Dog-friendly Hotels East Sussex

An original 1920s weather-boarded single-storey beach house with an enclosed garden, this is the perfect dog-friendly hideaway.

This stunning Victorian mansion has been renovated in 2020 to an exceptionally high standard throughout. Large, social living areas with an open flow make Harbour Retreat the perfect escape for all your friends and family. It has been finished to a very high standard with a real touch of elegance and this luxurious, modern space is incredibly light and airy throughout. With many different aspects, this allows sunlight to pour into the property creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Soak up the sun in the private rear courtyard and enjoy a nice glass of wine in the evening or snuggle up in either of the two living rooms. Perfect for celebrating that special occasion or just getting everyone together, this detached holiday home is sure to create many happy memories and a fantastic stay.
Just a short walk away is the medieval and historic hilltop town of Rye. With its famous cobbled streets, lined with interesting historic buildings, an abundance of independent shops, restaurants and cafés, interesting art galleries and museums, as well as cosy and inviting pubs. Head to the harbour for quiet beaches, picturesque walks and coastal birdlife.
Rye is steeped in history and is well worth exploring, with a range of restaurants, bars, boutique shops and historical sites. Wander through the historic Landgate and along the cobbled streets to admire the House with Two Doors (filmed as part of the BBC Series ‘Mapp and Lucia’ and the infamous Mermaid Street). Take lunch at one of the lovely pubs serving food, followed by a visit to Rye Pottery for a creative afternoon. The glorious long sandy beaches and dunes of Camber Sands are also just 5 miles up the road. For wine enthusiasts, Chapel Down and Gusbourne Vineyards are well worth a visit where local wine can be sampled or enjoyed within the restaurant. Further afield are the interesting historic towns of Hastings and Battle. The Old Town in Hastings is a popular historic area with numerous traditional pubs with a vibrant music scene. A busy day of exploration can be rounded off with fish and chips on the seafront. Beach 2 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 50 yards.

These two pretty, beamed, semi-detached holiday cottages, (refs 27442 and 27443) with mezzanine floor, have been attractively converted from former cow byres and are set in the owners’ 14-acre small holding which is home to farm animals including sheep and pigs. On-site is a small children’s play area. A 10-minute walk across the fields brings you into Sedlescombe with its village green and traditional country pub. In close proximity to Battle, with its famous battlefield and abbey, built to commemorate the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Relive one of the most famous days in history, and join the 1066 walk from the doorstep. Take a trip on the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Tenterden, also known as ’The Jewel of the Weald’, through the Rother Levels to Bodiam, one of the most evocative moated castles (National Trust), built in 1385. Discover the one time coastal smuggling town of Hastings and medieval Cinque Port town of Rye with its cobbled streets. Picturesque sand dunes and interesting wildlife can be explored at Camber. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
Properties 27442 and 27443 can be booked to together to accommodate up to 4 guests.

Forming part of this Grade II listed unique building which once formed The Duke of Wellington’s Headquarters this second-floor apartment is situated in the heart of Hastings Old Town. Taking pride of place on the wall outside the building is the historic blue plaque confirming that the property was the headquarters of Major General Sir Anthony Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington in 1806.

Only a few minutes’ walk away from the beach, bars and restaurants along with the boutique shops of the Old Town, this property is perfectly located. The apartment itself has been refurbished to a very high standard and has been filled with unique items and antique furniture, some of which are available to purchase. A painting of the Duke himself adorns the communal hallway leading up to the second floor apartment and once inside you will not be disappointed. The beauty of this apartment not only lies with the furnishings but also with the sea views which are visible from both the reception room and the bedroom.

Offering open plan living to the reception area and having been refurbished to a high standard, the character and finish offers a comfortable and cosy ambiance to relax in after a long day exploring. A welcome basket filled with goodies from local shops will await your arrival in the modern fitted kitchen also providing a dishwasher for your convenience. A beautifully decorated bedroom provides another sea view along with a large inviting bed and a stunning roll top bath to the corner of the room.

Hastings Old Town is the location of many festivals offering fun and frivolities. Whether it is the Jack in The Green May Day celebrations, Fat Tuesday, Carnival Week, Bonfire Night, or the Old Towns Food & Wine festival to name just a few, you are sure to have a great time. Why not visit the UK’s steepest funicular railway located only a few minutes’ walk away and take one of the original Victorian coaches up to the top of the West Hill to visit Hastings Castle and St Clements Caves, the location of the Smugglers adventures. Offering a choice of Adventure, Crazy or Pirate Golf you can test your skills on the beachside courses, Hastings adventure course itself is the home of the annual World Crazy Golf Championships.

The Old town itself also benefits from Hastings Contemporary Jerwood Gallery, the Fisherman’s Museum, Blue Reef Aquarium along with an abundance of seaside favourites such as fish & chips, doughnuts, arcades, and the Flamingo Amusement Park. The apartment is also within walking distance of Hastings with its pier and town centre with Hastings mainline railway station, allowing you to get access to the capital in just under two hours. Nearby towns of Bexhill, Eastbourne and Rye are all worth a visit if you are driving, and nearby locations such as Winchelsea Beach or the sandy beach of Camber also offer another option alongside Hastings seafront. Please note that due to the level of the apartment and there not being a lift it is not suitable for anyone that has mobility concerns or for children under the age of 11. Please no hen or stag parties. There is no washing machine provided at the apartment however there is a laundrette situated only a few doors away. An additional apartment in the building ’Duke of Wellington HQ’ is also available should you require space for more guests and can be booked alongside Wellesley Retreat.

Mount House Barn is a tastefully renovated 17th-century barn ideally located in the pretty village of Burwash, surrounding the property with wonderful views. The property boasts a wood burner in the living room to cosy up in front of in the colder months. The garden outside is a show stopper, as it is surrounded by luscious greenery from the surrounding fields; why not sit outside with your morning coffee and take in the fresh air around you, or dine al fresco in the evening with a hearty meal, watching the stars above you.
The property is surrounded by things to do for all the members of the family. Close by is the All Things Dog Park which allows your four-legged friend to explore and play while still being in the safety of the enclosed field. The park is open for 12 hours a day, all week allowing you to go and play any time of the day.
A short 15-minute drive away is the High Weald AONB which is filled with things to do. There are endless footpaths to take, each one producing its stunning scenery, or hike up some of the hills and get some breathtaking views below you, creating perfect photo opportunities. If cycling is more your thing, there are several cycle trails you can take, weiving you around the area into the most stunning locations.
Bodium Castle is also within a 15-minute drive and is filled with a plethora of different things to do. Interactive activities are held frequently for children to join in and get a taste of what it was like to live in Medieval times, joining quests and designing maps making this a memorable adventure for all. Other nearby areas include Eastbourne, Battle and Rye, all of which have adventures of their own.

Follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth I and spend some time exploring the beautiful Cinque port market town of Rye. In 1573 she bestowed the title Rye Royale. Stay in this well thought out and stylish holiday cottage which is just a 6 minute walk from the centre of the town, with its large selection of pubs, restaurants and cafes. You could discover for yourself why many authors, musicians, artists and celebrities have chosen to settle here. Rye is one of the best preserved medieval towns in England, despite being the haunt of the notorious smugglers, The Hawkhurst Gang. Visit The Mermaid Inn, their famous hideout, where the cellars date back to 1156. Visit the Rye Museum and climb St Mary’s Tower for breathtaking views across to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Winchelsea. See Lamb House, the home of Henry James and later E. F. Benson, and where they filmed the recent production of ’Mapp and Lucia’. Another great film location is Camber Sands and going in the other direction towards Hastings where ’Foyles War’ was filmed. There are also connections by train to London. Shop 300 yards, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Cowbeech Farm Cottage is situated in the beautiful grounds of the owner’s farmhouse on the edge of the village which bears the same name. Originally part of the old dairy and very much a working dairy farm back in the 1950s, it has its own enclosed garden off the original farmyard. The stunning farmhouse grounds have featured in the National Garden Scheme, and other magazines, and guests can stroll around the lake and marvel at the unusual Japanese garden. On the boundary of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and within strolling distance of the local hostelry, which dates back to the early 1600s. A walkers and cyclists paradise, try the Cuckoo Trail, 19 miles of walkways and lanes that follows the old Cuckoo Line Railway from Heathfield to Eastbourne, and gained its name from the releasing of a cuckoo at the Heathfield Fair.
Michelham Priory, Herstmonceux Castle and its gardens, Drusillas Zoo and the Bluebell Railway are great days out, or spend a Saturday evening stargazing at Herstmonceux Science Observatory. Eastbourne with its beaches and pier is a 30-minute drive, and Battle is 8 miles with good rail connections to London. Should the weather be inclement, there is a leisure centre at Hailsham with flumes, inflatables and ten pin bowling. Beach 9 miles. Shop ¾ mile, pub and restaurant 175 yards.

In the heart of Hastings Old Town, this attractive, cosily furnished Grade II listed fisherman’s cottage is 150 yards from the beach. Built c.1841, it retains many period features, exposed beams, brickwork. Relax in the secluded west-facing decked courtyard before trying one of many delightful seafood restaurants. Take the Funicular Railways to the country park, castle, smugglers caves. Visit the Blue Reef Aquarium, shipwreck/fisherman’s museums, boating lake, crazy golf. Shops, restaurants 200 yards, pub 25 yards.

Built to a good standard, these adjoining holiday cottages in the owners’ grounds are situated in the tiny village of Beddingham, which lies in the South Downs just off the Lewes to Eastbourne road (which although convenient, can be busy). The view to one side of the cottage is that of Mount Caburn, which is one of the highest landmarks in East Sussex and is the home of an Iron Age fort! Both cottages have wheelchair access to the ground floor rooms. Lewes, 2½ miles, is dominated by the ruins of a great Norman castle and boasts twisting medieval streets and tiny twittens. The port of Newhaven lies on the land with the shortest sea route between London and Paris and Seaford is a quiet, informal holiday resort from where Seaford Head, The Seven Sisters Country Park, Beachy Head and the village of Alfriston can all be visited. Glyndebourne and the outdoor opera, 2 miles. Drusillas Zoo Park, Charleston - the home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and rural bolt hole for the Bloomsbury group, Firle Place and Newhaven Fort are all a short drive. Eastbourne, 12 miles, Brighton 10 miles. Shop 1½ miles, pub 1 mile.