The best restaurants serving British food in Rye Rother South East

Having visited on a whim with our 5yo, due to wet weather on our holiday, I cannot recommend highly enough. They are operating the Soft Play on a booking only basis but let my son go in for 45 minutes before the bookings arrived. The facilities look really clean and new and my son had a blast. My partner wanted a chicken baguette which they cooked from fresh. We couldn’t have asked for a warmer reception, such a welcoming and lovely atmosphere and the food is great, as well as affordable.

Super cool pub, staff very knowledgeable and Scotch egg was lovely.

Beautiful decor, welcoming, dog friendly. Had the best cocktails! We didn’t eat but the food looked lovely. Definitely recommend.

Lovely place, are friendly staff

We came in for a birthday lunch. It was a Saturday, and it became really busy, which we appreciate. However, between ordering our food and actually receiving it took over an hour, so long that a table behind us that came in after us got their food and left in that time. After an hour of waiting we asked where our food was to be told it was getting plated up, however we didn’t actually get it for another 20 minutes. I don’t usually write reviews, however my experience left me feeling I had to. In the end, it wasn’t so much the wait that disappointed us, as we appreciated they were busy, but once we received our food no one apologised for the wait, and we felt dismissed and forgotten about and that the staff were then annoyed with us because we had to ask after waiting a long time. No smiles and we weren’t even checked on or offered more drinks. The food was lovely once we got it and we initially were going to stay for dessert, but ended up feeling like we no longer wanted to because of the wait time and how the staff treated us. We also felt once we had our food that we were rushed out by the staff. I hope this was a one off.

Over many years we have always had our Christmas Day lunch out at a pub but the King’s Head easily topped them all. Firstly, there were no sittings so there was none of this having to turn up at midday and turfed out at 1:30pm in order to release the table for the next sitting (which we had to put up with only last year). We were able to have a couple of drinks at the bar and sat down at 2:15pm which was absolutely perfect for us. Our starters of scallops wrapped in bacon and a cheddar cheese and chive soufflé were divine. Our succulent turkey mains turned up piping hot but the main event was the homemade gravy which Steve (landlord and chef) had enhanced with his (not so) secret ingredient of star anise - best gravy we’ve ever tasted! The accompanying vegetables were equally tasty and hot. We were then allowed plenty of time before we were served our delicious desserts of tiramisu cheesecake and mincemeat and apple crumble and custard. The whole experience was enhanced by the excellent customer service by Steve’s wife and daughter for whom nothing was too much trouble. We stayed at the Kings Head for three nights over Christmas and our room was upgraded on arrival which made a huge difference to us as we had originally been booked into the smallest room in the pub so we were very happy with that. We even had the opportunity of taking a sausage baguette back to the room late on Christmas afternoon to deal with the late night munchies! All in all it was the perfect way for us to spend Christmas and there were even guests booking for next Christmas Day as they left so you can’t get a better recommendation than that. We will return and thanks so much to Steve, his family and the team for giving us such an enjoyable and memorable time.

Go through the dowdy antique shop frontage into the tiny, almost cramped room behind and prepare for a treat. We three all picked the all day breakfast; proper bacon, real butcher's sausages and all the trimmings. At around £6, with coffee refills, we couldn't have been happier!

Friendly staff, dog friendly. They sell a range of not cheap dog treats (that mine weren't that keen on) instead of free dog biscuits.

Just stayed for 3 nights , what a great place, the staff are lovely and so helpful, ample parking , and so near the town, the place needs a complete refurb but don’t let that put you off , the place is very clean , our beds were very comfortable and we will definitely go back , it will look amazing when it’s refurbished, people with children will have to be carful as there is no barrier to stop children from getting near the river, but then that is down to parents , definitely book it’s great

Right in the heart of Rye a lovely hotel that had a fantastic breakfast!

A really lovely live music pub. Very pleasant staff and customers.

we have been coming to the mermaid inn not quite as long as it has been open - about 40 years !- experiences over the years have of course varied .The restaurant is in 2 rooms both very attractive , the staff are friendly , efficient , human ,the dinner we had last night was excellent - lovely local scallops then for my wife pork belly and myself wild sea bass followed by a chocolate marquis and myself passion fruit soufflé , everything we had was quite delicious , a very enjoyable dinner . We live only a few miles away , this visit will encourage us to return quite soon . Well done the kitchen and the staff .