Guests' Reviews

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Clare "cosy" Cottage.

We visited lots of National Trust properties including Bodiam Castle, Batemans and Sissinghurst Castle Garden (my favourite). On bank holiday Monday we walked from the cottage and up the road to Brede Steam Giants then accross the public footpath to Seddlescombe, a pretty village with a lovely pub, the Queen's Head, for lunch, then on to Broad Oak (quick drink) and back down the fields to the cottage.

We loved Bexhill on Sea, lovely traditional seaside town and enjoyed the Bexhill Museum. We also liked Rye and walked from Rye down to the Nature Reserve. Hastings Old Town is worth a visit but we would not bother with the "new" town again. 

We enjoyed a lovely meal at the Red Lion and bought freshly made croissants from them on Wednesday morning ;-) Fab week.

Jo, Simon, Archie (14) anf Jack (12) from Warwick, Warwickshire

Very much enjoyed our stay. Thank you so much.

Cherri (Australia) & Beverley

PS Loved the Aussie flag on our arrival!

Lovely stay. Thank you.

Really appreciated the easy to adjust heating & open fire as it has been chillymornings and evenings. We have lucked out with the sunshine tho! We cooked great meals in the well equipped kitchen.

Very happy stay

Jan (Toronto) Jean (London)

We had a lovely stay in the cosy cottage. Clare Cottage was very well equipped and the gifts were a nice touch. A sit down in the garden with the sun shining was very enjoyable. Our dog enjoyed the soft carpet and a nice chew as well as a nice are to go on walks. The Red Lion had had great food and the people were very nice.

THank you for a great Easter holiday.

Lana, Len, Hannah, Lizzie and of courseTeo.

We have had a lovely Easter weekend here at clare Cottage. It is a charming cottage, very well equipped and the welcome gifts were very appreciated!

It was our first time with our dog Freddie and we all had a great time expolring the area. We especially loved all the views and the sun setting from behind the church was beautiful!

Thank you

Aaron, Cassie, Ellie, Sophie & Freddie

Such a qwuaint and charming cottage - offeringa most pleasant and enjoyablestay. Cooking made easy by the well equipped kitchen. We enjopyed the carvery lunch at the Red Lion. The bed of snowdrops in the church graveyard is glorious - such a breathtakingview from there, much admired when walking Bengee.

Sacha and Mary

Anothr great visit to our favourite cottage. Enjoyed the cosy nights by the open fire and also managed to get to the Red Lion which was very good. We love the authentic cottage with all its period features. Sadly, I forgot my  hair dryer and the one on site was not very powerful and in the end it was quicker to let it dry naturally. (since replaced - Alec)

Catrina & Kevin (sadly no Bessie Beaqgle)

We have just spent a wonderful Christmas at Clare Cottage. it's so comfortable and cosy. We really enjoyed the open fire. The surroundings are beautiful and the Red Lion was so welcoming. Happy times.

Fiona & Jerry

What a lovely stay in your charming cottage, everything we could need , comfotable and cosy. A nice area for long walks with Ozzy the dog. The Red Lion was welcoming and food excellent.

Thank you.  Marie & Dave

We've been really comfortable here in Clare Cottage and will remember our time here fondly.the surrounding countryside, pub and access to the beach, Rye and beyond is easy. Everything you could wish for including accommodating hosts.

Hilary, Geoffrey, Marigold and Leo.

Had a lovely stay in the cottage. Enjoyed the courtyard on the lovely sunny days. We had still not seen everything we would like to but what places we seen were great. Pub: Red LIon lovely food and fantastic staff. Thanks for the welcome gifts.

Alec & Cora

What a lovely cottage ~ beautifully prepared for our stay. THANK YOU for the welcome gifts of ale and apple juices & doggie treats too!

R S & J

Great location for National Trust properties and the coast. Rye is a lovely little town & the nearby Brede High Woods is a nice place to visit with your dog. Our young spaniel was in heaven! Good pub next door.

Many thanks, Val & Graham

We can only say what everyone else has sais. We were close to where our children live, so that was a nice bonus. Our son Benjamin designed and illustrated the Sussex Coastal Culture Trail Map & Guide for cycling and walking, so if you everneed an artist/illustrator , you know where to finfd him.Found in your information guides.It was my birthday & our 41st wedding anniversary whilst here, so I will remember our stay most warmly.Found the bath a bit on the small side, along with the height restriction, especially as hubby is tall, 6ft.

Thank you for your welcoming giofts. Yogi'stongue came out straight away! (I should say Yogi is our red and white border collie and not my husband!!!

Thank you for all the thought you have put into making this the perfect stay.

Best wishes, Helen, Ian & Yogi.

Enjoyed our five day break in your cosy cottage. Thoroughly enjoyed our days out especially those to Rye and Eastbourne. The cottage met our needs wioth the only downside being the busy road. Can highly recommend the Red Lion pub with fantastic food and hospitality.

Derek, Maeia, Joan & Dexter

A lovely week in fantastic weather. Calre Cottage was very clean and comfortable! Visited Rye and many NT and English Heritage properties. Battle Abbey was excellent. Recommend Great Dixter Gardens. Good to be able to leave the car in the Red Lion car park and had a good meal thereon our first night.

Maggie & Barrie

Had a really lovely stay at Clare Cottage. Quaint and beautiful.

The weather was great so we enjoyed the courtyard garden & the woods with our dog.

We had everything we needed.

Best wishes, Sal, Darren, Lydia & Boo.

We have had a lovely week staying in your charming cottage. A proper, delightful home from home. Everything here that we could need – and more. We had a lovely meal in the Red Lion and have visited many places with our grandsons Cam (6) and Blake (3).Our day trips have included Rye. Hastings, Scotney Castle (highly recommended), Bodiam Castle, Romney and Hythe Miniature Railway (final destination being Dungeness nuclear power station!!), Sissinghurst Castle Gardens (Beautiful!). I particularly enjoyed making the picnics to take on our trips in your very well equipped, lovely kitchen. The grandsons loved hiding Easter eggs in the quaint courtyard. The cottage was warm and inviting, as were the hosts, although it being via email. We have loved every minute. Hever Castle tomorrow (has a good playground) and will visit Chartwell (Winston Churchill’s home) on our homeward journey to Derbyshire. Thank you Theresa & Alec

Kind regards Lesley, Andrew, Cam & Blake.

Lovely stat at Clare Cottage. Great location. We enjoyed the nature reserve and Rye itself. The pub next door is excellent, food & service were fantastic. We are off to Battle today and then home.

Thank you – cottage is delightful.

Colette, Lloyd & Molly

A pretty cosy cottage in a good location. Friendly people and a great pub!

Jack, Sue & Millie

Delightful. Really enjoyed our stay (myself & my dog). Cottage lovely. Red Lion great food. Found people in the village very friendly. Position very central to visit the many places of interest to visit. Dog walks were good. Highly recommended. 

Terry & Billy the Dog

Great stay – thank you for dealing with such a last minute booking so efficiently. We’ve had some lovely walks including a trip along the Brede valley to Sedlescombe. We found a warm welcome at the Red Lion and at St. George’s Church where we were made to feel at home on Wednesday and Sunday. And some cosy night by the fire.

Neil & Robert

A beautiful, quaint cottage. It is equipped very well and there is everything you need. It is perfectly situated and close to Rye & Hastings. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to experience the Red Lion as it was closed due to COVID but can highly recommend the New Inn just down the road. Thank you for making my birthday special whilst spending the week at this fantastic cottage. We will definitely be back.

Catrina, Kevin & Bessie Beagle

Lovely cottage with heaps of character, in a stunning location, with a funny name. Loved the stay. Thanks to Alec & Therese.

Elodie

WE have had a really lovely stay here. The cottage is beautiful and every need has been taken care of, it’s like a large doll’s house!! There are many places to visit nearby and lots of walking areas. Red Lion a real bonus with very friendly staff and good food. Even the weather was very kind to us. A gem of a find!!

Pat & Brian

Lovely cottage, cosy, warm & welcoming, really enjoyed our stay here, good dog walks. Thank you so much.

Kevin, Tanja& Mickey the dog

A delightful cottage, extremely comfortable and well equipped. We’ve really enjoyed our return to Sussex.

Vic. Julie & Luca the Sprocker

We’ve had a great stay, lots of great places to visit. The weather has been good. Great pub next door, very friendly and and the food is great. Plus very dog friendly. Dungeness is worth a visit. Love Rye.

Linda, Vincent and Bunty

We have been so lucky to have a glorious sunny week in this comfortable cottage. It is perfectly situated to explore area which has many attraction within easy reach. The Giants of Brede are well worth visiting and are in walking distance (providing you don’t mind the uphill climb back). We found the Red Lion very welcoming and although a limited menu, everything we has was extremely good.

Dave & Alison

We had a lovely weeks stay in this well equipped cosy cottage. The cottage is very central to many lovely places.

Battle is well worth a visit. Many wooded walks for dogs nearby.

from Richard, Kathryn, Grace, Owen & Oslo

Lovely stay in beautiful traditional English cottage, even if some people bang their heads!! Great trips to railways, Canterbury, Tenterden, Safari Park so, although it wasn’t beach weather, we didn’t miss it (it didn’t rain so that’s a bonus). The cottage is very well equipped and the Red Lion super.

Many thanks

Angela, Alistair & Damian

We have had a fantastic stay here in Clare Cottage and couldn’t have wished for a better place of George’s first holiday. Memories of his first  time on the beach and in the sea will stay with us forever. Battle Abbey was beautiful and has helped Grace with her upcoming History GCSE. Beautiful walks everywhere.

Clare Cottage has been amazing to stay in. So well equipped and full of character and charm. Loved my coffee in the courtyard and evenings listening to the birds fight and settle in the trees – fabulous.

Thank you so much and we’ll definitely be back

Mark, Amanda, Grace, Harry and George (the dog)

We are in love with Clare Cottage. After the last 18 months, our week here in Brede has been the slow down and relaxation that we needed.

The cottage is so comfortable & well equipped& we couldn’t think of anything else we would need!

We have been to Battle Abbey and the beaches around which are lovely. Pub next door is gret. Very friendlyand the foos is fantastic.

Albie, our dog has loved the new walks and meeting new people.

Alec & Therese have created a great little home from home & we really enjoyed the welcome gifts

Looking forward to coming back

Hayley. Jon, Katie & Albie

Nostalgic place to stay as we’ve lived in tiny cottages before. Used to live in Hastings Old Town but last 30 years in Wales. Returned to visit numerous old friends so only used the cottage as a base. Very pleased with it. Fresh bread from Red Lion in the morning. lovely run across the fields to Broad Oak Rec. At home we can hear sheep baaing so the traffic noise was a novelty!

Carol, Nigel & Alys

25th June 2021 We enjoyed our stay in your comfortable & warm cottage....

We enjoyed our stay in your comfortable and warm cottage this week. We visited some wonderful places- Great Dixter gardens was a highlight and a sunny day in Hastings yesterday was a great way to finish the week. An exhibition of automatons in the museum and the fabulous Contemporary Art Gallery’s exhibition of seaside posters and paintings. A coffee on their cafe veranda felt like we were on the Riviera not the south coast. Also recommended are Sissinghurst, Rye and the vast beach at Winchelsea. Don’t miss the view and honeysuckle scented lane down to the Brede pump house! And thanks to our hosts for the local produce – much appreciated and enjoyed with the fish and chip take-away from the pub next door!.

Best wishes Margot & Wendy

Clare Cottage has been a fabulous post lockdown break for us. The cottage has everything you need and is in a fabulous location for visiting Hastings, Battle, Rye to name a few… oh and Bodiam Castle.

We can recommend the The Broad Oak pub. We had a great meal there on our last night.

Thank you Therese & Alec looking after us and for the local apple juice, lager and pale ale,

Shona & Adam

Hi Alex & Therese, just wanted to say thank you for the welcome drinks. They were much appreciated. We had a lovely time exploring the area, there is plenty to do and lots of nice beaches within easy reach.

The view from the road by the church was fabulous and we had some lovely walks locally and further afield. The weather was changeable but we were lucky enough to dodge most of the heavy showers, if not all!

The village pub was lovely and very welcoming  and with the easing of lockdown we managed supper there last night which was very much enjoyed.

Best of luck with bookings for the rest of the yea. Hopefully you will be busy with staycations seemingly the way to go for the foreseeable future.

Kind regards Linda (via email)

Thank you. Our first post lockdown mini break and what a lovely place to spend it. We really appreciated all your kind help prior to arrival & appreciated gifts & dog bowl on arrival. The gentleman across the road was all welcoming and helpful.

Bluebells were a joy in the garden and the toll of the church bell is lovely.

The open fire was put to good use and we appreciated your approach to COVID safety.  The heating was efficient and the cottage soon warms up if cold. We had a big thunderstorm and it was wonderful and cosy listening to the rain on the roof.

We visited Hastings, Rye (beautiful), Camber Sands (sandy!), Bodmin (serene), Brede Woods (carpeted with blue), Battle (historic) and ate a serviceable Sunday lunch at Salehurst Hall. We also enjoyed Italian and Greek food in Hastings. 

All in all, a lovely long weekend and your hospitality and accommodation was much appreciated.

Warm wishes and gratitude, Shaun & Mike  & Tauzerschnauzer

Thank you very much for a wonderful stay in your charming cottage. It was a much needed and lovely break after five months of lockdown. We really enjoyed the cottage, wonderful surroundings and beach. Thanks again.

Guillaume, Voilaine, Kira  (& Lucky)

2nd November 2020 Thank you so much for a wonderfully cosy stay....

Thank you so much for a wonderfully cosy stay at Clare Cottage. We loved our evenings inside with the fire and listening rain and storm outside. Very comfortable, well equipped and great location. We very much enjoyed our mini break.

With thanks Melanie, Mark, Luke and Hansai

Really enjoyed the week.

Some great walks with the dog, great views from by the church. Been nice and relaxing as well.

Paul, Jane and Japp the dog

What a lovely relaxing two weeks, despite the weather not being all we could have wished for we managed to see everything we hoped to – Batemans, Bodiam Castle, Battle Abbey, Scotney Castle and a lovely ride on a steam train at Tenterden. We had a lovely walk in Brede Woods as well and a seaside walk at Seaford. It’s been lovely to have the Red Lion so handy for good food when we didn’t want to cook. Thank you.

Jenny, Kevin, Laura and Poppy

We had a relaxing time in this quaint cottage. Have enjoyed the really well equipped kitchen. Early in the week we used the car and finished off using the bus service from the door of the cottage. Highlights have been Rye, Tenterden and Lydd-on-Sea / Dungeness. The sea air has been wonderful. Thank you

Bill and June

Really enjoyed our stay at Clare Cottage. Very well equipped, quaint cottage. Enjoyed breakfast in the pretty courtyard. First holiday for our border collie “Rory” and he just loved it. First visit to the beach and dip in the sea at Camber Sands – he is one happy dog. Enjoyed visiting Hastings, Rye, Battle and Bodiam Castle. Also, the Red Lion next door made us very welcome with treats for Rory.

Paddy, Leonie and Rory

PS Thank you for the treats on arrival

We have had an enjoyable and restful stay in your quaint cottage. We appreciated the welcome gifts and have enjoyed the pleasant countryside and attractions. Headcorn Aerodrome was a highlight! The Red Lion, as you said , is a welcoming pub, the staff and clientelle all friendly and the food was superb! London Glory is a good pint too! Thank you and we’ll be sure to book again when we visit the area.

Glenn and Tina

We had a lovely Stay at Clare Cottage, a very well equipped cottage. Welcome gift was very  nice. Had a good day in Hastings. Battle was good but forgot to book to see the castle (shame). One thing to watch is the low beams(hubby’s head hurts) and also the drunk wasps from the grape vine in the garden. Could not leave the back door open but a nice garden. The pub was hit and miss as ran out of beer, wine and crisps LOL but friendly enough. All in all, a pleasant stay.

Mark, Tammy and Tipsy (dog).

Location was good for us and cottage is well equipped all round – mixed weather but enjoyed Sussex and Kent coastal landscapes

Janet

What a beautiful cottage. Full of charm and character. The courtyard garden made for a relaxing evening, sipping wine and admiring your amazing fig tree. Winchelsea beach was ideal as it is large enough to enjoy whilst social distancing. Battle is a must visit.

Thank you

Maxine, Ian and Scarlet

A wonderful break after working in blue light jobs throughout Covid 19.

Everything you need is here. Fabulous walks nearby for us and the dog. Battle Woods to add to your list.

Many thanks for sharing your little treasure with us.

Stuart, Adele & Isla (Cocker Spaniel) x

Lovely cottage, comfortable has everything you need. A great base to explore the area from as there are many places near by to visit. Just note that the ceilings are very low not great for those of us who are tall ! Cottage is also on a busy main road.

Jane

Excellent communication with the owners Alec and Therese, who we’re very friendly and helpful. A cosy cottage with a lovely courtyard garden and beautiful country views close by. The nearby Red Lion pub was equally friendly, both staff and regulars. Meals were excellent and we were allowed to take plates back to the cottage. Another visit is needed to go to several interesting National Trust properties, which were unfortunately closed due to Covid. We’ve already recommended the cottage.

Kevin

We would highly recommend Clare Cottage- it’s a beautiful old building, and was sparklingly clean when we arrived, really well equipped. The owners were very helpful and responsive and we felt that they had made a real effort to make it a comfortable stay. The village itself is lovely and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. It’s very close to Hastings, Rye, and Camber Sands, which we day-tripped to. We would love to return!

Rosie

Charming and characterful cottage well located for trips to Rye, Hastings and Great Dixter.

Marc

Thank you for a lovely weekend. We really enjoyed our stay in Clare Cottage – very cosy & comfortable.

Thank you

Clare, Ben, Oliver & Isabella

Thank you for the stay at Clare Cottage. It was very comfortable and well equipped with everything we needed. Well organised, clean and tidy, good communication.

Thanks again,

Helen, Justin and Indie

We’ve had a very relaxing happy stay here in East Sussex & a very cosy one in Clare Cottage! Loved seeing Bodiam Castle (National Trust) and Battle Abbey (English Heritage) and highly recommend both! Rye and Battle were both lovely towns to explore & Battle in particular! Everyone in all the shops / cafes / butchers were so friendly! Willow the dog got biscuits in almost every shop so she wasn’t complaining…

The weather was nothing but bright blue skies to begin with and then still grey, misty days to finish. Both were beautiful and made the gorgeous countryside here look lovely in a different way. We loved how clean the cottage is and how much equipment is stored in the kitchen. You can cook whatever you like!

Many thanks from this bunch from Suffolk

Peter, Lydia, Priscilla, Rebecca & Willow

A lovely festive stay in a very cute and warm cottage. We loved the open fire which was well used. Sadly weather was pretty dreadful so didn’t venture far. Managed a nice Christmas Day walk and trip to friendly pub – definitely not far for that! Thank you for your hospitality. We enjoyed the treats!Happy New Tear!

Pete, Helen, Jessica, Tom & Pickle

A charming, clean and well equipped cottage. We’ve had an enjoyable stay exploring East Sussex…. PS. Battle Abbey 5*, easily 3-4 hours of history, well presented, good value food

Jan & Phil

We’ve had a lovely few days in this delightful cottage. Visited Bodiam Castle and Winchelsea Beach, then Hastings. Top tip, if the parking at Bodiam is full… go back up the road to the café (think it is called The Hub), have a cup of tea, leave the car there and walk over the fields to the castle. Best to wear walking boots in the autumn/winter. The grounds at Bodiam are dog friendly but inside the castle is not. Highly recommend the local pub – lovely welcome and delicious food.

John, Vicky, Sam (age 12) and Lilly

This is a very well equipped and warm cottage. We have been very comfortable here with some good weather. The Red Lion has a lovely atmosphere and welcomes dogs – even our Jack Russell who doesn’t like other dogs! Thank you for your warm welcome and welcome drinks – we really liked the local apple juice and intend to buy some from the Red Lion before we leave. Thank you for the dog friendly furnishings.

Ros, Andrew and Fifi

Clare Cottage has been a fabulous base to explore this wonderful part of the country. We’ve enjoyed visiting Hastings, Rye, Bexhill on Sea, Battle and further afield into Kent. The local pub is great for a drink and food and the Wild Mushroom was excellent. We would certainly recommend Clare Cottage to friends and family.

Sue and Tony

We have had the most wonderful holidaywe could have imagined during our stay at Clare Cottage. Coming from New Zealand it has been an absolute delight to stay in such a quaint, old cottage with so much history. For us it was like stepping into an English storybook! Therese and Alec presented the cottage beautifully and it was very special to receive such a warm and genuine welcome upon our arrival. The tour of the house and the welcome pack were very much appreciated. What a beautiful area East Sussex is! We have loved exploring and have had wonderful day trips to Battle Abbey, Bodiam Castle, Batemans, Rye, Camber sands and Sissinghurst in Kent. We were very grateful for all the helpful information in the folder about places to go, etc.

We are sad to be leaving tomorrowand wish we could stay for much longer. Hopefully we can return one day and come back to Clare Cottage for another happy holiday!

Much love, Denise & Bret(Havelock North, New Zealand)

We received a wonderful warm & informative welcome from Therese & Alec on arrival & have certainly enjoyed our short stay in their extremely clean and well equipped cottage. The welcome pack for us and our dog was much appreciated. The cottage is very well placed for visits to Rye, Camber Sands, Battle, Bodiam Castle and Bexhill & with dog friendly pub serving good food nearby, what more could you want?!

Anne, Ron & Jake

We booked this lovely, cosy cottage in the country for some rest and relaxation – and that’s exactly what we have had. Friendly owners – lovely countryside – pleasant pub. Much appreciated. 

Rhonda & Terry

Thanks for letting us stay in your lovely cottage. It made a comfortable and homely base for exploring the local area. We were lucky enough to see Brede Giants in action, just a few minutes away too! We concur with the comment about Battle Abbey, too. The lovely weather was a bonus.

Jez, Georgia, Katie and Harvey the dog.

We have had a fantastic stay at Clare Cottage. It was everything we needed, well equipped. The ideal place to stay for connection to Hastings, Rye and Battle.  We would certainly recommend you to family and friends.

Sam & Alan, Eileen & Mary & Xena

A lovely cottage in a smashing location. Lots to see and do. Great Walks in the cool of the morning. Friendly locals and local pub (excellent fish and chips). We had everything we needed. I suspect if we came again it would not be during a record heat wave….scorching! Thank you for your kind welcome and the cheese/wine/biscuit combo. Much appreciated.  All the best Peter, Kath and a very warm Elmo the Italian Spinone

A lovely character cottage and a great base to explore this wonderful part of the country. Thank you for Percy’s gift, it’s come in very handy this week, Emma and Clive + Percy the labrador

We have had a lovely time staying here at Clare Cottage! It had everything we needed and was very cozy. Thanks for letting us stay!

Julian (north Wales)

Beth & Ash (Florida)

Wonderful welcome from hosts to this very well equipped and cosy cottage near Rye. Found some lovely walks from the door, so no need to drive. Very close to local, welcoming, and dog-friendly pub. Only points to note: be prepared to duck through doorways if you’re over 6ft; it is dangerously close to the local, welcoming pub (!) (it should be said that it’s not noisy); also very close to a beautiful church (but note that the bells ring early on a Sunday!).

Ian

We’ve had a lovely few days in this delightful cottage. Visited Bodiam Castle and Winchelsea Beach, then Hastings. Top tip, if the parking at Bodiam is full… go back up the road to the café (think it is called The Hub), have a cup of tea, leave the car there and walk over the fields to the castle. Best to wear walking boots in the autumn/winter. The grounds at Bodiam are dog friendly but inside the castle is not. Highly recommend the local pub – lovely welcome and delicious food.

John, Vicky, Sam (age 12) and Lilly

We have had a lovely time staying here at Clare Cottage! It had everything we needed and was very cozy. Thanks for letting us stay!

Julian (north Wales)

Beth & Ash (Florida)

Wonderful welcome from hosts to this very well equipped and cosy cottage near Rye. Found some lovely walks from the door, so no need to drive. Very close to local, welcoming, and dog-friendly pub. Only points to note: be prepared to duck through doorways if you’re over 6ft; it is dangerously close to the local, welcoming pub (!) (it should be said that it’s not noisy); also very close to a beautiful church (but note that the bells ring early on a Sunday!).

Ian

Gorgeous cottage in a small village near Hastings. The hosts were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The property has two spacious bedrooms and the fire in the living room is a great feature. There is a lovely garden at the back of the property which is a great suntrap. Highly recommend

Mary-Kate