87 happy days south

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what caught me off guard about 87 Happy Days South? The name sounds almost silly until you’re actually there on Trunch Lane, and then it makes perfect sense. This place has this quietly joyful vibe that honestly feels more like staying at a creative friend’s house than any hotel I’ve been to in Chapel Saint Leonards. The owners clearly aren’t interested in chasing star ratings – they’ve created something that’s genuinely their own thing, and it shows in every corner.

The location is pretty brilliant, actually. Trunch Lane might not ring bells if you’re not familiar with the area, but it’s this lovely tucked-away spot where you can walk to the beach without dealing with the main tourist crush. I mean, you’re still close enough to everything – the seafront, decent fish and chips, all that – but there’s something almost secretive about how quiet it gets in the evenings. The sound of the sea carries just enough that you notice it when you’re falling asleep, which is exactly what you want from a coastal stay. Parking was surprisingly easy too, none of that circling-the-block nonsense you get closer to the main strip.

What really gets me about this place is how they’ve nailed the details without making a big deal about it. The rooms feel thoughtfully put together – not Instagram-perfect, but comfortable in a way that suggests someone actually thought about how you’d use the space. The morning light is gorgeous (I had a room facing east), and honestly, the whole place just feels… well, happy. I know that sounds cheesy given the name, but there’s this warmth that’s hard to fake. The 9.6 rating doesn’t surprise me at all – it’s the kind of place where small touches add up to something memorable. You’re not getting a corporate hotel experience here, and if that’s what you’re after, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. But if you want somewhere that feels like a discovery, somewhere you’d actually recommend to people you like, this is it. Chapel Saint Leonards has plenty of accommodation options, but most of them feel pretty interchangeable. This one doesn’t.