As small town hotels go, The Driftwood is like a breath of fresh, salty sea air. Following in the footsteps of neighbours St Leonards and Hastings, Bexhill-on-Sea is the latest Sussex seaside town to jump on the gentrification wagon. This boutique hotel is moments from Bexhill's biggest attraction, the art deco De La Warr Pavilion, which draws artsy out-of-towners over to check out the latest exhibitions. It has just six rooms, but all are suitably decked out with exposed brick, distressed wood panelling and flashes of trendy teals and mustards. On the ground floor is a modern restaurant with the same kind of vibe, which serves a top-notch breakfast but focuses more on authentic Asian cooking at night.
Nowhere is too far away in Bexhill. We love that the De La Warr is within skipping distance.
The hotel is a short walk from the seafront in Bexhill, and around the corner from the De La Warr Pavillion art gallery and exhibition space. It is also a 25-minute drive to Bodiham Castle and six miles from Hastings.
By car: The drive from London takes 2 hours 30 minutes, Brighton is 1 hour 15 minutes away, and Portsmouth 2 hours. There is parking nearby costing £5 per day.
By train: London Victoria to Bexhill takes just under 2 hours. The station is a 10-minute walk or five-minute taxi from the hotel. thetrainline.com
It seems to draw a rather artsy crowd, often hailing from Hastings, Brighton or Margate, or even the Big Smoke. We love the natural textures used, like salt-battered wood and smooth pebbles, and the soft leather banquettes in the restaurant.
We love that it's small and intimate, so you get to know your fellow guests at breakfast.
We like Room Six, which has a lovely large bay window with just a snippet of a sea view. Leave the window open and fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach. Perfect.
Double Room, Deluxe Double Room, Superior Double Room
Facilities include: king-sized Hypnos bed, goose down pillows, hypoallergenic duvets, ensuite bathroom with walk-in rain shower, luxury toiletries, towels and robes, tea and Lavazza coffee making facilities, fridge, TV, radio, hairdryer, free Wi-Fi
A full English with crispy bacon, scrambled eggs and Sussex sausages fuelled me for one last stroll along the beach. We love that at night, the restaurant transforms into a real buzzy locals' haunt.
The Driftwood: choice of classic cooked breakfasts, contemporary Asian cuisine, Thai dishes, European desserts. Open Tuesday-Saturday, for breakfast from 8-11am, and dinner 6.30-9pm. Large plates from £9.50.
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