The Gallivant

The Gallivant is a hotel and members club that has combined all of life's greatest pleasures under one roof - delicious local food, fine English wine, and a dog friendly atmosphere. The interior is so perfectly staged in the bar area that it looks like it’s been taken straight out of a lifestyle magazine, whilst walking through to the restaurant transports you to an effortlessly cool beach house. The room is light, spacious and clad with white-washed wood from floor to ceiling and an array of framed swimsuits that time forgot. At night, the room is lit by barely aglow candles to give a more intimate feel, with fireplaces flickering on the terrace in the background, ready for a post-dinner stargaze.

Being so close to the coast, the menu has a noticeable focus on seafood, so it seems only natural to kick things off with a plate of oysters. Large, fresh, and perfectly salty, they need nothing more than a squeeze of lemon and a sizable gulp. Swiftly followed by a butternut soup, the bowlful was adorned with pesto and beurre noisette, with the addition of ricotta hidden beneath the surface, ready to bring some welcomed creaminess to each spoonful. Contrary to most soups that leave you feeling as though they would have sufficed as a main, this was light, whilst still being intensely flavoursome.

The main sees hake served in a pool of soy and ginger broth, topped with samphire, pak choi and pickled mussels. Aromatic and well balanced, the broth gives a salty glaze to every mouthful of fish, whilst the pickled mussels bring a tang, and the vegetables add some texture.

For dessert, both rhubarb and vanilla sorbet come together to create something reminiscent of a rhubarb and custard sweet. It's the perfect way to finish off the meal.

The Gallivant’s motto is ‘happiness is a place’, and we think that place might just be here.

Note: The Gallivant is a members only restaurant open to overnight guests, club members and their friends.

When you think of exclusive hotels and private members clubs, your mind might wander to bustling cities where men in suits sign up for a membership so they can guarantee a free table in town every night for dinner. The Gallivant, however, is no ordinary members’ club. Firstly, it is found in picturesque Rye, surrounded by the charming wilderness of Romney Marsh and the unspoiled landscape of Camber Sands.

The Gallivant is also a club which takes its food seriously. Open all day, as well as for brunch and Sunday roasts on weekends, The Gallivant’s menu is a celebration of locality, with virtually everything served British in origin and much of it sourced as locally as possible. There is also plenty of flexibility for guests, who are able to enjoy meals in the main dining room, at the bar, on the outdoor terrace or even at the beach.

The menus at The Gallivant change weekly and are dependent on what is in season, but you can always expect to find ingredient-led dishes that sing with freshness, with particular attention paid to fish and seafood. If stopping by for dinner, you might begin your meal with the likes of heritage carrots served alongside labneh, chickpea dukka and carrot top salsa verde. For your main course, choose between dishes such as wood roasted Romney lamb chops in a green sauce or roasted hake with St Austell mussels, sea aster and Sussex verjus. To round things off, take your pick from a tempting selection of puddings - think seasonal ice cream flavours or a strawberry meringue topped with cream and beetroot molasses.

Pair your food with an English wine from The Gallivant’s extensive list, or opt for ales and ciders instead.