insideKENT Magazine Issue 51 - June 2016 | Page 118

GETAWAYS

A grown-up, laid-back, seaside
escape at The Gallivant, Camber
We all have them: certain aromas, tastes, or places that stir up the fondest childhood memories,
and one such place for me is Camber. Located just five minutes away from the quaint town of
Rye, this East Sussex coastal bolthole is a typical ‘English seaside’ resort, famed for its dunes
and miles of award-winning sandy beach, and was, for me, the destination of many a bucket ‘n’
spade childhood holiday. B Y S A M A N T H A G

It’s fair to say that the allure of sand-filled
sandwiches and a melting ‘99’ ice cream aren’t
quite what they used to be. So, it was with
sheer delight that I had the chance to revisit my
youth while maintaining the holiday standards
to which I’ve now become accustomed as a
guest at The Gallivant.
Preferring the adage ‘restaurant with rooms’,
The Gallivant is primely situated opposite
Camber’s famous sand dunes and provides
just the right mix of laid-back seaside charm
with contemporary style and sophistication think of the most glamorous, yet cosy beach
hut and you’re halfway there!
Checking into our newly refurbished Garden
Room, my guest and I were immediately drawn
in by the whitewashed oak floors, floor-toceiling pale green cupboards and headboardcum-bookcase showcasing an array of

handpicked books, all of which aid the ‘kick
off your shoes and relax’ vibe. There are little
seaside touches: the model boat above the
cistern, the ‘gone fishing’ do not disturb sign,
and the pulley key fob, but basic beach hut this
is not. The sleek rollaway sliding door reveals
a roll-top bath, which can either be made part
of the bedroom space or hidden away into
the sleek marble bathroom, a room that also
boasts mood lighting and an amazing shower.
Welcome touches such as the Nespresso
machine, mini bar of (too) tempting snacks, the
bluetooth Ruark system, and the flat screen
TV and DVD player (for which you can borrow
films from a bursting DVD library) combine to
create a sumptuous seaside haven.
While it was tempting just to move in and never
leave, we had heard the words “afternoon
tea” upon check in and needed no prompting
to join the other guests in the lounge for the

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complimentary tea, coffee and cake served
each afternoon. After my second (okay, third!)
slice of orange cream gateaux, my guest and I
decided a much needed evening stroll was in
order to work up an appetite for dinner.
As I said before, The Gallivant is a restaurant
with rooms and the restaurant here is a
destination in its own right. The dining room
is spacious and airy, yet comfortable and
secluded; having only 45 covers makes
it intimate, but the atmospheric buzz is
welcoming and relaxed.
Part of The Gallivant’s core ethos is ‘fresh and
local’, and head chef, Oliver Joyce and his
team have embraced this so much that 95
percent of all the fresh ingredients are sourced
or foraged within just 10 miles.
We were certainly in for a treat…