The Gallivant Hotel

‘Jolly’ dinners and a ‘bright, friendly’ atmosphere come together at Harry Cragoe’s carefree restaurant-with-rooms, across the road from the high dunes of Camber Sands. ‘There’s a good spirit and sense of fun about the place,’ say Guide inspectors in 2016. The motel-style building has ‘an appealing weathered look’ and New England-inspired bedrooms (some compact, many refurbished this year). ‘Ours – freshly painted white, with a comfy king-size bed, good bedside lamps and an odd collection of books – had French doors on to a decked area with outdoor seating. With the doors open, the bedroom filled with birdsong. Quibbles: no wardrobe – just hooks with wooden hangers; no waste bin; no room to make tea.’ A complimentary cake or two is set out at teatime, but you should keep room for an ‘exceptional’ dinner, perhaps ‘a generous amuse-bouche of tasty mackerel pâté’; ‘well-cooked’ Dover sole; a ‘delicious’ ginger parfait dessert. Served till a ‘guest-friendly’ 10 am, breakfast includes ‘endless’ Bloody Marys. ‘We liked the little Kilner jars of fruit compote, yogurt and toasted seeds; buttery, deep-orange scrambled eggs came on toast from home-baked bread.’