Summertime has been hot and busy. Alongside being a mum of two, I’ve spent a few Tuesdays perfecting my craft in Hackney. I’ve now finished my course at Hackney School of Journalism and, through this very column, landed a job writing for and promoting the Iden/Dalston based, ethereal, one woman artistic powerhouse – Zoe Lloyd. #tarnishedglamour is going to be “A Thing” OK.
This month in Rye its all about the nautical theme. Mermaids, ships and anchors all over town. Rye is obsessed. This month, amongst a lot of other things, I’ve been to a nautical wedding and a sea themed birthday party at The Ship Inn, Winchelsea Beach. So slap on your stripey t-shirt, have a swig o’ rum, tickle a passing shark and surf on down to one of this month’s Miss Rae’s Rye Me picks.
TO DO:
Rye Maritime Festival Sunday August 2, Strand Quay 11:30am -5pm – FREE.
Live music, stalls, food, drink, ships and all some really bizarre entertainment. One year, you could pay 50p to enter a tiny tent, inside of which was a handmade model town for a bunch of live mice to live in. Last year there was someone in the river, blasting himself out of the water and with his jetpack and zooming around ten feet in the air for the crowd. He looked ridiculous, but I really want to try it. If you can’t visualise what he was doing, here’s an example. Jamie Smart is playing this year, I’m a huge fan of his.
I MADE:
Here is a life ring I bought from Tower Forge on Rye High Street. McCully & Crane put me in touch with their sign maker so I could have a quote I adapted from a Wordsworth poem printed on it, as a Father’s Day present from our son to “The BF”.
Here is the poem I adapted:
Hence in a season of calm weather
Though inland far we be,
Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea.
VENUE:
The Ship Inn, Winchelsea Beach
A bar/restaurant/deli/butchers and party venue, The Ship’s style is Disney-Does-Nautical, with its bright colour scheme, random patterns and mash up of seaside wall pieces. It has THE best restaurant garden for miles around. Linked by meandering pathways, each table in the lower garden is on its own “island” surrounded by plants and beach paraphernalia. It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon there. The place is brilliantly photogenic and with its range of “roomscapes” and landscapes, never feels empty, which makes for a perfect party venue. Local Butcher Jamie Wickens’ butchers/deli to the left of the entrance is full of gorgeously tasty cheeses and treats. Plus, they have hog roasts on Sundays.
The Wedding Cheese Cake (not cheesecake, it’s a cake made of cheese) was my food highlight from my friend’s wedding reception there.
Rye’s nautical costumes from Rye Girl Anna Blackman’s Party…
L-R: Rye’s: Ted Wilson as Titanic, Katie Swan Gurr as Ursula, Kitty Radford-Earle as Sebastian, Blaise Bickerton with Ice Cream Fascinator, Dave Blackman as a Sea King (apparently) and Anna Blackman as Sea Queen- photo by Polly Brown.
TOP PITSTOP:
Mermaid Street Cafe
Sticking with the nautical theme, is my recommended pitstop this month – Mermaid Street Cafe. Apart from Rye Butcher’s “Walking Sausage”, Janet Milner’s Mermaid wall motif is my favourite shop logo in town. I like their brownies and homemade Scotch Eggs. I have major envy of the interior, with its beachy, clean blues and clever layout of what is otherwise an awkward space, make you cosy as a pearl on an unopened oyster. Situated on a corner where five or possibly six roads meet, it’s a great people watching venue. Lots of slow walking tourists pointing and looking confused, and slow driving road ragers looking for a parking space. There is a roof terrace with great views, where you can eat or enjoy a glass of wine.
TO BUY:
Janet Milner “Bad Guy” Mugs £10 Mermaid Street Cafe
These designs were created in the 90s but are timelessly funny and stylish. You can buy variations including “Good Guy” and “Miss Big Hair” but I’m more of “Bad Guy” myself. The cards are only £2 each, so pop into Campion Frames, just up The High Street and frame one for affordable, instant wall art.
* I have been warned that at least one resident, possibly more, of Winchelsea Town have had ENOUGH of troublemaking tourists asking them where The Ship Inn, Winchelsea is. It is a 1.3 mile drive away, near the beach. Spread the word. If you have any kindness in your heart, stop casually referring to The Ship Inn, Winchelsea. It is The Ship Inn, Winchelsea Beach.