The Star Inn in Shepway

We received a warm welcome as always. A pint of Abbot ale and Rattler cider accompanied a delicious Sunday lunch. There was even a little plate of tasty lunch morsels and bowl of water for our dog. The chef came over for a chat and the barmaid did everything to make sure we were happy. If you haven’t found this gem it’s well worth a visit. You can also visit the grave of E Nesbit, author of The Railway Children, who is buried in the churchyard nearby.

Lovely little hotel/pub. Always stop for coffee there.

Beautiful pub and restaurant with attentive staff and a lovely garden.

We had an overnight stay for Glyndebourne and the accommodation was excellent as expected of mother and daughter Pollizzi. The service was good. I would have preferred to have an English breakfast rather than the offers proffered. That was my only gripe as 1 of 4!.

The Star is a wonderful Inn to stay at. The rooms are very nice and comfortable. The staff is superb and the food is excellent.

lovely old world hotel and pub ancient timber beams and roaring fires must go location good menu and lovely food

We have tried to eat at this pub on several occasions but without luck. The kitchen always seems closed even during their kitchen open hours. That aside when the barmaid asks us the customer how you make a lager shandy! I despair. You’d think the owner/manager would have checked out that the bar person knew how to make drinks! Given up on this pub now.

Stopped off here for refreshment whilst on the south downs way. Lovely building, fabulous service

Had lunch in the delightful courtyard garden. Really excellent friendly service; and first class quality of food and presentation. It made for a perfect summer dining experience - but looking around inside, it would probably make a very good winter or wet weather experience too. Definitely added to our ‘must return’ list when we are back in this beautiful village.

Went there for what we thought would be a lovely afternoon with my elderly parents for lunch and live music on a lovely sunny day, phoned to book lunch, left message someone will call back it said, no one did, so went along anyway as web site said they were open, 30 minute journey only to find it was closed 😡 don't say you are open when you are not, change it on your Web site and let people know, we weren't the only ones that turned up other people were arriving at the same time as us

A new venue for us 4, in a very quiet and rural setting. We wanted a light lunch and a place where we could sit and catch up with our news. A friendly landlady greeted us and served us at the bar. Later she introduced us to newly appointed Chef. At quite short notice the Chef managed to serve us a delicious and varied lunch. Scampi, ham and egg and a double cheese burger all with great chips and a fresh leafed side salad. Excellent. In a relaxed setting we carried on chatting on large settees where we enjoyed a nice cup of tea. Great. Very reasonably priced too. Thank you.

We have just had a Sunday roast at The Star, they are new owner's and have not long been doing food as they have been refurbishing the whole pub, we would highly recommend the food, everything was cooked to perfection and delicious, it reminded us of my Mum's Sunday roast, just like home made even the gravy. New favourite for us.

Delightful old inn with modern rooms at rear. Variety of rooms nooks and crannies to socialise in. Lovely art works. The quaint village is a gem.

Visited the restaurant today and was disappointed with service! Four of us friends visit the Star on special occasions, such as birthdays etc. and have enjoyed excellent food and good service since it reopened, however today was our worst experience: Long gaps between dishes being serviced. I had to chase someone after our dessert to request a coffee after a very long wait, eventually after two prods we were served. Addionally, a book club arrived in the same dining area and drowned our conversation with their presentations! Surely they could have been accommodated in a separate room? We view the Star a a special place to dine and enjoy but today, could have any pub saloon!

The last review, although 6 months ago, is pretty much still spot on unfortunately. Entered the bar to order drinks and the bar maid made us feel like an inconvenience. No greeting or smile. Outside area was nicely mowed but had to watch out for dogs mess. Lots of junk including a couple of cars which really ruined the point of going out to a country pub and were also a safety hazard to young children. Beautiful location which could easily be pretty perfect if they faced off their old rubbish.

We had a light lunch here mid week. A small but perfectly put together menu for snacking or a full lunch were both available. We had soup, toasted sandwich and a smoked salmon dish. All were excellent. My coeliac friend was fully catered for. We were well looked after by friendly, well informed staff. We will return again to try the full menu.

An absolutely delicious lunch with friends! The food, the wine and service were perfect and the ambience warm and welcoming! The location is so pretty, but parking could be a problem if the Star car park was full.

I can't speak highly enough of our experience with The Star. Everything was exceptional - the wonderfully friendly and attentive staff, the fabulous lunch we had, the beautiful courtyard and our stunning room where every tiny detail had clearly been thoroughly considered. We had been in contact with Olga Polizzi for several months before and she made changes to one of the suites to make it more accessible for those who have mobility issues (my husband uses a wheelchair). We then chose to have our wedding lunch at The Star and were delighted to be able to have our first night as a married couple there. We will definitely be returning!

Staff were so friendly and quick to serve us during what looked like a very busy service. Luke was our waiter and he stayed polite and calm and helped to recommend us some puddings. Overall great service.

Beautiful place. Wonderful staff but weren't able to eat outside in their beautifully furnished courtyard... Real shame as we had a lovely table in the sunshine on Easter Saturday... So just had drinks

A real 5 star stay. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The room was stunning and very well thought out (finally a plug near a mirror for the hairdryer!). We had dinner which was delicious. Loved the reading room and lots of quirky design ideas. The village is wonderful. Lost an hour in the bookshop. We also adored Charleston and the nearby Berwick Church with murals by members of the Bloomsbury Group.

Had an overnight stay. Cannot fault the hotel or staff. Perfect. Would definitely recommend.

Great staff including the owner food lovely Thanks Andy

Camille was amazing!! Super attentive and lovely and kept checking back on us. Gave us super great recommendations on wines/pairings etc and was overall lovely! Really great seasonal fresh food as well and a lovely fire :)

Restaurant review - from the minute we stepped in the star. We were welcomed by very friendly staff who attended to our every need. We had a drink in the bar as offered by the staff really beautiful setting an old-fashioned pub. We had lunch in the restaurant, and was blown away by how calm but at the same time atmospheric the room was. Food across the board was amazing. The wine was fabulous and the overall bill and cost of the mill was really reasonable compared to the amazing experience we had. I would certainly recommend this restaurant/pub and I will certainly be returning hopefully not in the too distant future.

Absolutely worth the visit. Great friendly staff. Beautiful surroundings.

Dropped into The Star for some lunch with friends, and was immediately impressed by the classy yet fun decor. The food was exceptional and the service equally as good. Will certainly be returning.

Would have given 5 but bed was too firm and gave me backache. Staff were fantastic tho

Lovely. Great food, excellent service, beautifully furnished. We ate in the bar which was picturesque. A splendid place. It even has parking despite being in the historic centre of Alfriston, nestling below the South Downs. Bravo!

I have been coming to Alfriston for many, many years, as just live in nearby Brighton. We were so excited to learn that Alex Polizzi had totally renovated The Star. We booked to come here for my birthday on 4th March. We were disappointed that we were not able to dine in the main restaurant for our late lunch. We had to dine in the main pub area which although was pleasant, we were dressed smartly for the restaurant, so felt quite overdressed in the pub area. The lady who served us was very polite and friendly. We had a three course meal and each of us had a glass of Prosecco and a glass of Malbec. The food was delicious. I started with Sicilian tomato and basil Arancini and my partner opted for the tomato Gazpacho soup which quite frankly, could have fed a family of 4! I’ve never seen such a large portion of gazpacho in my life! It was far too much really.. I had to help him out. For the main, we both chose the chicken Milanese which was absolutely delicious and for dessert, we both chose the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream. All the lovely staff, including the chef came out to sing happy birthday to me with a candle in my dessert. :) We then spent some time in front of the fire chatting with our coffee and then a glorious half an hour or so in the library reading the newspapers and looking at books which is usually just meant for residents, but it was very quiet on the day we went for our lunch so we were allowed entrance. One of the staff showed us the secret door in the library, too! :) Everywhere is immaculately spotless, including the toilets which are equipped with lovely hand-wash and hand cream. There is an area equipped with Wellington boots and waterproof capes for inclement weather, and sun hats to put on in the beautiful courtyard for the spring and summer months …they’ve thought of everything! We did not stay at The Star, as we just live down the road in Brighton, so cannot comment on the rooms. This Hotel/Restaurant is high-end and I highly recommend this place for special occasions.

Sensational throughout, couldn't ask for better service. 10/10!

Beautiful hotel in a quaint village. Brilliant service, amazing food and atmosphere. Highly Recommended

Really great hotel. Room pleasant, food and real ale excellent. Staff very, very pleasant and helpful. Couldn’t be better really.

We came for lunch at The Star today and it's not often I write a review but I just wanted to say what a fantastic place and service we received. I have followed Alex and her business ventures for years and have stayed at Hotel Tresanton previously which was heavenly! We didn't get the lady's name who looked after us so well today at the Star, but she did tell us she had worked previously for United Airlines for many years - what a huge credit this lady is to The Star - I knew Alex and Olga would only hire the best staff, but she truly was fantastic - made us so welcome and gave us lots of local area knowledge - she deserved a pat on the back! Brilliant sense of humour and so so lovely. If you're planning a trip to the area - The Star is a MUST! Thanks again.

Superb food, great service and a fabulous location. The front of the hotel is original, very old and beautifully presented if a little sterile. It's not a negative, but don't go expecting a quaint old hotel as the majority is very new, clean, smart and modern. Expensive, but high quality and standards.

Visited this pub Sunday afternoon, new owners and what a let down. The front of property resembles a building site, beer garden looks very neglected - parasols left out in winter and debris all over the place. No atmosphere inside and no cheerful welcome - actually no interaction with bar staff at all. Very little choice of beers - Guinness, Fosters, Carling and despite a pump with Blue Moon tag there was a different beer in pump! Toddlers taking up the few bar stools in bar area and seating area at rear not available. Chairs stacked on top of tables. No food, and certainly not worth a revisit.

This is the best hotel we have ever stayed in and we have stayed in some very good ones. From the moment you pull up in your car you are greeted by a lovely man who takes you and your luggage through to reception area where you are met by another lovely man to check in. The hotel is beautiful and everywhere is so clean and friendly looking. The room was spotless and very comfortable. Nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff. We had a drink at the bar and then went for dinner in the restaurant. Decor again was beautiful. The meal we had was incredible. Wine choice excellent. Our one and only niggle was that the plates were cold but we both forgave that. Thank you to everyone there. You made our one night stay so enjoyable.

Beautifully decor, great atmosphere, log fire, however, be prepared to have your wallet emptied.

Lovely period hotel, with a modern level of facilities and decor. Extremely well appointed, and amazing staff who smile and offer exceptional service throughout. Highly recommended

The food and service were excellent. The staff are very friendly and personable. We love Alex, who made an appearance, making our Christmas lunch special.

Goes without saying - it’s a lovely hotel. What else would you expect? However, what struck me the most was the absolutely fantastic staff. Every single person I encountered - from the contractor who lent me his zippo, the bartender who pre batched my Bloody Mary for the next morning, the patient night porter who brought out a little birthday cake, the sympathetic waitress who nursed me through my crippling hangover. They’re just a bloody lovely bunch, who clearly love their jobs, and their happiness is contagious. The place is gorgeous but I’d stay in a pop up tent in Siberia if those lot were running the show. We love to see it. Bonus factoid: I was curled up on the sofa asleep on my fur coat in daytime sequins with a stick of celery in my mouth when Olga randomly walked in and it was a bit like Jesus Christ himself waltzing into church. She was very friendly, and didn’t make me feel judged despite the obvious state I was in. But I feel a deep, visceral shame that will probably haunt me for years.

What a wonderful experience from walking in to a lovely atmosphere to being greeted by such friendly staff. Our Sunday roast was delicious all freshly cooked the vegetables made to perfection with lovely roast potatoes followed by sticky toffee pudding. None of the food could be criticised. The staff all family are on it with first rate customer service but not over the top. I also understand they do take outs delivering this lovely food to the locals. It was so refreshing to go somewhere so friendly with everything in place. I could not recommend The Star more if I tried. Will definitely use again.

What a wonderful experience from walking in to a friendly atmosphere to being greeted by such friendly staff. Our Sunday roast was delicious all freshly cooked the vegetables were perfect lovely roast potatoes followed by sticky toffee pudding. This is the first time we have used the Star and it was noticeable how switched on they are the service everything was full marks. At whilst there we found they do take outs and deliveries on their food. We will definitely use them again

My wife and I stayed at The Star last night to attend Alex Polizzi’s taste of Italy evening. The hotel, it sits in a lovely little village and when speaking to many of the locals or shop keepers they are very proud of. The Hotel is very good and the rooms are decorated and presented to high standard' to be expected of Alex Polizzi! The meal and the evening hosted by Alex was very very good and she shared many memories of her past which gave an insight to her drive and passion. All in all a fabulous evening and one we would like to see repeated.

Truly exceptional hotel. The staff were outstanding - put many other hotels to shame. They could not have been more helpful, responsive and friendly. The rooms are a masterclass in materials, decor and use of space. And the restaurant food is just Devine. The venison in particular was melt-in-the-mouth delicious. If I sound enthusiastic, I am. We will be back!

Oh boy oh boy! There are less than a dozen hotels that I rate as perfect. But......no matter how small this hotel is with 30 guest rooms, The Star is priceless and a must on anyone's bucket list, regardless of where you live in the world. This is England and English hospitality at its finest. Faultless, faultless and again, FAULTLESS. Thank you so much for everyone making my 70'th birthday celebration one the most treasured memories of my life. A jewel kept secret by my gorgeous wife Dagmar until we arrived.

We had a fantastic second visit to The Star. The staff are all very friendly and welcoming. Special shout out to Stuart who went the extra mile to help us during our stay. The quality of the hotel interiors makes for a super comfortable stay and the food is delicious - whether you’re having a hearty breakfast or a sophisticated evening meal - it won’t disappoint. We can’t wait to return.

We had the pleasure of visiting this lovely pub yesterday whilst on holiday. We all had a roast dinner and they were lovely, they even brought out a small plate of food for our fussy 7 year old to try and gave her a small bowl of custard on the house, when we had a pudding which was also very nice! The staff were so lovely and nothing was to much trouble they were great hosts and very attentive. We also had the bonus of a great singer that we were not expecting, he was really good and everyone was having the best time, thank you Star Inn.

Fantastic place wished more on the lunch menu .But great find

Very pleasing to see such an historic building brought back to life, sympathetically and stylishly. The service at lunch was faultless. The staff are very friendly and professional. The food was enjoyed by everyone, with the exception of the vegans and vegetarians, at the table. It appears the chef has little interest in cooking without meat and fish and seems to compensate as such, with cheese and salt. Pleased to see The Star is dog friendly, especially given its proximity to some of the Country’s most famous walks. Alfriston is a very pretty village, with the most charming village shop and green. If visiting for lunch or dinner, bring the dog, but leave the vegans at home.

I have just enjoyed a four night stay and cannot be more enthusiastic. Friendly helpful staff at all times. I had room 11 which was immaculate. Very comfortable bed and beautiful Italian bed linen. Tasteful, cosy and comfortable with very stylish decor throughout. No detail has been overlooked for a perfect stay. Many walks from the front door. Delicious food, dinner menu is varied daily. Mouth watering breakfasts. I hope to return before too long. It was almost similar to being a house guest in a stunning home.

I stayed here many years ago and decided to come back for a similar break - walking, meeting friends but the hotel has changed a lot! What a fantastic experience - the staff were excellent and courteous and made us feel like valued guest. Every meal was delicious; we had breakfasts and a dinner. The attention to detail and thoughtfulness was apparent throughout.

Lunch. Inspecting the Inspector. We've been wanting to visit here for ages. As we were passing nearby, it was the ideal opportunity to stop by. Entering through the front of the pub, it didn't look very busy,probably because we were early on a Sunday. Our dogs led us through to the Mediterranean courtyard. Who was there to greet us? None other than the Hostess with Mostest, Alex Polizzi. This is where all the guests were sitting in the glorious sunshine. With such enthusiasm, Alex showed us to a table as though we were regulars. The first question was, "Would you like a drink?" Yes,can we see the wine list? "No,I meant your dogs." Oh ,how we laughed. We could not come here without trying something from the menu. So, keeping it Italian, we ordered. RISOTTO PORCINI MUSHROOM, fresh Umbrian black Truffle & aged parmesan cheese .£28 HAND-MADE BRAISED BEEF SHIN & RED WINE RAVIOLI sage, lemon, butter & pecorino romano.£24 The food was cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. A lot of the guests were having Sunday lunch,which looked devine. After we had finished lunch, Alex showed us round the rest of the premises. All we can say is ,'Stunning'. There are not enough superlatives to describe what a magnificent job has been done to transform the place. The staff are all professional and very good at what they do. This is hospitality at its finest. Of course, Alex would not let us leave til she got a selfie with us.

Food was good. We ordered coffee twice but never received this. No apology when we asked for this to be taken off our bill!

Had lunch here, very polite attentive service, lovely old building renovated to a high standard with nice decorative features. The restaurant was busy but not quite full we had Milanese chicken, mackerel and tomato and mozzarella salad with a bottle of prosecco and a pint of local bitter really enjoyed

In the heart of the historic village of Alfriston, The Star shines bright offering a delightful dining experience. Our party, including two dogs, found a comfortable spot in the well-designed garden area. The dishes were very good, with well-prepared pasta, mackerel, and salmon, and the coffee was excellent. The service was attentive and personalized - and especially appreciated was the warm welcome from our host. Beyond the restaurant, Alfriston's historical charm and intrigue adds enjoyment to the visit. The Star combines well-prepared food, top-notch service, and a tranquil setting, making it a noteworthy stop in this picturesque village.

The restaurant is stunning. The food was lovely and the service from all the staff was excellent .

Really nice fish and chips but didn't get my coffee...twice. Beautiful location, excellent property, OK service.

Very nice lunch out in the garden, All served by very friendly and helpful staff.

Came for lunch because wanted to see this famous hotel from the polizzi collection. Food was stunning and dining Al fresco in the inner courtyard a real treat. The whole hotel is well presented and detailed in terms of furniture and setting. Very pleasant time and nice to see Alex, the owner, chatting with the guests and being present during service.

Super experience. Lo=Ely place with excellent and efficient staff. Well trained and helpful. Food very good …..although perhaps 2 out of 3 vegan choices were pasta needed to be changed. Well worth the visit

Found this pub by the of chance pop in had a lovey roast pork dinner everything was cooked to perfection. Finish dinner then sat in the garden all afternoon listening to live music! It’s a really friendly pub spoke to Dave and Terry the landlord and landlady who where so welcoming along with the locals. We be returning

Spent a lovely day in Alfriston today which included lunch at The Star to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Thank you for a beautiful meal and for making the birthday girl feel special. Your efforts were much appreciated.

Beautiful old hotel. Lovely library

Went for dinner and Loved it, couldn't recommend this more, food amazing, service amazing, environment relaxing and beautiful! Will be returning

Amazing, so beautiful, we had lunch here and were made very welcome with our 2 (well behaved) dogs. The food was delicious, the service brilliant and the whole restaurant were delightful. Well done all at The Star, we will be back for sure.

The Hotel is beautiful and has a historic vibe with a modern twist, I have never stayed at the hotel but the food is good and had some good options on the menu, the only downside was the staff were just a little slow. The reason I'm not giving more stars is that I had also applied to work at the hotel and I was contacted for an interview for the receptionist position which I did attend, the interview itself went ok and I was offered a trial shift which should have been arranged on the day, for the following week, I did not hear anything for 3 days so decided to contact them about it and again did not hear anything for another 2 days, I was finally then contacted with them calling me Chloe? when my name is Katie even on my email its Kate, saying that they regret to inform me that they did not want to progress further. If they had told me sooner and actually got my name right this would not have bothered me as much as its normal for an interview, but I had even contacted them again to ensure it was for me and not for someone else, and again did not receive a reply. Overall the hotel is nice but the restaurant and especially reception staff are very disorganised.

Overall a lovely environment and the interior is stylish and inviting. Staff were very friendly if sometimes a little slow. Would definitely recommend for a lovely quality lunch and experience.

Fabulous pub with amazing views! Food is great we had the chicken kebabs which were very tasty! Would definitely recommend coming here on a sunny evening to watch the sun go down! Staff and owners are very friendly

Great place the best place to be, service from the manager Luigi and his team, fantastic

A lovely place, full of character!

A truly wonderful meal to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Service could not fault, food was absolutely delicious. There was no child’s menu, but that didn’t stop the chef preparing fish&chips for my daughter. Will definitely eat again and maybe next time book a room too. A special thanks to Amod and Fabrichio for making us feel special during our time at The Star.

A wonderful experience! Really friendly and efficient staff who immediately made us relax. Amazing food and beautiful decor throughout. Will be back soon!

The Star is a top quality hotel.The staff cannot be more attentive, the food is excelent and the hotel is well presented. It is ideal for special occasions so you can save up to enjoy it.

Spent our honeymoon here 51.5 years ago, had morning coffee for old times sake. Love the improvements.

Beautiful lunch in the sunny courtyard. Excellent food, wine and service.

I’ve been working crazy hours and decided my husband, doggies and I needed a bit of a break. After a horrid drive from London, we had a fab pub lunch and long walk along Cuckmere to the sea. We arrived at the hotel sunburnt and sandy and were met with a wonderfully warm welcome. Our room had a little patio for the dogs to enjoy and they had dog treats, bowls, blankets etc. Our gloriously soft and sumptuous Super King bed, giant fluffy monogrammed towels (they should sell these as they are the best towels we’ve ever used!), prettily decorated room with white voile curtains blowing in the breeze - a truly joyous and relaxing little sanctuary to destress in. Cocktails on the terrace in the courtyard served as the sun set, the most wonderful dinner in the restaurant (without our doggies) - home made ricotta and spinach parcels, turbot with fresh local vegetables and the most delicious frangipani dessert all enjoyed with the best Malbec we’ve ever had. A short walk through the charming village and an early night. Many of our fellow guests arrived back in their full evening dress after Glynebourne which is nearby. After a restful sleep, we enjoyed an early hearty breakfast followed by coffee and papers in the morning sunshine in the courtyard. The staff are the most incredibly lovely, efficient and friendly hotel staff ever, five star trained and go out of their way to help. This hotel is better than some five star hotels we’ve stayed at. We now drive back to London refreshed, restored and happy. Bravo Alex and team!!

A lovely hotel with beautiful rooms and exceptional service. Dinner is highly recommended with a good wine list. We would definitely come back soon.

Amazing Fish & Chips the best I’ve had!! Such a Friendly welcome definitely will come back couldn’t praise high enough!

Booked a table for 11 people to celebrate family anniversary. Different food criterias were met and catered for. Set in the most idyllic surroundings, an old fashioned pub with the biggest welcome. Great selection of drinks, great hospitality, menu had a wide range of homecooked food, great portion sizes. There was even a pool table to keep kids entertained. A little gem of a find.

A lovely hotel in a beautiful part the South Downs. Our stay was made even more special by three members of the team in particular - Janet, Fabrizio and Gryff - thank you for looking after us and our two year old.

Have just experienced the most wonderful meal at The Star.....the food was nothing short of perfect. The service was friendly, attentive, and efficient.....we were made to feel not only welcome but also wanted. Friendly touch from the owner who spoke to everyone in the dining room.

The Star is just beautiful. I have never before stayed at an hotel that is so immaculately clean and well-maintained. The Hotel Inspector certainly practices what she preaches! Service is exemplary from the very moment you arrive. Naturally, it is not a cheap stay here, but such high-end quality costs and is totally worth it.

We went for Sunday lunch and sat in the sunny patio. The menu had lots of nice options and the food was really great - I had the risotto. The highlight however was our server, Poppy, who was attentive and super friendly! Would certainly return

Very good food and drink. Room was excellent but could have done with a fridge in the room.

Great food (value for money) and very friendly reception and service. Next to that we arrived on the local karaoke night and were invited to join with great support!

Loved our stay at the Star. The staff were all lovely and attentive, extremely friendly and helpful. Our room was very comfortable, and the restaurant was also excellent. We couldn't have been happier. It's not an ultra-luxury country manor house style hotel, so if you're looking for opulence it's not for you, but it's a pretty classic cozy country village inn, and thats what it excels at.

Visited The Star on Sunday after a walk around Alfriston. Service wasn’t great at the bar in the Inn. Forgot to serve our drinks, had to tell the staff 3 times what we wanted to drink. We were made to feel unwelcome and quite uncomfortable as the staff kept looking at us and asking us if we were okay. We asked a member of staff if we could see the menu, refused to show us the menu as there was no availability to eat even though there were many empty tables. We ended up going to ‘The George’ opposite the road, they welcomed us with a warm welcome and served us a lovely food with a great atmosphere.

Wonderful hotel for a special treat. Quality food and lovey rooms.

What a beautiful hotel in a lovely little village ! The food was amazing as was the service and meeting the charming Alex Pollizzi was an added bonus x Lovely room quite small but had everything we needed and a great shower .

Alex Polizzi and team have done a marvellous job updating this 13th century inn for today - service, quality of rooms (oh, that shower!) and cleanliness, and all the thoughtful touches: beautiful (and ancient) bar and lounge, lending library with lots of latest fiction and non, beautiful design hints throughout, and wonderfully attentive - and omnipresent - staff. The setting - in scenic Alfriston - with all its history, easy access to South Downs and seven sisters walking paths, and the best bookstore in the south at Much Ado Books is also fantastic.

We stayed at The Star last weekend. Our first visit to this beautiful place, everything was perfect, the staff were extremely helpful and the room, food and service was exemplary. We will definitely return, thank you so much.

Turned us away for wearing walking shoes when we came in for dinner - we had cleaned our shoes thoroughly and other than that were wearing buttoned shirts and smart trousers. Seems like a silly policy in a village mostly frequented by people hiking the South Downs Way; most walkers won't carry a spare pair of shoes just for dinner in their rucksack! We went next door to a different pub who were more than happy to have us instead.

What a wonderful hotel. Our room was terrific and the staff could not have been more welcoming. It was too cold to enjoy the beautiful courtyard, but the roaring open fires in the medieval bar were fabulous compensation. A special shout-out to Fabrizio, whose kindness and professionalism made a big impression. And the homemade pumpkin ravioli was heaven on a plate. We’ll be back.

Joined friends for lunch, interested to experience the quality of food and service. Set lunches of two or three courses were on offer. Not a wide choice, but food and service were good, not exceptional. One thing was misleading. The prices for the food, unlike other restaurants, quoted the amount less VAT. So a set two course at £35 was in fact £42 !

I'm not going to put my experience on here for people to read as it will be way too lengthy as right now I'm in the process of writing a book on this Hotel which has way to many flaws.

We had the most perfect winter getaway at The Star - it was heaven. Our room was beautiful (amazing personal touches - handpicked fascinating books on the shelves and booklets with suggested walks on the stunning South Downs); the food was the best we’ve had in Sussex (and we live in the county!); and the service was impeccable. Such an incredibly stylish yet homely hotel. Take me back!!!

A great place. Good lunch with attentive service.

4 Days of luxury - a treat to be recommended. Bring your walking boots!

Fabulous. Food superb. Wine list wonderful, service first class. On a cold night, walking into The Star with two roaring open fires on was the perfect welcome. Definitely highly recommended.