel. The hot water didn't get sorted until gone 10pm that night, but we did enjoy a lovely meal with very attentive staff in the dining room.
Breakfast the next day was very mediocre, but the sun was shining and another day on the beach beckoned. We returned to the George to a very sloppily made-up room, where the covers had just been thrown over the bed and the towels hadn't been replaced by housekeeping. However very happy from our sunny day, I ordered some drinks from the bar while my husband bathed our baby. A new, and very nice barman remarked that I was the only guest he had seen smiling all day and carried our drinks up to our room for us. We arrived for dinner at 6.30 prompt (having been told again they needed the table) to find the dining room not set for dinner and staff running around. Our main courses didn't arrive until 8pm, by which point we were fed-up, the toddler was beyond tired and we ended up eating in our room. We were told the delay was due to a function. I feel that if a hotel can't run it's own dining room and a function at the same time, then they need to think about their priorities. But at least we had hot water, and the meals, when they arrived were of good standard (even though the menu was exactly the same as the night before.)
Another mediocre breakfast, and a very sombre air in the dining room. Perhaps pondering the value of their GB200 plus a night stay? As we checked out we heard the couple in front complaining about the service they had received, and as I agreed with their sentiment I was asked to talk to the manager. He made lots of excuses and didn't seem to grasp the fact that the service we had received during our stay wasn't acceptable. Things do go wrong, but aside from the hot water and the problems in the kitchen, there is a general lack of effort here in terms of making people feel special, the staff are not being guided in customer service and certainly don't have the polish required to make you feel like they really care that you enjoy your time here. Because at the moment they don't. And it shows, not only all over their faces but also on the faces of the other guests staying here that weekend. Perhaps it was a one off but I don't think so. Are the Clarkes aware of the staffing issues in their hotel? Farrow and Ball paints and Tricia Guild wallpapers are lovely, but happy, friendly, caring staff are even nicer.
magic mid-week break
by TripAdvisor Member travel25Uk
The George in Rye is not at all 'hotel-like', rather, feels like you've stepped into someone's very lovely home. I mean this in the best possible way, as someone who usually hates going to hotels for the identikit decoration and too- formal service.
Beautiful rooms (my party was split over three bedrooms, each of which was completely different from the other) and lots of places to discover - I peeped into the ballroom, plus there's a very nice pub at the back of the ground floor, and a panelled sitting room in which you can have tea.
Must say I didn't have the same experience as the reviewer below at all. The service is informal while being extremely helpful and professional. From making a dinner reservation to booking a spa treatment at the salon down the road, we were really looked after, and no request we made, however eccentric, made them bat an eyelid!
Dinner was extremely enjoyable and I'm glad the restaurant serves so much local fish. This is not michelin star cooking, but then I don't think that approach would work at The George in Rye. It's simple, clean and unfussy food, and the style reminds me of a few London restaurants (Anchor & Hope, St John).
Having a bath was the best bit of all. Our room (room 10) had a huge, deep, rolltop bath, lots of Aveda products, plus I could peek out over all the old rooftops while lying in the tub, completely hidden. Really magical!
What a shame!
by TripAdvisor Member second row
I remembered this hotel from long ago and read a very flattering review in a UK Newspaper.Decided to book as it is about 30 minutes from the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone and Rye is a lovely town with plenty of history ,interesting shops and is great for just strolling around.
Cost was £175 for what was billed as a deluxe room.
First issue was Parking.The hotels garage was reserved for staff only (thats considerate!)and the long term car park suggested by the hotel was half a mile down hill.On the day of our visit it was closed for a market.Street parking only real option OK but restricted to one hour.
Second Issue the room.It was on the top floor and small for something billed as Deluxe.Like to have seen the standard rooms!.Either the guy in the adjoining room was a finalist in the world snoring championship or the walls were thin! Also very hot underneath the roof even on a cool night in september.Bed was king size but very uncomfortable .Nice toiletries,towels and good power shower but bathroom tiny.
Third Issue Restaurant.Inconsistent.One starter of pear and endive salad unpleasant and returned, main courses of local meats very tasty.Breakfast well presented and served.
Finally.The hotel appeared to lack management.At one time in a not very busy bar there were three staff doing very little five minutes later not a soul to be seen.At check out a request for someone to bring our large bag down from the third floor was greeted with "attitude" and no offer to put it in the car.
Why is it that hotel proprietors believe that by having a few nice touches in design ,or accessories that they can get away with neglecting the fundamentals and charge £175 a night for the privilege?
All Gloss but No Staff Skills
by TripAdvisor Member uniella
I booked for my parents to stay at the "George" for their 45th Wedding Anniversary, as I wanted them to have a "memorable stay" and Rye held some very fond memories of days gone by. Unfortunately, upon their return they didn't have many good words to say.
They hardly slept a wink due to disrespectful guests in an adjoining room - clomping around in what can only be described as "steel capped boots"..the television (which apparently according to the general manager were all "brand new" decided to play up twice during the stay!
I had made it clear via emails and a telephone call that my parents were not to be billed for the accommodation as that was a gesture from ourselves, and only bar and food were to be billed to my parents. Unfortunately when it came to checking out, this simple request was not fulfilled and the receptionist obviously hadn't been made aware of this request!!!!
My parents certainly would not return to the George and despite them designing a flash website generating a "perfect" retreat, with designer clad rooms & top of the range furnishings and toiletries - these are just the superficial toppings of what is underneath a complete ramshackle of an establishment.
Don't believe the hype
by A TripAdvisor Member
I spent ages researching the right hotel for a relaxing weekend break. On paper The George ticked all our boxes: stylish design blending historic and contemporary; former Moro chef; emphasis on local food etc etc
However in reality The George was a major disappointment. Our room - a deluxe - was pretty small. God knows what the standard rooms must be like. It was neat but nothing special and the attention to detail that The George's owners seem to bang on about in various glossy magazine articles didn't extend to repainting the wall or repairing the nail holes when replacing a large mirror with a significantly smaller one. Sounds picky but it made the room look a bit shoddy, particularly given the great claims the place makes for it's design and interiors.
But the real problem was the food. We were booked on a dinner bed and breakfast deal, which we wouldn't have done if we'd known the dinner menu stayed the same both nights. As non-meat eaters we were limited to fish and veggie options, and these were very limited indeed. We are all for using local fresh ingredients and keeping it simple, but plain grilled fish, potatoes and carrot and cabbage (paid extra for this - billed as roasted vegetables, but not as we'd know them!) is just a bit too simple. In fact it was more school dinner than restaurant. Even the puddings were a let down. A champagne ice cream was in fact a sorbet, full of huge lumps of ice. Not good.
On a positive note we found the staff to be charming and helpful, but not enough to outweigh what we thought was a shallow and cynical operation. The George's owners are clearly masters of PR (witness recent Observer travel section feature), but until they master the art of running a decent hotel maybe they should lay off the hype.
brill stay here
by TripAdvisor Member jimjim97
Have just stayed at the George and had a great time.
A+ FOOD
A+SERVICE (especially the young french girl)
A+DECOR AND ROOMS
Cant ask for more than this. So relaxed
Will come back again
Service laughable
by TripAdvisor Member Beetlebum
Our room was lovely (suite) although we could hear noise from the courtyard (I guess that is to be expected given that it is a pub). The food was ok (not amazing but good enough). The biggest problem, however, was the service. All the staff were friendly, but completely inefficient. A few examples: asking us what rate we were on when we booked in (why didn't they know!); failing to book us a table in the restaurant two nights running; leaving us with menus in the lounge but not coming back to take orders or show us through to the restaurant; taking an age to take our breakfast order despite standing around doing nothing etc etc. I could go on. The poor service was actually a running joke amongst the guests - never a good sign - and we saw a number of pub customers also complaining about the service. Why is service so low down on the agenda? We wrote to the manager to complain and phoned them to chase this up when we heard nothing- they promised to phone us back. We have still heard nothing and this seems to sum up the attitude to service pretty well. Overall, unsatisfactory.
Warm welcome
by TripAdvisor Member MrsE_7
We have just spent two wonderful, unforgettable nights at this fantastic hotel.
Location wise from Bristol it’s a bit of a trek but once you arrive, you immediately know that it was all worth it.
The hotel, situated on the High Street, has been beautifully renovated and is full of little cubby areas where you can sit and while away the time. Favourite spot in front of the fire, but outside in the courtyard (with music playing) or down in the bar also great.
The town is pretty and if you can drag yourself away from the hotel for an hour definitely worth a walk around the cobbled streets and church grounds. Camber Sands near by offers up good sand dunes for basking in!
Staff are so welcoming; you are left with a feeling that you have made friends, friends who genuinely want you to have a good time and feel relaxed. It is as if your sister opened the door to you and invited you in for the night- brilliant.
The food is more than worthy of note. From bar snacks of potatas bravvas, steak and tomato or smoked salmon on toast, to breakfast of fruit, yogurt, bread and earl grey, to 5 course exquisite lunches with wines for all courses (crab salad, foie gras, grilled turbot, eton mess, fine cheeses) delicious, well proportioned, special food.
Our room was beautifully decorated, spotless, with classical music on the radio as we checked in (nice touch), high tec gadgets and excellent room service at any time for any request. We actually went out and bought new pillows for home having spent two nights at the George.
All in all we certainly hope to return to this hotel time and time again. Two days was not enough to go through the entire menu!
Thank you to everyone at the George for showing the rest of us quite how to make someone feel very special indeed.
Glorious stay at the George in Rye
by TripAdvisor Member Illona
I have just spent 4 days at The George and could not be more enchanted with every detail of the trip. The Hotel is spectacularly beautifully decorated, calm and elegant and relaxing, i wish that my own house managed to mix old and new so seamlessly.
All the staff were amazingly friendly, knowledgeable and efficient, we felt really well looked after. We had the gourmet tasting menu with specially selected wines with each course, which was truly indulgent and absolutely delicious!
I cannot find a single fault with the George in Rye, I just feel so lucky to have found it, and keep raving to all my friends about how they should definately book themselves a little bit of luxury soon!
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