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Swan House - Hastings

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Chic, seaside luxury

This elegant and luxurious little place to stay in the seaside town of Hastings really is one in the eye for your classic seafront guest house. Elegant, luxurious and romantic and set in the pretty and peaceful old town, away from the cacophony on the front, award-winning Swan House is as far from the bucket-and-spade brigade as you’re likely to get - but with all the benefits of an award-winning beach right on your doorstep.

From the outside, Swan House is lovely - a 15th century, half-timbered building set on one of Hasting’s most picturesque streets - but step inside and it gets even better. Stunning decor that mixes the old with the new seemlessly, with original beams, floorboards and fireplaces sitting alongside contemporary colour schemes and big, squashy sofas. The rooms are light and airy and, despite Swan House’ position in the windy streets of the old town, you’ll know you’re by the sea. Each of the four bedrooms are gorgeous, with big, squidgy beds, lovingly-chosen vintage furniture and hand-decorated feature walls. The airiness continues, with big windows and light walls - the cute Garden Room and the fabulous Renaissance Room even have access to their own patios. The en-suite bathrooms are just as impressive, with two boasting shelled grotto panelling and a distinctly nautical air.

As you would expect from any British seaside establishment, breakfast is a big event, but at Swan House the impressive spread is as fresh as you can get. Bacon and sausages come from a farm in Winchelsea, free-range eggs from nearby Catsfield and kippers from... well, Hastings of course. In the summer, you can eat in Swan House’ beautiful garden.

Where is it?

Hastings old town is a world away from the noise of the modern sea front, with its higgledy-piggledy side streets flanked with Georgian and Tudor houses, fishermens’ cottages, boutiques, book shops and cafes. Its history as a fishing centre is obvious, with the main street leads down to the sea and a shingle beach (or ‘the Stade’), where Europe’s biggest beach-launched fishing fleet is still very much at work. The great Fishermens’ Museum (www.hastingsfish.co.uk Tel: 01424 461446) in a church on the Stade is fascinating, while the famous dark silhouettes of Hastings’ net huts will make you feel even more salty.

Two funicular railways run up the cliffs from the old town. The West Hill lift runs from bustling George Street, through a tunnel and up to Hasting Castle, built by William Conqueror before the Battle of Hastings. The castle is in ruins now, but it’s a great place for a wander and offers spectacular views down to the old town and out across the Channel. West Hill is also home St Clements Caves, and ‘Smugglers Adventure’ (www.discoverhastings.co.uk Tel: 01424 444412), which is actually a lot more interesting and a lot less annoying than it sounds (and apparently they’ll refund your entrance fee if you get too scared...). Jump on the East Hill lift from the Stade, and you’ll reach Hastings Country Park, 660 acres of ancient woodland, heathland, glens and grassland, together with 5 kilometres of dramatic cliffs and coastline. It’s an unspoilt and beautiful spot and perfect for a picnic.

Back in town, and the fact that Hastings is a major British seaside resort can’t be ignored. There’s a big aquarium, 3... yes, 3 impressive miniature golf courses and a big seafront theatre, The White Rock (www.whiterockhastings.org.uk Tel: 01424 462280), which as well as your classic end-of-pier stuff, also hosts some big names in comedy. For entertainment that’s slightly less cheesy, the brilliant Electric Palace Cinema (www.electricpalacecinema.com Tel: 01424 720393) is an independent picture house that has an exciting programme of classic movies, world cinema, shorts and Q&A sessions.

And then there’s the beach... Pelham Beach - a 500m stretch of award-winning pebbliness - is perfect for safe sea swimming, while the rest of Hastings beach stretches for several miles along the coast.

Where can I eat?

If you like fish and chips, you’re onto a winner. Unsurprisingly, Hastings serves up some great seafood - most of which you can eat with a small wooden fork. The Blue Dolphin (Tel: 01424 425778) has been named as one of the top ten chip shops in the UK, and the locals that queue outside for their fish supper aren’t likely to disagree. The Mermaid Cafe (Tel: 01424 438100) is also fantastic, with some great Brit puddings to boot.

For somewhere that serves sea food without the newspaper, Black Pearl (www.blackpearlrestaurant.co.uk Tel: 01424 719919) in the heart of the old town is great. Fresh local seafood, straight from the fish market, is served up in a smart, contemporary dining room that’s becoming a real hit with the locals. Alternatively, if you’ve reached your fish limit, you could try Jali (www.jalirestaurant.co.uk Tel:01424 457 300), an award-winning, fine-dining Indian restaurant with vibrant and mouthwatering menus. And not a chicken tikka masala in sight.

But for the best place to eat in Hastings, you need to walk ten minutes down the beach to St Leonards and the fantastic St Clement’s (www.stclementsrestaurant.co.uk Tel: 01424 200 355). Run by Nick Hales, previously of Le Caprice and L’Odeon in London, this smart bistro has been given great reviews by the national press and deservedly so. Fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, including lots of great Hastings seafood, are used in mouthwatering and unpretentious menus that make for a relaxed, but very special, evening out.

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This elegant and luxurious little place to stay in the seaside town of Hastings really is one in the eye for your classic seafront guest house. Elegant, luxurious and romantic and set in Hasting's pretty and peaceful old town