St Clements

12
2
1

Hastings, Sussex

Quirkily converted old church in Hastings Old Town, near shops, bars and the beach. Fantastic for big groups (sleeps 6 or 12 + 2 kids)

5 Bedrooms

3 Bathrooms

Child friendly

Close to a beach

Dog friendly

Eco conscious

Private chef on request

Walk to a pub

Walk to a shop

WiFi

Space & setting.

This eclectic multi-level house in the heart of Hastings Old Town promises dramatic architecture, quirky design and comfort in spades. Sun pours in through huge Crittall-style windows and floods the triple-height living space — complete with a disco ball — making it feel light and bright all year round. Meanwhile, bold features like a statement Kudu mosaic sculpture, 1960s Venetian smoked-glass chandelier and raw concrete surfaces collide with reclaimed parquet floors, cowhide rugs and a bespoke dining table for 14+.

Perfect for a family or friends’ getaway, you can rent the house for 6-8 (upper duplex only, with 3 bedrooms and a snug with sofabed) or for 10-12 (adding in the separate ground-floor apartment, which has an additional 2 bedrooms). Whichever you choose, the pièce de résistance will be the expansive master suite – which even features a rowing machine. Other quirky touches include a six-foot round window for surveying the medieval lanes below, a large horseshoe mezzanine, a zany 3m Gorillaz artwork (used at one of their gigs), a ping pong table and a hanging wicker chair. Three bathrooms, two kitchens, multiple lounges, a snug and a projector setup create the sense you could comfortably hole up here for days. Yet the location — seconds from Hastings’ many restaurants and boutiques — makes it a fantastic base for exploring. If you’re looking for a big seaside escape with bags of personality, this is it it.

Getting here: train to Hastings, then walk (15 mins) or taxi

“We both grew up in Rye (about 20 minutes away), so Hastings was our nearest ‘big town’ where we cut our teeth on nights out – I used to DJ here, and Lucy went along too. Years later, we both found our way back down to this coastline, and met again. St Clements was a rundown 2-floor community hall when we bought it. I dreamt up the current layout then reconfigured and renovated it over 18 months during lockdown. I always thought I’d end up somewhere exotic and glamorous halfway around the globe when the time came to move out of London, but instead I chose Hastings and couldn’t be happier. I, like so many others will tell you, think it’s the best place to live.” Owner, Joe

My Kip favourites

He loves
“Taking my morning coffee out onto the rear terrace to watch the Old Town slowly wake up.”

We love
The joyful interiors. Oil paintings by local artists hang alongside music posters of gigs gone-by; a ping pong table by RS Barcelona doubles up as a sleek dining table and the orange Ligne Rosset sofas are showstoppers.

You may not love
No on-site parking (but plenty of safe, free parking nearby). The house is split between a lower apartment and upper duplex with 2 separate front doors and no connecting access — though masses of communal space. Bedrooms in the duplex have a glass wall overlooking the main space (black-out curtains give plenty of privacy).

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  • "A wonderful building in a fantastic location for our annual family gathering. The star of the show is definitely the building itself, it's so stylish, well-thought out and much bigger than the pictures suggest. It's quite simply a pleasure and a privilege to stay in - we didn't want to leave! The kitchens were equipped for almost any occasion and the bedding was luxurious. There is lots to do with table tennis, games and the projector was a big hit, but just having the space for us all to be together without feeling claustrophobic was a rare pleasure. Lots of exploring was done locally as there is so much to see and do. Great pubs and food, we particularly liked the Crown and The Jolly Fisherman. Just trying to think of an excuse to come and stay again!"

    Jenifer, November 2023

Sustainability.

Eco products (Faith in Nature toiletries, Ecover and Neat cleaning products). Bed linens (Dip & Doze) and towels are all organic. The old property has been renovated using reclaimed materials wherever possible, including the original parquet floor in the main space which used to have a badminton court marked out on it. The kitchens are all reclaimed wood including some bits from the Old Hastings Pier.

Surrounds.

  • Wander down to Sonny’s fish hut to buy freshly shucked oysters for lunch.
  • Kids will love the smugglers’ folklore, fish & chips from Maggie’s, and clambering down Rock-a-Nore to go rock pooling or visit the seal colony at low tide.
  • Hire bikes to pedal along the promenade to Bexhill’s iconic De La Warr Pavilion, with its Art-Deco architecture and exhibits. Goat Ledge Café is a fantastic beach bar for cocktails and casual food against a soundtrack of funky tunes.
  • Book a classic pub lunch at The Crown. Then soak up the sun in The Stag’s hidden garden before enjoying The Dragon Bar‘s funky atmosphere for sundowners.
  • Catch the hilariously cheesy bingo at lively local favourite, The Royal Standard.
  • Take a picnic blanket and while away sunny afternoons in tranquil Hastings Country Park, with its clifftop views, woodland walks and gorse-fringed hills. We recommend walking to Fairlight Cove for a drink.
  • There’s fantastic live music almost every night: sing along at shanty night in The Jenny Lind.
  • Rent out the local cinema; they can play your own movies at the Electric Palace.
  • Source Park offers the world’s largest indoor skatepark, plus a great outdoor space with excellent food and drinks from a variety of vendors.

Specifics.

  • Large house split between an upper duplex and separate lower apartment
  • 5 bedrooms (plus 2 portable EZ beds for kids):
    • 3 kingsize on upper level (one can be made into a twin)
    • 2 kingsize in lower apartment (one can be made into a twin)
    • Double sofabed in upstairs snug
  • 3 bathrooms:
    • Family bathroom with walk-in shower and large bath on upper level
    • Ensuite bath and shower for master bedroom in lower apartment
    • Separate WC
    • Additional shower room in lower apartment
    • Faith in Nature handwash and bodywash
  • 2 fully-equipped kitchens including 5-ring cooker, American-style fridge-freezer, wine fridge with ice maker, blender, baking equipment and plenty of serve ware; basic supplies provided
  • 2 high chairs, 2 travel cots
  • Playhouse, books, games and toys for kids
  • Local chef can be arranged with notice
  • Great selection of books and board games plus ping pong table, toys and disco ball
  • Several TVs and Smart speakers throughout the house (Sky, Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime) and an A.V. setup with large projection screen
  • The owners are available by phone
  • Free parking nearby
  • Walk to shops, bars and pubs (2-5 mins)
  • Pet-friendly! (Small extra charge; not on the furniture please)
    House rules: super important to be mindful of noise to respect neighbours. No hen or stag parties. Same-sex group bookings subject to owner discretion.
  • Booking conditions: 4-night min stays midweek, and 3 or 2 night weekend stays, except from 20-Dec-2 Jan, when it rises to 7 or 5 nights. Please note a security deposit of £250 is payable directly to the owner.
  • Remember to pack: wellies, buckets and spades, beach towels

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50% non-refundable Deposit, with balance due four (4) weeks prior to stay.

Cancellation permitted prior to Balance Due Date with loss of Deposit. 

Cancellation not permitted after that time and any cancellation or no-show remains liable for full Booking Fees, with no refund given.

FAQs.

Yes, strictly no hen or stag dos allowed. For same-sex bookings and other celebrations are at the discretion of the owner. Please get in touch.

Yes two of the bedrooms have zip link beds so can be king or twin.

There are two fulling working kitchens – one is smaller but still has a 4-ring cooker, toaster, kettle, fridge / freezer, a small 6 bottle wine fridge (good for fizz) and pots and pans, utensils etc. located in the lower hall

The main kitchen (upper hall) is well equipped and has most things that someone who enjoys cooking would need! Global knives, cheese knives, nice selection of serve ware for a large group, lots of tins for roasting and baking, everyday cutlery and set of Robert Welch cutlery for a nice dinner. There is also an American style fridge freezer with ice maker, two microwaves, two dishwashers, blender, scales etc. everything you need to create and present almost any type of meal for a lot of people!

Tea (normal and decaf), pack of fresh coffee, salt, sugar, olive oil, plain flour (usually organic) washing up liquid and sponges are provided. There is also a nice selection of spices in the pantry.

Bring wellies for muddy strolls in the nearby country park and, if its been raining, for cliff top / country park walks. Please bring own buckets n spades & beach-towels – all our organic bath towels are white!

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