The Old Forge | Holiday Rental in Hastings, East Sussex

Holiday home
The Old Forge is situated in the harbour town of Rye in Sussex. This cottage sleeps six people in three bedrooms, consisting of a link super king-size double, a king-size double with en-suite shower and Juliet balcony and a double, as well as a family bathroom. The cottage also has an open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area. Outside there is a rear enclosed courtyard with furniture and parking is available close by in a designated car parking space. If you wish to explore Sussex and the South of England, The Old Forge is the base to do it from. Note: this property only accepts bookings for 1 week.

Accomodation Details
Three bedrooms: 1 x super king-size double (linked beds, can be twin on request), 1 x double with Juliet balcony and en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x double (limited space at sides of bed). Bathroom with bath, hand-held shower, basin and WC. Ground floor basin and WC. Open plan living area with kitchen, dining area and sitting area. Snug.

Area
The town of Rye in East Sussex boasts a cobbled street, unusual shops, antique emporiums, tearooms, restaurants and pubs, as well as two weekly markets. Attractions in the area include steam train rides, stately homes, castles and beaches.

Region
With many quaint, seaside and market towns, historic sites and miles of glorious coastline to explore, Sussex has it all for a great holiday destination.

Amenities
Gas central heating. Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview and USB port, DVD, WiFi. Fuel and power inc. in rent. Bed linen and towels inc. in rent. Parking permit provided for 1 car in designated space in car park 2 mins walk away, loading and unloading at front or, if available, rear of cottage. Enclosed courtyard with furniture. Sorry, no pets and no smoking. Shop and pub 2 mins walk. Note: Front door opens directly onto pavement. Note: No children under 5 years. Note: this property only accepts bookings for 1 week.

A Holiday Lettings verified reviewer

July 2021

Before this holiday l was a little worried about the reviews. I contacted Sykes who advised that the cleaning company had been changed, and indeed we arrived to a very clean house. The house was good for our needs, multiple bathrooms and comfortable seating in the open dining/kitchen/lounge for 6 adults. The courtyard is tiny and is really only suitable for a coffee, but the bifold doors at one end of the open lounge area open fully for a lovely sense of space. The back of the house is relatively quiet ( if you don't count the seagulls! ) But as described the front opens on to a busy through road, with a lot of traffic. However, it's great location for exploring all the great things Rye has to offer, and the parking space is a 2 minute walk. The house is convenient and comfortable, it's not cosy, but has all the things you need when the majority of the time is spent exploring the area.

JonesyandReg

October 2020

Overall we have had a lovely holiday at the Old Forge, however our first experience of the cottage was marred by being unable to find the key box to let ourselves in. If the staff at the next door restaurant hadn’t helped us, we wouldn’t have found it. The key box is tucked down very low behind a blue box housing the restaurant electricity meter. Not easy to access for anyone, and if anyone was seated at the outside tables it would have been impossible to access securely. Simply remedied by re locating the key safe to above the meter box.

Mr Routley

August 2020

Generally a good quality home, very convenient, well described in the brochure and in good state of repair ( except the taps upstairs ) A few minor things that could be improved : No toilet rolls or kitchen rolls, which I thought was a bit mean considering the cost.. Taps in the sink upstairs could not be turned off, so were constantly running. Frying pans could really do with being replaced, very poor quality, a couple of decent ones could last much longer ? And a couple of black sacks? One is not enough for 5 people for 4 days who are catering at home ... These aren’t really complaints, but would help in getting the ‘experience’ just right !

Mr Routley, August 2020

It should be made clear that this property is on the main road in and out of Rye and has a lot of traffic noise.. Also, there is a restaurant next door which means there is loud banging noise until very late (past 1am) from their washing up. This means none of the bedrooms can have windows open on warm nights. The cleanliness whilst overall good - could have been improved as behind and underneath the sofas and tv cabinet had clearly not been cleaned for a while. The bathroom also had black mould along the sealant. There were a couple of minor issues, the batteries in the tv remote were dead on arrival, the external bin was full om arrival and throughout our stay, the kettle was badly scaled and the blind to one of the bedrooms was broken. However, when I contacted the caretaker - she sent a new replacement kettle the next day. This was of course excellent service. Overall we enjoyed our stay. The property overall was spacious and bright. The location was excellent and it was great that we had a parking space provided.

Mrs Patel, August 2020

The Old Forge is a spacious holiday cottage in the centre of a beautiful historic town.. Although comments have been made about the small parking space,we parked a V90 Volvo estate (with care) in the space.The housekeeper was available to help us out with advice on the phone about the space and general arrival advice.She also attempted to get a handyman to repair a toilet which would not flush during our stay. However the owners are abroad and several email requests prior to booking never engendered a response.On arrival this lack of interest was typified by some aspects of the accomodation.Clearly there is little they can do easily to remedy the VERY noisy road,Traffic was not just during the day,but honestly was being used as a race track by local youths at 3.00am on most nights we were there.We had to stop using the front bedroom.Proffesional help is neede to sound proof. The owners could ensure maintenance was kept on top of the extraction filter was caked in grease.Shower needed resealing,walls neede repainting because of some minor damp.Light bulbs needed in lounge,batteries in tv remote not working and very corroded.We actually had to buy some baking trays..there were only 2 one battered and the other not washed.There were no oven dishes at all in a house which slept up to 6.Only half a toilet roll left by previous guests.One bathroom towel was very stained and mattress protector was ripped.Apart from instructions on what to do with keys on departure,there was no general information in the cottage about supermarkets,hospitals etcWe have owned a number of holiday cottages over 25 years and this information is considered essential by most agencies. We loved Rye,we were just saddened that more could have been done to improve this potentially great house in a fabulous town.

Mrs Bennett, August 2020

July 2020

I booked the house from Friday 31st July until Thursday 6th August.. The house key was not there when we arrived.Many phone calls made to the owner who failed to pick up.Sykes were helpful but failed to find alternative accommodation. They told me that the owner had cancelled the booking but had not let them or me know.The full amount payable had already left my account.The cleaner had been told by the owner not to clean or open up.All very confusing and disappointing.House was finally available on Sunday from 1pm, so over two days late. No milk,bread,tea,coffee,butter in fridge which I would have expected considering the price of the house.No local information regarding places of interest,walks,restaurants.Really felt so unwelcoming and uncaring. Maggots all over outside bin. All in all,not the greatest experience.Am waiting to hear about compensation/reimbursement from Sykes.

Mrs Privitera, July 2020

March 2020

Very comfortable and well equipped.. Very clean and in excellent condition. Loved the property but not the busy road outside, which was very noisy for anyone sleeping in the front bedroom - especially as the traffic started from about 6.30 a.m.

Mrs Pereira, March 2020

February 2020

Lovely cosy cottage close to the centre of Rye with all of its history lovely buildings, eateries and interesting independent shops..

Mr Standing, February 2020

The key box was not easy to find, we did not know the number of the door & had to call the office.. The oven & baking trays were not particularly clean. The duvet cover was wripped on our arrival. This was really not acceptable & should have been dealt with before our arrival. There was no spare duvet cover in the property. The pillows were well worn & could do with being replaced. Otherwise comfortable, well equipped & a good temperature.

Mr Curd, February 2020

December 2019

We had an enjoyable stay however a few things let the stay down.. We have stayed here before and it has sadly gone down hill since our last stay. 1. The parking spot is not numbered so difficult to identify where "space 4" actually was. Our advance party who had not stayed before could not find it as it was not numbered. 2. Road works immediately outside the property - realise you could not have know about this but the noise was unacceptable and it was impossible to unload and load outside the property. 3. The front bedroom right on the main road was exteremly noisy. 4. Only 2 wine glasses in the whole property! 5. No toilet rolls on arrival - for the price we have paid this really is unacceptable. 6. Toilet roll holder in main bathroom broken and hanging off the wall. 7. Several light bulbs not working and no spares could be found. 8. No hairdryer - not listed in the facilities but again this is a basic item which should be included. Georgina the contact was very helpful and provided toilet rolls. bulbs and helped with the parking issue. However the basics above were not what we expected from a name like Sykes. However the property was clean and convenient. Overall we were disappointed.

Mr Bowers, December 2019

The cottage has great potential and it's convenience can overcome its shortcomings.. Rye is a beautiful town and we are not there to spend time in the cottage, so a clean and reasonably comfortable living space would suffice. The cottage has such a nice cosy private terrace and spacious living room / dining room / kitchen area The two full baths and the extra powder room are really practical. Easy fixes could be : cleaning the property properly, removing huge spider web from the entrance hall and all the dust clusters, fixing the wall that is peeling next to the terrace door, cleaning the kettle or buying a new one, fixing the toilet paper holder in the shared bathroom upstairs, making sure all ceiling lights are functional, washing the bed skirts that turned grey, washing sofa covers that smell, washing all duvet/pillows periodically instead of using perfumed detergent to wash the beddings (there was a shoe print on one of the pillows), fixing all dining chairs (most of them shake), removing the mould in the bathrooms (on the silicones) and using a mattress protectors to protect the mattresses from getting dirtier. You can even provide toilet paper. It cost £1 for us to buy it but who like to shop for toilet paper while on vacation? Especially for guests who did not come by car. Perhaps telling people they could use the back door would be appreciated by those traveling with kids and seniors. Also, the host needs to be reachable (we tried calling and texting on all numbers provided). However we did receive an apology text from the host after our departure. Hope you can make use of these comments and that future guests would have a better experience. Cheers.

Ms So, December 2019

October 2019

We were so pleased with the location, it was so handy for many restaurants and shops.. We would go back one day.

Prof Mcgown

April 2019

Rye is an interesting town packed with history and close to many interesting places.. The cottage is large and quirky with all amenities necessary to make the stay comfortable and relaxing. The 3 large bedrooms and spacious dining and living area are light and airy.The Old Forge is situated close to the allocated car parking space and within a 5 minute stroll of the town centre and the railway station. Locally there are numerous eating and drinking places to suit everyone. Although the location is straight on to the street noise was not an issue. In summary a nice and relaxing holiday home in an interesting small town.

Mr Standing

March 2019

Comfortable spacious property with good access to facilities in Rye..

paulandSally

January 2019

The property was clean and well presented, bright and airy. We were more than happy with it. Easily accommodated 3 couples comfortably. The location is great for everything, the 'Wish Street' car park is very close and only £5 for 24 hrs which we thought was reasonable. The parking space allocated to the house is tiny and you would never get anything bigger than a fiesta in it! The house is literally on the busy road and the large bedroom at the front with the barn style window pictured on the advertising is the noisiest room of the three doubles! The windows literally rattle when a lorry goes by, if you are a light sleeper take ear plugs. The other bedrooms are fine noise wise. There were not enough glasses, only 2 red wine glasses and six minuscule white wine glasses that literally hold one sip (havent used ones like that for years!). Some of the mugs and bowls were chipped but didn't bother us that much - just a minor inconvenience. The smoke alarms are super sensitive and every time you open the oven or use the hob it sets them off, mainly because the extractor fan box needs cleaning and the filter replacing as its just not effective. Outside windows at the front were filthy but guess that's due to the constant passing traffic. Wifi is fast, beds and pillows comfy. For friends catching up over new year it was ideal for a couple of nights. Lots restaurants to choose from and cafes for breakfast if you don't fancy cooking your own. Would def recommend the property.

Barbadosman

December 2018

Booked this cottage through SYKES - it did say that cottage is directly on the foot path, what it failed to say was directly on the MAIN ROAD. Now this would not of been a problem if the front bedroom was doubled glazed and not just a wooden barn door and plastic around the windows - it was no noisy with traffic cars, lorries and buses that one of the party had to check into a hotel. We contacted SYKES which was a total waste of time. I was not looking for compensation I was just asking them to add this to the website to which they said they would have to speak to the owner. the curtains also did not fit the window so not only do you get the noise you also get the 2 street lamps shinning in the room. If you are going to use all of the 3 bedrooms please be aware that the person in the front bedroom will not sleep. Other than the no sleeping the cottage is very nice indeed and very central

Mr Dickerson

November 2018

On arrival, we pulled off the busy road outside the property as best we could but we still obstructed pedestrians and traffic whilst getting the key and unloading.. Although the instructions for the key lock-box were good it took us a while to find it as it was well disguised amongst other "wall furniture" of the next door shop. Access to the key lock-box was awkward and the numbers inside were very difficult to read in the fading light. It might therefore be a good idea to ensure a good torch or similar is available if arriving in the dark. Once we had unloaded we moved the car to the nearby parking space, a few minutes walk away, where it stayed most of the rest of the week ! A spacious hallway (including downstairs WC) led into the well equipped open plan kitchen, dining area (for six) and lounge. There was a good sized TV with various DVD's and puzzles underneath. Two comfortable large sofas and two easy chairs with variable level lighting throughout. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms with good storage space. One (double) in the middle of the house with en-suite (which we used) as well as a separate bathroom. There is a double room at the back of the property (overlooking a quiet cul de sac) and a larger (king size) room at the front which (as other feedback states) faces a very busy main road right outside. The location of the property is in the centre of Rye so everything is very close and convenient (i.e. shops, pubs, restaurants, cinema, museums, walks, train & bus station). Overall a very well appointed and clean property in a great position. We enjoyed our stay.

Mrs Pavoni

Yes.. The parking space was difficult to find . The parking map supplied needs to be updated to show road names & a "you are here" pointer. Even the local chip shop had difficulty (but eventually helped us work out the map) The WiFi name & password was wrong in the email sent by Sykes & took us a while to find the router to get the info. The beds are extremely uncomfortable (very hard) & we had back ache for entire break away. It could do with a good clean (a dead fly, dust & false nail found on floor of one bedroom; body hair found in ensuite of another bedroom). The dishwasher still had dishes in (some dirty) from previous people. It would be nice to have some cushions on sofas to make more comfortable (although it was good to have extra blankets that we could use as cushions) It would also be useful to have info on basics like local grocery store & opening times.

Mrs Buller

October 2018

A lovely spacious, clean and comfortable cottage in a perfect location for exploring Rye, with the benefit of a parking space around the corner..

Mr Warren

This was my second visit to The Old Forge holiday cottage, I was here several years ago and therefore my expectations were already anticipated as this visit was equally enjoyable.. The Old Forge is well situated for access to all that Rye has to offer, one can easily walk to all the restaurants, pubs and many of the attractions, indeed walking is a delight around this delightful historic town, with its splendid period architecture and interesting independent shops. The Old Forge has been well modernised, with great care given to space and comfort. There are three very comfortable double bedrooms, an ensuite shower room and a family bathroom with piping hot water. The ground floor is open plan with a modern kitchen and a seating area leading to a small courtyard garden. There is also a cloakroom. There is a dedicated parking space nearby and a large car park for additional cars where one can park for 24 hours at the reasonable rate of £5. Twenty five years ago, Rye was synonymous with terrible cafes and restaurants and pretty typical of ghastly UK hotel and catering service industries. The Landgate Bistro pioneered quality food, followed by Webbes Fish Café and subsequently several other outlets opened so that today there is a terrific choice of cafes and restaurants. In my opinion, Rye is a perfect holiday destination and The Old Forge would be my ideal example of accommodation.

Mr Woodward

You need to update your info on the wifi as code and password were incorrect surprised to find the house doesn't provide any facility for recycling - owners choice apparently - do they charge in rye or something! ? ditto dishwasher tabs - whats the point of providing a dishwasher- you could leave a couple of tablets ?

Miss Mills

August 2018

We loved the Old Forge! The location was great (right in the heart of Rye) and it was very comfortable, clean and spacious. I would definitely go back if I had a chance to.

RBanks_13

May 2018

Had a brilliant weekend in The Old Forge, very spacious and so comfortable. We loved our weekend in Rye and found the house so cosy and very welcome when the weather was not so great outside. The Old Forge is close to all the attractions and amenities.

Overall, The Old Forge is an excellent holiday home.. It was very clean and welcoming; a credit to the caretaker. Its facilities and equipment leave little (if anything) to be desired. Its only minor drawback is the lack of parking (awkward for unloading / loading on arrival and departure, as the front door is on a busy, narrow through road; but a dedicated private parking space is provided a few minutes' walk away, which is fine for the period when one is in residence). Other than that, it is an ideal base for exploring the beautiful and quaint town of Rye. Unfortunately, the WIFI details contained in the information sheet provided by Sykes was incorrect (I assume that the router has been replaced and you have not been informed) and we were unable to connect to the new router with any of our several devices, even though the password was provided for us. As we arrived on the afternoon of the Friday preceding a Bank Holiday weekend, it was not possible to contact the caretaker to report this in time for the owner to arrange for BT to take any necessary action while we were staying there. It may well be resolved by now, but you may wish to check that, as it could be important to other renters.

Mrs McAtamney

April 2018

We had a brilliant weekend in Rye staying at The Old Forge a very spacious very comfortable holiday cottage.. A good location close to all the attractions in the beautiful town of Rye.

Mrs Streets

Lovely cottage in a central location with good wheelchair access to the ground floor and a downstairs cloakroom which was essential for one of our party who had limited mobility.. The property was well furnished and equipped with everything we needed. One negative was that from the road the property looked dirty and neglected. This is due to its proximity to the main road and level of passing traffic. A bit off putting when we arrived but very good standard when you went through the front door. Lovely bi fold doors give access to the garden space and we were fortunate to be able to have these fully opened. Bedrooms one and two were spacious. Three is a little tight but adequate. Linen and towels were provided and clean and fresh looking. We would book this cottage again and recommend for six adults

Mr Janeway

February 2018

The reason we have given the place low rating is due to its location right on a busy road with traffic all night, buses, hgv’s.. No double glazing or sound insulation. Found it very hard to get a full nights sleep. WiFi password sent to us by email was incorrect, the correct one is on the back of the router. The accomodation it’s self was lovely, comfy beds, clean and fresh white bedding and towels, lovely warm and cosy

bp781

November 2017

The space at the Old Forge was okay and conveneint for the town, but no pictures on walls, no cushions on setees so it felt a little cold and unwelcoming. WiFi was promised in the advertising but the hub was not working. A BT engineer proved the hub was the problem so should be replaced by BT or by the owner. This information was passed to the owner but he/she was obviously very busy and the hub was not replaced during our stay. Big problem? No, not really, but it was very inconvenient. Rubbish is to be disposed of in a lockable blue wheelie bin outside, but the bin was full to the top from day 1 and could not be used. This information was passed to the owner via the caretaker but he/she was obviously very busy and the issue was not resolved. Our collected rubbish had to be left in the small courtyard under garden furniture, as we advised the caretaker (Rubbish left outside in the roadway will be attacked by seagulls, which we saw happen).If you are a light sleeper make sure you pack earplugs, because traffic noise may be a problem for you as it was for us (I am not a light sleeper but was woken up early (very early) every weekday by traffic noise.

Ms Johnson

July 2016

Loved being able to open up the French windows along one entire wall of the open plan kitchen/diner/lounge. Also fantastic location and comfortable beds and seating.

Mrs Bones

February 2016

The Old Forge was in excellent location for walking around Rye or for using as a base to explore this part of the UK.

PutneySW

March 2015

I know Rye well and have stayed in many holiday cottages there, The Old Forge stands up well against the competition. At first the location on a busy road might seem off putting but in reality once inside the property it is of little concern. The interior has been very well designed, the bright modern style enhances the original fabric of the building and the ground floor space is roomy and bright. The two main bedrooms are most attractive, the third is a small double, both bathrooms are contemporary and functional and the décor throughout is pleasing. The kitchen area benefits from being open plan and the ground floor wc is useful. I felt more could be made of the lobby at the foot of the stairs, nobody will ever sit there unless using a laptop so a desk and chair would be handy. Incidentally the wifi connection was fast. The tv worked well although strangely the DVD didn't appear to be connected but a minor point as I really enjoyed my stay. The cottage has a dedicated parking space nearby as well as being a minute from a pay and display car park. The location by The Strand is most convenient to access the heart of Rye Citadel being only a very short walk and over the years Rye has changed dramatically for the better. Most of the terrible restaurants have either disappeared or been modernised and diners now have some excellent options. Sadly the High Street area has too many empty shops and it must be difficult finding a balance between catering for residents and tourists. The Rye hinterland has some very attractive countryside, alternatively one can drive to Rye Harbour or Camber Sands and enjoy some bracing walks along the sea shore. In my opinion The Old Forge would be a seriously good option for a stay in one of the most attractive towns in the South of England.

February 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this exceptionally well presented cottage. The interior was comfortable, warm, well designed and ideally situated being only a few minutes walk to the centre of the town. The WiFi connection was fast. Apart from the dedicated parking space for one car there is also a public car park nearby, a supermarket is within a short stroll as are excellent outlets for fresh fish, meat and local produce. There are several highly regarded restaurant options close at hand as well as pubs and cafes. In conclusion this is a first class holiday rental for all ages.

Mrs Robson

July 2014

Rye is a beautiful old town with lots to do. Cottage right in the centre of town so close to everything. Very well supplied with crockery cutlery. Beds very comfortable, lovely quilts pillows. Old building beautifully comfortably refurbished.

Mrs Thumwood

The Old Forge was delightful, it was well equipped and in a stunning location. We could not have asked for more!

Mrs Holbrook

June 2014

Beautiful property right in the centre of Rye.

Mr James

May 2014

The well furnished lounge dining room and kitchen with everything we needed for our weeks stay. Lovely big fridge and freezer and dishwasher with sufficient cutlery. Plenty of soft fluffy towels and the heating was easily controlled.

Miss Sundin

January 2014

It was a great getaway from London life. Central location. Comfortable lounge to relax in with good facilities.

Mr Lambert

Fantastic location, spacious and clean property, ideal for a short break in Rye. Close to some great pubs and the best of the antique shops. Also walking distance to the supermarket (Budgens, five minutes away). Would certainly recommend to friends who were similarly wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of London. Kitchen and lounge were especially well presented.

Mr Parker

November 2013

A very well presented house. Good facilities in the house, which is within easy reach of all of Rye town by foot. We had a very comfortable stay.

Miss Lambert

October 2013

Good, central location, property very cosy. All equipment and furnishings first class! Spotlessly clean everywhere. Everything very efficiently done.

Mr Prince

September 2013

A bright modern property in an excellent location within a charming town.

Mrs Witkowski

We loved The Old Forge. The accommodation surpassed our expectations with very spacious living area, very clean, everything you need available in the house. Would definitely recommend this accommodation and will try to get back there again.

Niamhmc64

August 2013

We booked this house at short notice for a party of six wanting to spend a few days near the south coast. The house is lovely with open plan spacious living, dining and kitchen area. The table is a little on the cosy side for six and one of the double bedrooms would really be more suitable as a single as space around the bed is minimal.The house is close to everything you need, including the local supermarket, restaurants and shops. Very clean with everything we needed. The outside space is small and enclosed by a high wall but welcome nonetheless, particularly with the warm weather. The space is, however, a little scruffy and could do with being cleaned up bit to make it more attractive, it seems to be the only part of the house where little thought has been given to how it will be used. Overall a great rental property that I would highly recommend.

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The Old Forge in Hastings, East Sussex