A courageous Rye individual has taken on Pizza and Prosecco, the space on Rock Channel, close to Car Craft. However, Sue Thatcher (no relation to Margaret) has grand ideas to turn around the place with a different ethos, into an events restaurant. She wants to create a special atmosphere for celebrating weddings, birthday parties or corporate lunches. 
Sue, with her friend, opened the doors on January 16 for the Sunday Big Brunch Club and catered for about 10 people, opening at 11am. It’s a lovely light, airy space with settees to relax on before dining and well spaced to feel Covid safe. It is also regularly cleaned.
The choice on the counter looked amazing and one could have seconds and thirds. The food was scrumptious, varied, plenty of it and absolutely delicious. It tickled all the senses with flan, quiche, kedgeree, meat, cheese, homemade bread, croissant, toast and for sweet there were wonderful cakes, fruit crumble, tea chocolate cake, a berry jelly to die for and plenty of coffee and tea; all for £15.
Every Friday it is possible to join Sue and friend for a taste of fine wine paired with fish from the Quay, the local fish supplier close by. They offer a four course menu with wine depending very much on the catch of the day and season. Seating is from 7pm for dining at 7:30pm and the cost is £35 including the wine and £25 per person food only. It sounds mouth watering.
People are encouraged to register online as a Rye Wine and Jazz Club member which is free. Other events are in the pipeline, such as Tapas evenings, Retro Dinner Party, Meat Feasts and French Classics. Places are limited to 20 members so please pre-book with a 20% deposit. Please call: 0775 3628749
Image Credits: Heidi Foster .
The space used for this dining club appears to have been converted to its current use without planning permission. Extensive building works were undertaken around June / July 2020, externally adding in at least 4 sets of windows and who knows what inside. The useful and much used path from Rock Channel to South Undercliff that used to run beside this building was also cut-off, without notice or explanation. A search of Rother’s planning portal shows no planning applications made for the location – I went back to the start of 2018 and found nothing. No application for change of use from a warehouse seems to have been made either.
An alcohol licence was submitted for that location by “Great British Wine Co Ltd” for “Rye Wine Club” of Unit 5, Rother Ironworks in August 2020 – is this still in place and does it cover the current outlet? It seems from the article that they are running a private members club, however this may not be the panacea it seems to avoid the need for an alcohol licence. There still needs to be a club premises certificate and there are rules to be followed.
This may be unfortunate for the current outlet, but this location needs to be investigated by Rother to make sure it is following the rules, it would be grossly unfair to all the other outlets that do follow the rules to face competition from one that might not be, even unintentionally.
It would be interesting to hear from our Rother councillors, Howard Norton and Gennette Stevens to find out what they think and the action they intend to take – perhaps they could contact Rye News or reply to this comment to let their electorate know.
David, you raise an interesting point and indeed one that should be investigated. However, I doubt that either of our Rother District Councillors will respond through Rye News, even if they read it – I would strongly suggest you raise your concerns direct with them and with Rother District Planning Department
I think it would good if either of our councillors gave some comments on a lot of issues in the town.!
According to one councillor, the Landgate is well maintained by RDC, no wonder we don’t have a voice in Bexhill.
Was the much used path between South Undercliff and Rock Channel a public right of way or on private property?
If as looks likely it’s on private land does the owner need to give notice or warning?
I really think it’s time for people who wish to post on Rye news, their views on different hospitality venues, they get them to advertise their business on the Rye news business page, Rye news needs the revenue to keep this great asset for Rye, and it shouldn’t be allowed for people to post free advertising.