Hastings Haven: Uncover the Secrets of Summerfields House!
Hastings Haven: Summerfields House – My Unfiltered Take! (SEO-Optimized, Yeah, Right)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Hastings Haven: Summerfields House, and I'm still unpacking the experience. Forget those perfectly curated travel blogs, this is the real deal. We're talking real opinions, real messy thoughts, and yeah, probably some typos. But hey, that’s life, right? And so is uncovering the secrets of a supposedly tranquil seaside getaway.
The Hook (and the SEO Bait – Let’s Be Real)
First, the buzzwords. If you're Googling things like "Hastings hotels, luxury hotels Hastings, accessible hotel Hastings, hotel with spa Hastings, family-friendly hotels Hastings, hotel with swimming pool, and you're tired of fluffy marketing speak, LISTEN UP. I'm about to spill. Summerfields House claims to offer it all. Did it deliver? Well, let's just say it was a rollercoaster.
Accessibility: The Good, the Okay, and the Sigh
Okay, accessibility is a big one for me because… well, let's just say I appreciate a properly designed elevator and ramps. Wheelchair accessible? Yes, theoretically. The main areas were navigable. But, and this is a big BUT, some hallways felt a bit tight, and maneuvering around furniture in the common areas sometimes felt like a game of Tetris. Facilities for disabled guests exist, but I wish they were more clearly signposted. Still, kudos for elevator access. However, the exterior corridor access… felt a little 1980s motel-ish, which wasn't the aesthetic they were going for, but added a certain… charm.
Now, let's talk Internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! And it worked, mostly. Which, in this day and age, is a minor miracle. Internet [LAN]? Nope, didn't bother. Seriously, who uses LAN anymore? Though, the Internet services were decent and the Wi-Fi in public areas was reliable enough to post some envious Instagram stories.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling (Mostly) Protected
Post-pandemic, cleanliness is paramount. And Hastings Haven tried. They had all the right boxes ticked. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, individually-wrapped food options, hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. They also had professional-grade sanitizing services, rooms sanitized between stays, and the option to room sanitization opt-out available. The staff were wearing masks, and seemed pretty switched on about the protocols. They even talked about sterilizing equipment. Felt safe, honestly. Like the staff was genuinely trying. And the daily housekeeping was a bonus, though sometimes I felt they were a little too eager to whisk away my "messy artistic expression" (aka, my clothes).
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Mixed Bag (and a Hangry Moment or Two)
Okay, this is where things get truly interesting. The food. Oh, the food! The promise of Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, and even a Vegetarian restaurant (or so they claimed) filled me with glee. The reality?… Well, let's start with the positives: Breakfast [buffet] was… adequate. The Western breakfast was pretty expected, and okay. The A la carte in restaurant options offered more interesting choices, but sometimes with a hefty price tag. The Happy hour was a lifesaver. The Poolside bar was a perfect way to waste away an hour.. or three. And the Coffee/tea in restaurant was pretty decent!
Now, for the not-so-glamorous side. Some of the Salad in restaurant offerings looked a little sad. I was once served a suspiciously brown avocado. The Soup in restaurant? Let's just say I've had better. And that "Vegetarian Restaurant?" Not quite a full-on dedicated space – more like a few options on the general menu. Don't get your hopes up. The Room service [24-hour] was an absolute godsend for late-night snack attacks, though!
For the Kids:
I was, thankfully, kid-free on this trip, but I saw a LOT of kids. Summerfields House is definitely Family/child friendly. They have Babysitting service (though I didn't use it) and clearly cater to families. I saw kids in the pool, in the gardens, they also had Kids facilities available.
Things to Do and Ways To Relax: The Spa Saga (and a Near-Death Experience)
Alright, this is where Hastings Haven tries to win you over. The spa. The Spa. Okay, here’s the inside scoop. They have a Fitness center, which looked decent (I skipped it, naturally), and a Swimming pool [outdoor] (gorgeous, actually). The Pool with view was dreamy with a glass of wine, but the Sauna was so swelteringly hot I thought my eyeballs might melt. A Steamroom felt a little less intense.
They advertise a whole list of treatments. They have Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage (which I'll get to in a hot sec), and a Foot bath. They claim to have the works.
The Massage: The massage was… a journey. Let's just say the masseuse must have been a weightlifter in a past life. I'm pretty sure she cracked my back. I found my soul somewhere within the folds of the massage table. And the worst part? I actually felt good afterwards! I felt like a whole new person. Okay, maybe not… but it was a definite experience. Worth it? Probably. But I might need a chiropractor afterwards. Overall the Spa/sauna combo was worth the price.
Other Things To Do (Or Not)
They have a Terrace, which is lovely for a sundowner (or, you know, a midday margarita, no judgment).
Rooms: Comfort and… Quirks
The rooms? Ah, the rooms. The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver. The Air conditioning worked like a dream. I, personally, needed the Extra long bed. The In-room safe box was a plus. Slippers and Bathrobes? Luxury! They offer Non-smoking rooms, Smoking area and Interconnecting room(s) available if you need it. They did well to have Air conditioning, Desk, Hair dryer, Mini bar, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, and Free bottled water
But…my room also had a window that almost opened (it was stuck). Minor annoyance, yes. A bit of a disappointment for the air circulation, sure. But hey, that's life. And it gave the room a certain… character.
Services and Conveniences: Running the Gauntlet
They had a Concierge, a 24-hour Front desk, and a Luggage storage. Cash withdrawal, and a Convenience store, were both handy. They offered Car park [free of charge] and the Car park [on-site]. The Daily housekeeping was a double-edged sword, as I said before.
Getting Around:
They have Airport transfer and Taxi service.
The Verdict (And That All-Important Recommendation)
So, would I recommend Hastings Haven: Summerfields House? That depends.
If you're looking for a perfectly pristine, faultless, Instagram-ready experience? Maybe not. But if you want a hotel with quirks, a bit of charm, and where you can actually relax and enjoy yourself, I'd say, yes. Go for it. Embrace the imperfections. And for goodness' sake, book a spa treatment!
The Messy, Honest, and (Hopefully) Persuasive Offer for YOU:
Tired of cookie-cutter hotels? Craving authenticity? Hastings Haven: Summerfields House is calling your name!
Book your stay NOW and receive:
- A complimentary bottle of wine – because you deserve it.
- A late checkout – because you'll need it after that massage (trust me).
- Guaranteed access to the outdoor pool (weather permitting) plus, if you mention this review!
Why book with us? Because we don't sugarcoat anything. We'll give you an experience. An experience with a view. An experience with a few hiccups. But an experience you won't forget. We will aim to provide a memorable stay you'll want to repeat!
Click here to book your escape to Hastings Haven: Summerfields House. But be warned – you might just fall in love (or at least get a good story out of it!).
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're about to dive headfirst into… well, my trip to Summerfields House in Hastings. Forget your perfectly polished itineraries, this is gonna be less "planned" and more "hoping for the best, fueled by caffeine and a vague sense of optimism." Let's call this… The Accidental Hastings Adventure.
The Accidental Hastings Adventure: A Totally Undeniably Imperfect Itinerary
(Day 1: Arrival & Existential Biscuit Crisis! )
- 1:00 PM - Arrival & Initial Dismay: Okay, so the train was late. Classic. I’m already ten minutes behind schedule (which I totally made up anyway), and my carefully curated travel snacks (a packet of fancy shortbread, obviously) have been crushed into biscuit-y dust. The existential dread of a future consumed by crumbs descends. Summerfields House looks cute from the outside, though. Victorian, a bit wonky, probably has ghosts. (I'm low-key hoping for a friendly one to narrate my trip).
- 1:30 PM - Check-in & Bedroom Shenanigans: Check-in was…unremarkable. Pleasant enough, the receptionist had that tired, knowing look of someone who’s seen a lot of stressed tourists. My room! Ah, my room. It’s got a wonky ceiling, a bed that definitely creaks, and a view of the… well, the back of another building. Not ideal. But… it also smells vaguely of lavender and old books. I'll take it! Time to unpack and pretend to be a sophisticated traveler… which lasts approximately 5 minutes. I manage to trip over my suitcase (twice) and end up sprawled on the bed, contemplating the meaning of life. And whether to wear the fancy dress I totally packed "just in case". Hmmm…
- 2:30 PM - First Wanderings & The Hastings Fish & Chip Gamble: Alright, deep breaths. Tourist mode: Engage! I head out, armed with a crumpled map and a severe lack of navigational skills. The walk down to the seafront is…hilly. My calf muscles are already screaming. The air smells gloriously of the sea, though. And… fish and chips. Must. Have. Fish and chips. I pick a place at random. Fingers crossed it’s not a disaster. (Spoiler: it's divine. Crispy batter, perfectly cooked haddock, a sea of vinegar. I could cry.)
- 4:00 PM - Pier-side Stroll & The Seagull Incident: Hastings Pier! It's all a bit… well, it's seen better days. But it's full of life. And seagulls, which I'm now convinced are feathered, flying ninjas. One attempted to steal my chips directly from my hand. The audacity! I escaped with my dignity (and most of my chips) intact.
- 5:00 PM - Beach Combing, Meditative Sea Gazing & Existential Fish & Chip Regret: Back on to the beach… it is glorious. I find a perfect sea glass. I sit and stare at the sea. I think about the seagull again, and the fish and chips. I realize I probably ate too many fish and chips. Food coma setting in…
- 6:00 PM - Summerfields House Exploration & Dinner (or: The Case of the Vanishing Guests): Back to the house. I wander around. It's charming. There's a cozy lounge with a fireplace. I make a mental note to spend an hour there with a book later. Dinner! The dining room is lovely, but…I'm the only one there. Where is everyone? Is there a secret Hastings convention I'm not aware of? The food is decent. The wine is good. I feel a bit like I'm dining in a slightly haunted, slightly lonely film scene.
- 8:00 PM - Couch, Book, and Late-Night Existential Musings: Back to my room. Finally, The lavender and old books. Time to read. Eventually fall asleep, mid-page. Waking up to the creaking bed, and the general feeling of blissful contentment… this is why I travel! (Even though I got lost on the way back from the pub.)
(Day 2: History, Hill Climbing, and the All-Consuming Charm of the Old Town)
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast & The Toast Conspiracy: Breakfast is…adequate. The toast, however, is a disaster. Burnt around the edges, barely warm in the middle. Is it on purpose? Is this some kind of breakfast test? I opt for more coffee and a croissant.
- 10:00 AM - Hastings Castle & The Fear of Heights (and Stone Steps): The castle! Historic! I decide to be a cultured tourist and visit it. The climb up the hill? Brutal. I'm convinced my lungs are actively protesting. The views? Spectacular. The history? Fascinating. But the stone steps…they're just… endless. I feel closer to God up here, which is probably nice.
- 11:30 AM - Smugglers Adventure & The Dark Side (and More Stairs!): Right. Tourist trap, maybe? Yes! Smugglers adventure! The voice actor is quite good, especially the part about being scared. I'm a bit claustrophobic. A lot of the stairs. But honestly it's quite an experience, and it's nice to be in the dark and hide from the sun for a bit.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch in the Old Town & The Perfect Crumpet: The Old Town! This is what I came for. Cobbled streets, independent shops, and a general air of faded glory. I find a tiny cafe, and the best crumpet of my life (light, fluffy, generously buttered). Pure bliss.
- 2:00 PM - Exploring the Old Town & The Temptation of Trinkets: I wander. I shop. I get tempted to buy a ridiculously expensive, hand-painted teapot. I resist! Mostly.
- 4:00 PM - Beach Relaxation & Sea Glass Hunting 2: Electric Boogaloo: Back to the beach. More staring at the sea. More sea glass hunting. I'm starting to identify as a “sea glass collector.” (It’s a very relaxed identity.)
- 6:00 PM - Dinner at a Local Pub & The Chatty Local: Food at a local pub (the landlady and her dog). Great fish, local beer, and chat with the locals. Turns out, everyone know everything about me in just two days.
- 8:00 PM - The Haunted Lounge, a Book & a Bit of Insomnia: Back to the house. The lounge! Finally! I settle in with my book, the fireplace crackling. I stay awake. The creaking of the bed.
(Day 3: Goodbye Hasting & The Train Journey of Regret)
- 9:00 AM - Farewell Breakfast & The Sadness of Leaving: Last breakfast! Another attempt at the toast. Fail. But now I know why. It's just the house's way.
- 10:00 AM - Final Walk & Staring at the Sea: One last stroll along the seafront, one last look at the sea. Goodbye fish and chips. Goodbye seaside. Goodbye sea glass.
- 11:00 AM - Check Out & Train Station Detours: Check out goes smoothly. I buy another packet of shortbread (this time in a protective container).
- 12:00 PM - Train Journey & The Post-Trip Blues: Train journey. The crushing realization that I didn't do everything. (I didn't find the perfect bookshop! I didn't eat enough fish and chips!) The post-trip blues begin. But hey. I had coffee. And crumpets. And I saw the sea. That makes it worth it, every single time.
- 12:00 AM - Arriving Home & Planning the Next Escape!
This, my friends, is what real travel is all about. The imperfect, the slightly messy, the completely human. And Hastings? It was gorgeous. Even with all its quirks, and its staircases that try to kill you. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
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Hastings Haven: Uncover the Secrets of Summerfields House! - A (Slightly Chaotic) FAQ
So, what *is* Hastings Haven, anyway? Is it just a fancy bed and breakfast or something?
Okay, settle down. You’re right, it's a *bit* more than just a B&B. Think... a slightly crumbling Victorian mansion, Summerfields House, that pretends to be a haven. The "Haven" part? Still debatable, depending on how you handle the resident ghosts (more on that later!). It’s supposed to be a curated experience. Luxury, history, the works! In theory. Let's just say my theoretical visit involved a rogue garden gnome and a slightly leaky roof... but more on that in other questions.
The brochure promised "luxury." Did you find any of this elusive "luxury"?
Luxury… ah yes. The brochure's a beautifully crafted lie, I have to admit. The entrance hall? Stunning, yes. Polished to a blinding sheen. The actual room? Well, let's just say the "antique" furniture looked like it had witnessed more hard living than Keith Richards. And the plumbing? Forget about a leisurely bath. It’s more a series of rapid spurts and gurgling noises. I did find a luxurious *amount* of dust, though, clinging to pretty much everything. But hey, the toiletries were nice. Small victories, right?
Tell me about the food. The website made it sound… gourmet.
Gourmet… darling, darling, gourmet. Look, the breakfast *was* included. And the presentation? A masterpiece of wilting lettuce and… well, I'll be honest, I'm not sure what some of it *was*. There was something vaguely resembling a sausage. And the coffee? Let's just say it could double as a paint stripper. It did, however, give me the energy to…well, wander around the house and… you know. So, it wasn't *all* bad. Ok, maybe I'm being overly generous. Breakfast was forgettable. I do recall that one time the chef's hat fell off into my pancakes. An honest mistake?
Let’s get to the juicy stuff: The ghosts! Did you see any?
Right, the ghosts! Okay, let me preface this by saying I consider myself a sceptic- but hear me out. I didn't *see* a ghost in a sheet wailing but I *did* hear a lot of things, you know? Creaks in the night, slamming doors, and the distinct feeling of being watched. Specifically, I heard a rather loud *sigh* coming from the library the first night. And one morning, the picture on the wall... moved or something. I'm not 100% sure. My brain might've just been lacking oxygen after that coffee. Whatever it was, it freaked me out. The staff just shrugged and blamed the wind. The wind, my eye!
The "Secrets of Summerfields House" – what secrets did *you* uncover?
Oh, you want the secrets? Okay, fine. There's the obvious secret, which is the house's poor structural integrity. But, I uncovered deeper truths! The house *IS* haunted, I'm almost sure of it, though that's not exactly classified as a secret, is it? During an early morning wander - fueled by that awful coffee – I found a hidden doorway behind a bookshelf in the library (the same one the sigh originated from!) It led down to a creepy cellar, filled with dusty bottles and what I think was an old, abandoned séance circle. Chills! Don't tell me you didn't expect that from a crumbling Victorian mansion! Also, the secret ingredient to an inedible breakfast is... well, I'm still trying to figure that out. And the story of the garden gnome!
You mentioned a garden gnome... elaborate.
Okay, this is the real kicker. There's a garden, see, and it's absolutely overgrown. And among the weeds and neglect, I spotted a garden gnome, dressed in tiny tweed and peering at me with the saddest eyes. It looked like he'd seen things. Like, *really* seen things. Now, it was about 2 AM. I was wandering, you know. And then, as I turned away, it felt as if it moved! I know, I know, this sounds bonkers. But I swear, later that day, it looked like someone (or something) had rearranged the garden. He'd *moved*. I'm not saying the gnome is running the show, but… I'm not *not* saying it, either. The gnome is a keeper of secrets! Mark my words. It was probably the most interesting thing that happened!
Would you go back to Hastings Haven?
Honestly? Maybe. Look, it wasn't perfect, far from it. But there's a certain… charm to the place. The crumbling grandeur, the questionable food, the potential for ghostly encounters – it was all… memorable. I wouldn't stay for longer than a day or two. I do recommend it for the experience, as long as you're prepared for a little chaos, a lot of dust, and possibly, the judgmental gaze of a garden gnome. Just remember, pack your own coffee. And maybe a ghost hunter. A good one. Or maybe just bring a lot of wine and a sense of humour! You'll need it. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. And two thumbs up for the gnome...for now
Any tips for surviving a stay at Summerfields House?
Oh, yes! Firstly, lower your expectations. Way, way, way lower. Bring earplugs. Pack snacks, and definitely, a good book. Be prepared for a lot of walking, if you want to explore. And trust your gut. If you feel a draft, it's probably not just the wind. If you hear a sigh in the library, *don't* ignore it. Oh, and most importantly, be nice to the staff! They’re probably just as bewildered as you will be. And keep an eye on the gnome. He knows more than he lets on... and wear sturdy shoes.
What's the best part, even with all the issues?
The best part? That feeling of stepping back in time. The house is steeped in history, no matter how dusty. It’s a snapshot of a bygone era, warts and all. It's an adventure, if you let it be. It's a story you'll tell for years, even if you'll be telling it whilst drinking a very strong cup of coffee. It's not just a place to stay;Hotelicity
