By Susie Harwood
Last week, I had the pleasure of spending a few blissful hours at The Gallivant for a beach retreat day, with Jo Beames who is collaborating with the property, Victoria Ryznar, head of group sales and several UK buyers.
Though not a new property, the hotel recently launched new restaurant Harry’s, creating the perfect excuse to revisit the hotel if you’ve been before (not that you should need one). And if you haven’t, it’s another excellent reason to get yourself down there for a site visit, because The Gallivant is a real gem.
It was my first visit, and after a pleasant train journey to Ashford International which gave me time to catch up on my emails before switching off for a few hours, we were picked up and took a short private transfer (around 25 minutes) to the hotel.
A beachside boutique bolthole, The Gallivant has just 20 rooms, making it perfect for exclusive takeovers for corporate retreats, board meetings, luxury product launches, intimate dinners and more.
As soon as I stepped inside, I felt a sense of calm – the chic but laid-back interiors make you feel instantly at home. Both The Hamptons and Soho Farmhouse were referenced in conversation by the buyers in our group to describe the vibe and feel.
If I was lucky enough to have a beach house – I’d want it to look like this. Framed vintage bathing costumes adorn the walls, and there are plenty of books in the rooms and throughout the property giving it that home from home feel. Some of the rooms lead directly to the ‘coastal garden’ which is lush and pretty and perfect for soaking up the sunshine.
The hotel is located across the street from the sand dunes leading to Camber Sands beach in East Sussex, just a few miles from the medieval town of Rye. It’s 50 minutes from London St Pancras to Ashford International by high-speed train, and private luxury transfers can be arranged from the station to The Gallivant taking 20-30 minutes.
The unique beach house environment is ideal for getting teams to truly disconnect. And when the laptops have been put away, The Gallivant team can organise anything from access all areas English wine tours and tastings at the nearby Gusbourne Estate and other wineries to sunset wellness classes overlooking the ocean. We did a gentle morning yoga & stretch class among the sand dunes in the sunshine, which was a fabulous way to unwind and relax – followed by a glass of sparkling English wine from Gusbourne.
The property is ideal for groups of 15 for 30, but for larger groups, it can provide extended accommodation in luxury coastal cottages just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. The main event space can accommodate up to 80.
Great food and drink are at the heart of The Gallivant’s offering. Harry’s restaurant – which is named after the hotel’s owner, Harry Cragoe and opened in February to rave reviews – is headed by Matthew Harris, ex Head Chef at Bibendum.
The menu highlights local British seafood and seasonal produce, with dishes inspired by Harris’s career in classic French restaurants. Think local fish such as hake and bass, caught from Rye Bay and Dungeness, served with wild-foraged mushrooms or locally sourced sea vegetables. Sharing plates include Basque chicken and tarragon, racks of Romney salt marsh lamb, whole roast plaice or turbot and tarte fine aux pommes flambéed with Calvados.
All events at The Gallivant, big or small, will enjoy Harris’ menus and his hand in the kitchen, and with dedicated areas for al fresco dining and evening receptions, there are options to eat indoors in the beautiful light airy space or outside. Our lunch in the sunshine was absolutely delicious, and I was particularly impressed by the non-alcoholic options on the bar menu, which is so important for making everyone feel included.
Buyer view:
But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what Luci Beaufort-Dysart, director of experiential and live events agency Hyphen had to say:
“I think the Gallivant is the perfect hotel for a smaller product launch, test drive event, senior offsite or influencer event. It is beautifully designed, contemporary but with a welcoming feel – very Soho Farmhouse without the pretension and located perfectly next to a beautiful beach. The restaurant is fantastic with friendly informal staff and the food is delicious with a real farm to fork vibe and the ingredients being the star of the show. There are endless possibilities for the right group and with the boutique nature of the hotel and the right programme it could be a great canvas for lots of brands especially in the beauty and premium automotive space.”
Here’s a few of our snaps from the ‘beach retreat’ day: