The Bliss

HOTEL OVERVIEW

So I stumbled across The Bliss while wandering around The Ridge West in Hastings, and honestly? It’s one of those places that doesn’t fit into neat categories – which is exactly why it works. You know how some hotels try so hard to be quirky that they end up feeling forced? This isn’t that. It’s genuinely different, sitting in this restored Victorian building that overlooks the old town, and the owners have clearly put thought into every corner without going overboard with the boutique hotel theatrics.

The thing about Hastings is that everyone knows the castle and the fish market, but most people miss the charm of staying up on The Ridge. From The Bliss, you’re actually walking distance to both the historic bits and the more lived-in parts of town – I mean, you can grab proper fish and chips at Maggie’s down the hill, then walk back up through the old town’s winding streets. The hotel itself feels like someone’s stylish relative converted their family home, if that makes sense. The rooms aren’t huge (this is a Victorian building, after all), but they’re thoughtfully designed with original features that haven’t been stripped away for the sake of modernity. I particularly liked how they’ve kept the old sash windows – you get these lovely views over the rooftops toward the sea, though you’ll hear the occasional seagull conversation at dawn.

What really sold me was the breakfast situation. They don’t do the whole continental buffet thing, but rather this sort of made-to-order approach where they actually ask what you want and seem to care about the answer. The coffee’s proper good too, which – let’s be honest – can be hit or miss in seaside towns. Parking’s a bit of a dance around here (welcome to old English towns), but they’ve got a couple of spots behind the building, and there’s usually street parking if you don’t mind a short walk. The staff genuinely know the area, which is refreshing – they pointed me toward this brilliant little gallery tucked away in the old town that I never would have found otherwise. Look, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea if you’re after a full-service hotel with a spa and room service, but if you want somewhere with character that feels connected to the place you’re visiting rather than isolated from it, The Bliss delivers on that promise. The 7.6 rating feels about right – it’s very good at what it does, just don’t expect it to be something it’s not trying to be.