Jeake's House

Review

On one of Rye's prettiest cobbled streets, Jenny Hadfield's B&B has been created from three old buildings, one a former wool store. 'Nice and quiet', it has good views, says a visitor this year. 'Service is friendly without being fussy.' The oak-beamed parlour has an upright piano and a fireplace; the book-lined lounge has an honesty bar and sample menus from nearby restaurants. Both have Wi-Fi. All the bedrooms have been given a flat-screen TV with multiple channels this year. The larger rooms are named after writer friends of American poet Conrad Aiken, who once lived here. The top-floor suite has a window seat looking over the garden to the salt marsh. The Malcolm Lowry suite has a four-poster bed and a large bathroom with walk-in shower and roll-top bath. Housekeeping is 'of a high standard'. An 'excellent' breakfast is taken in the red-walled former chapel with its high windows, good china, plants, wooden floor. There is a self-service buffet, a choice of teas; cooked dishes include the house speciality, devilled kidneys on buttered toast. A vegetarian breakfast is also on offer. Resident cats Yum Yum and Monte are in attendance. A private car park (£3 a day) is available nearby. (R Reynolds, and others)