As soon as you step into the Star, the rustic, welcoming atmosphere encapsulates you…

and as you wander through the beautifully old-fashioned and  charming rooms it is easy to see just why this Pub is such a favourite.
Exposed beams adorn the ceiling and roaring open fires crackle prosperously throughout, setting that delicious warming glow as only real fireplaces can. As you sit upon the handmade wooden chairs and peer through the candle-lit windows, you feel yourself transported back to a simpler day and age where you wouldn’t be surprised to see a throng of horses and carts trundling past.

Of course, some of the more modern furnishings from the recent renovation crack this illusion slightly; the contemporary fittings creating the ideal setting of being in the modern world without losing any of the 13th century pub’s charm and history.

I headed down to the re-launch, and was soon wrapped under its enchanting spell. Of the 37 rooms the deceptively large Hotel holds, half had been completely re-done, with the last few (stage two of the renovation) commencing the following week.

The re-done rooms were presented in an open-house manner so you could go and take a look around, and it left me wishing I did not live a few minutes away, thus rendering it rather unjustifiable for me to stay here. For I could easily picture myself stood at one of the  windows with my hands curled around a hot mug of tea and watching the beautiful Alfriston village life pass by before me.

The two front bedrooms are some of the larger, and nicknamed the ‘old rooms’ for their 800 year old History. Exposed beams are again a welcoming feature, the walls painted a clean shade of creme and the Honeymoon suite is the bearer of a hugely impressive fireplace, with intricate marking and detailing around the hearth.
I could imagine no finer setting to relax after a wedding.
The atmosphere feels ‘homey.’ It is easy to forget you are in a Hotel and instead think you are in fact relaxing in your very own abode. The carefully selected artwork and photographs which line the walls tell a story, and the rooms draw you in and render you unwilling to leave.

We wandered around the renovated bedrooms, each different to the last, with a couple offering space for four with a sofabed as well as a double, and a few single rooms for the lone traveller.
Long corridors bear eclectic lighting features and plush carpets in varying shades of red, the walls a delicate creme.
The carpets in the rooms retain that classic, old-fashioned feel, with the fashioning of exclusive, tailor-made carpet for the Star- a patchwork of beautiful second-hand rugs stitched together to create a unique flooring you will not find anywhere else. A few of the rooms bear the same warm, red paper as can be seen below, whilst others have a more unique patterned paper.
Room number seven is likely to cause a bit of a stir with their unique bed-stead. Working stocks make up the foot of the bed, with old-fashioned wrought iron rings are attached to the head of the bed. An eclectically unique take on the old fashoned stocks, we’d rather not think in too much detail the happenings which are likely to occur in this room…!

The downstairs is split into few large rooms- the function area, a large and inviting space perfect for weddings or other events, to entertain guests and sit together to enjoy your meal. There is also ‘the library’ a relaxing area with an array of armchairs and a fireplace, the main seated area with an array of tables designed to seat varying numbers, accommodating any party size. Whilst feeling deliciously homey and inviting, it is not in the least pretentious, remaining a family pub in the heart of a much loved village. There is a variety of dishes on offer, created on-site by passionate and talented chefs. They use fresh and locally sourced ingredients, encapsulating modern English cuisine at its finest. Meat is sourced from Sussex farms and the fresh fish supplies are landed at newhaven.

From thick crusty-bread sandwiches, to decadent cream teas, or a large evening meal there is something for everyone to try. It retains the essence of a perfect venue for a family lunch, a romantic evening meal, or a place of respite to Alfriston’s many ramblers, to rest up with a hot drink before returning to the tumbling fields and rivers which lay beyond.

Built in the 13th Century, the Star is one of the UK’s oldest Inns. Its 700 year life span has greeted pilgrims, smuggles and even royalty through its doors. From being run by monks to being considered a ‘Holy House’ hosting a ‘sanctuary post’ for instant church protection to fugitives and smugglers, the Inn is steeped is history.

With three function rooms as well as a beautiful rose garden and a premier conference venue, the Star is perfect for rest or play. Accomodating all needs- either business or personal you are guaranteed to be well looked after in a venue that offers a respite from the somewhat manic offerings of regular day to day life.

But don’t just take our word for it, head down there for yourself for a majestic stay unlike any other.

The Star
Alfriston
East Sussex
TN26 5TA
United Kingdom
Tel. 01323 870495
bookings@thestaralfriston.co.uk