Imagine waking up to the sound of waves just steps from your room, the dunes still cool from the night, a heron picking its way along the tideline before anyone else is awake. This beach gives us so much.
As a sustainable hotel in East Sussex, we don’t think of sustainability as a policy tucked away in a folder somewhere. It’s closer to a daily habit, something baked into how we cook, clean, and spend our Sunday mornings.
We won’t pretend we’ve got it all figured out; nobody has. But there are a few commitments we hold ourselves to, season after season:
Speaking of which, every month, rain or shine, a small crowd gathers by our gates for our Community Beach Clean. Guests, locals, dogs, the occasional confused seagull. Everyone’s welcome.
It’s a simple thing. An hour or so along the sand, bin bags in hand, picking out the bits and pieces the tide’s left behind. Fishing line, bottle caps, the odd flip-flop that’s clearly travelled further than its owner ever intended.
You’ll find the next date on our What’s On page. No experience needed. Just a willingness to bend down a lot.
Step into Harry’s, our restaurant by the sea, and you’re eating a map of the surrounding coast and countryside as much as a menu.
“We know a lot of our fishermen and farmers by name, not just by invoice,” our chef Matthew tells us. “That means when the mackerel’s running well off Rye, or the asparagus is early because of a mild spring, the menu shifts with it.”
This is one of the quieter joys of being an eco-friendly hotel.
Less photogenic than a beach clean, admittedly, but just as important. Behind the scenes, we’re steadily working through:
None of this happens overnight in a building with the character (and quirks) of ours. But every year, we chip away at it a little more.
A hotel by the sea only really thrives if the surrounding town does, too. Rye and Camber have given us so much it felt only right to give something back.
This hotel conservation East Sussex mindset extends beyond the coastline itself; it’s woven into who we choose to work with, and who we choose to champion.
We couldn’t do any of this alone, and we wouldn’t want to. We’re proud to work alongside local conservation groups, independent East Sussex producers, and community organisers who share our belief that small, consistent actions add up to something real.
If you’d like to know more about the people and causes we support, our team is always happy to chat about it over a coffee in reception; just ask.
You don’t need to be staying with us to join a beach clean, and you don’t need to be a guest to notice the care that goes into a plate at Harry’s. But we’ll admit many guests tell us it all feels a little more meaningful when you’ve spent the morning with sand between your toes, knowing the hotel you’re staying in is trying, properly trying, to look after the place that makes it special.
Is The Gallivant an eco-friendly hotel in East Sussex?
Yes, we focus on local sourcing, low-waste kitchen practices, reduced single-use plastic, and community-led conservation such as our monthly beach clean, rather than one-off gestures.
How often does The Gallivant run its beach clean?
Our Community Beach Clean takes place monthly. Dates are posted on our What’s On page, and all guests, locals, and dog walkers alike are welcome to join.
Where does The Gallivant source its food from?
Wherever possible, from East Sussex and Kent, working directly with local fishermen, farmers, and growers so the menu at Harry’s changes naturally with the seasons.
Can I join a beach clean without staying at the hotel?
Absolutely. Our beach cleans are open to the wider community, not just hotel guests. Just turn up on the day listed on our What’s On page.
