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The Mermaid Inn, Rye
Rye
TN31 7EY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Mermaid Inn
Very famous old inn, and usually crammed full of overseas tourists so I haven't been here for decades. However, a cold Monday with almost nobody else about (to the extent I managed to photograph a completely empty Mermaid Street) provided us with an unplanned opportunity to call in and have a proper look around. Lounges on both sides as you walk along the wood-panelled corridor (one reserved for hotel residents only) until you find the relative small bar at the back. This has a very traditional look and the huge fireplace but didn't feel empty as there were several other people in just having a drink rather than eating. Harvey's of course, plus Tribute and the 3.8% 'house' Mermaid Ale.
On 21st April 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Mermaid Inn
This isn’t really a pub in the strictest sense of the word, it’s actually a bar within a hotel, but it’s such an iconic building that it really is a must visit when in Rye, and I rather got the impression that most of the punters were just in for a drink rather than hotel residents on our recent Friday evening visit.
As you enter, the hotel reception is off to the left and you proceed down a narrow corridor to the bar at the rea. The hallway itself is very attractive, with old black beams across the ceiling and further black timberwork in the walls which are inlaid with portraits of kings and queens. A carved wooden archway is at the end. The bar itself is very impressive, with plenty more black wooden beams on the ceiling and walls, leaded glass windows at the rear and an enormous fireplace that takes up one entire wall, complete with swords on the wall above, as well as a frieze of carved cherubs. Various other swords and daggers were hung on the walls, as well as an old revolver of some sort, perhaps a dualling pistol, and a few further portraits. A large quantity of hops were hung from the ceiling. Another lounge off to the left was surprisingly quiet, perhaps this is residents only, but was broadly similar in terms of décor with the seating here being large red leather Chesterfield sofa’s.
Beers on tap were Tribute, Harvey’s Sussex Best and their own Mermaid Ale. The solitary cider meanwhile was Appleshed, which was a new one on me. Overall, not the most pub like experience perhaps, but a real must do nonetheless.
On 9th February 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1949 recommendations about 1862 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Mermaid Inn
A cracking heritage pub located on one of Britain’s most picturesque streets. This historic coaching inn has a beautiful timbered (pre?) Tudor exterior which gives way to a multi-roomed interior with a real plush old skool feel. There’s tons of carved dark wood panelling, carpets, big hearths, old nick-nacks and a couple of lovely garden areas – lots to explore and multiple visits would reward fully. Three cask at the bar in the shape of Harveys Best, St Austell Tribute and a house beer Mermaid Ale at 3.8% - WhatPub says it’s Youngs so I guess a rebadge of Ordinary - in good nick (NBSS 3.5), served-up by be-penguined staff (it is an upmarket hotel, I suppose). A mixed crowd, with confused foreign tourists, a few locals and a few of the local upper middle class with a broomstick up their back end; indeed a couple of tea-sipping Pooteresque ladies were not enamoured by my presence in one of the rooms and even less so when some working class tourists from Essex also joined. Overall this is a lovely place with good beer and well-worth a drop in to sample. Unlike some others below, I would call in again.
On 16th October 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Mermaid Inn
The Mermaid Inn is a historic coaching inn that functions as an upmarket 31 room hotel, but it’s award winning restaurant and bar and lounge rooms are all open to the public.
With its wonderful location up a steep cobbled street it is well worth searching out as an historic building. It was originally built in the 12th century and the original cellars dating from 1156 still survive. However the current black and white timber framed and tiled building, with dark oak and carved stone chimney pieces, is the result of a 1420’s rebuild. Internally it is unchanged from John’s review below, and whilst the Fireplace bar, with its truly stunning fireplace, is the centre of attention I agree with him that the rest of the public areas, including the reception, are worthy of exploration.
It is many a year since I was last here and whereas the interior is largely as I remember it, the outside space in what was the courtyard and stables has been greatly improved from my remembrances and there are now several comfortable areas to sit around the cobbled courtyard and the covered ones on the far side looking back at the hotel are a good spot to enjoy a pint on a fine summer evening. And with respect to ale there are three pumps on the bar badged with St Austell Tribute, Harvey’s Sussex Best and something called Mermaid Ale at 3.8%. On enquiry I was told this was brewed by the Longman Brewery and having enjoyed their brews whilst in Eastbourne I plumped for this and was pleasantly surprised on pouring to discover that it was actually Longman Long Blonde and in good condition.
The comments made by John below that this is more hotel bar than traditional pub do have an element of truth about them and the the Mermaid Inn is certainly a magnet for overseas tourists and especially Americans ( and why not, it’s almost 300 years older than their country). If you are on an evening out in Rye with your partner then I would recommend to bring them here as they would appreciate it. If you are visiting Rye with the lads, there are plenty of other hostelries in town.
On 24th August 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Mermaid Inn
In an attractive ancient cobbled street in the picturesque Cinque Port town of Rye is The Mermaid Inn, which, with some justification, refers to itself as “one of England’s oldest and loveliest inns”
The Mermaid Inn is a typical old style black and white building, dating back to 1156 but being rebuilt in 1420. It principally functions as a tourist orientated hotel / restaurant, for which the hotel has 3 AA stars and the restaurant has a Double AA Rosette.
At the rear of the hotel, accessed either directly through the hotel or through a cobbled archway at the side of the hotel, is an unspoilt cosy Lounge Bar open to non residents – The Giants Fireplace Bar – so called because of a large open log fireplace that virtually spans the whole width of the room and features one long vast beam that is supported on stone piers. This lounge bar features old settles, large black oak former ships beams across the ceiling adorned with hops, a grandfather clock and, reflecting its past history as a smugglers refuge, various rifles, cutlasses etc adorning the walls.
Whilst it’s undoubtedly a fine characterful and historic place for a pint, and some food, perhaps not surprisingly, the atmosphere is most certainly that of a hotel bar with, predictably, bar staff attired in dark waistcoats and ties and being suitably obsequious – “what would sir like ? ” … etc. As often appears to be the norm in a place like this, customers were virtually whispering to each other in quiet, almost reverential tones, as though they were in a church or chapel.
As a whole, the hotel certainly merits a bit of exploration with its ancient wood panelled corridors, rooms and furniture. By the hotel reception area, various signed framed photos show that most of the usual suspects appear to have called in at some stage over the years – eg Michael Caine, David Jason, Judi Dench etc.
In the bar, three pumps were serving Harveys Best, St Austell Proper Job and Tribute, which, I would suspect, doesn’t change much, if at all. Prominently displayed on the bar counter were bottles of cider from a local producer, Norman Hunt and Sons from nearby Battle. The Harveys - £ 3.90p – was pretty good, as was my food.
I enjoyed the visit and it should certainly be on the itinerary of the first time visitor to Rye, but, if you’re looking for a lads night out, or to let your hair down, this is not the place for you.
On 8th May 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Mermaid Inn
The Mermaid Inn is a large building that comprises thirty one bedrooms, a restaurant, two lounges, a terrace, a courtyard garden, parking and more interestingly a bar. The bar is called the Giant’s Fireplace Lounge and Bar, which is a very good name for it as there is a giant fireplace in the left hand wall and a bar on the right hand wall. Seating is found in between, but this is a very small bar which would best be described as cosy. There are lots of hops hanging around the bar that supports three hand pumps that were drawing Dark Star’s Hophead, Fullers’ London Pride and Harvey’s Best. There is also a limited draught selection, but I opted for a pint of Hophead which set me back £4.10. The other customers were all well-heeled and the barman was polite enough on during my recent Tuesday evening visit.
This is a pleasant enough place but the prices dictate that I would probably drink elsewhere when next in Rye.
On 19th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5252 recommendations about 5220 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about Mermaid Inn
The famous and delightfully preserved Mermaid Inn sits on the historic cobbled Mermaid Street. It was apparently rebuilt in 1420, with Norman cellars dating from 1156, and has lots of timbers, relics, medieval artworks, and smuggling history. It is primarily a high end hotel and restaurant nowadays, but was always at the high end (Queen Elizabeth I stayed here, and more recently the last Queen Mother and Prince Edward have visited) with a variety of ornate lounges in which to eat, drink, or just sit and admire. The bar is a room to the rear known as the Giant’s Fireplace, with a huge open log fireplace recessed into the wall right down one side and a priest hole in the chimneybreast.
The beer selection was pretty tedious, with three hand pulls offering Harveys, Pride or Old Speckled Hen alongside the usual other selections, and although the roaring fire was charming to see it made the room so hot that even non-smokers were going outside to cool down. This is a ‘must visit’ pub that you’d come to for its history and architecture, rather than because you particularly wanted a drinking session here.
On 13th March 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Grant Doughty left this review about Mermaid Inn
Interesting public house.Again used as a smugglers hideaway. Only stopped for a beer, would have liked to stay, again our visit was in 2003.Cosy place small bar with plenty of ale selection on tap. What a place for a first nights honeymoon, could be haunted, i swear that sitting out in the garden bar I could hear orses ooves excuse my fondness for England, go visit, stay, lots of history and time permits we may just siddle that way given time constraints on this 2011 trip
On 20th February 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]