The Inkerman Arms in Rye Harbour, closed since 2021, is reopening its doors this week under the new management of Diane Rees and family.
Pubs called The Inkerman get their name from the historic Battle of Inkerman, a major and bloody conflict fought during the Crimean War on 5 November 1854.
Diane Rees explains how she came to take on the task of running the pub
I was living in Rye last year and looking for a hospitality business when I noticed that the Inkerman Arms was available. I’ve always loved Rye Harbour and I have spent time there walking, so the opportunity immediately caught my attention.
It will be quite a challenge – are you up for it?
I enjoy a challenge, and both of my sons were enthusiastic about the idea from the start. We began renovating the Inkerman Arms in late February this year, and it has been a real family effort. I have previous experience working in pubs, along with chef training and a strong all-round hospitality background. My eldest son and his girlfriend also have hospitality experience, while my youngest son is keen to learn and has great potential.
Have the local community been encouraging and supportive?
We genuinely believe we will make a strong team. The pub has been closed since Covid, and the support from the local community has been fantastic. Residents have been incredibly welcoming and are pleased to see the pub reopening. We are excited to be bringing the Inkerman Arms back to life and look forward to welcoming everyone through the doors.
What sort of food will you be serving?
We will be serving locally sourced fresh produce.
Are you affiliated to a particular brewery or are you free to bring in the ales and lagers that best serve the locals and the Inkerman?
The Inkerman arms is a Free House and we will be serving a good range of beers and meeting the needs of the local community and visitors to the area.
The Inkerman Arms is on Rye Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, Rye TN31 7TQ and opens on Saturday 13 June at 2pm.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .
Delighted to hear that the Inkerman Arms is reopening and wish Diane and her family every success in their exciting new venture
The Inkerman arms used to be my local when I lived in Rye Harbour, many happy times,will be popping in when me and wife visit.
Wishing Diane and family every success in their new exciting adventure. Can’t wait to visit next week
Glad to hear the. Inkerman arms pub is to reopen.been there. a few times in the past.i also have strong connection to the.crimea? as my great grandfather was in the crimean war ?.and he witnessed the charge of the light brigade.yes .I will get this info to you
which may be useful to you at the pub
Great news for the village! If this first evening (now after 10 pm) is anything to go by, local residents will be spared the trouble of supplying their own musical entertainment in their gardens this summer. How community-spirited that the Inkerman Arms is straightaway providing very loud blaring music for the whole quietly residential neighbourhood. Hooray!! The end of summer evening peace and quiet. As for sleep…highly overrated. Lucky Rye Harbour.
Well done for being so generously open-minded about it!
The ‘open minded’ approach to severe noise disturbance in a small village would be something, one hopes, that the pub will commit to faithfully practicing by not subjecting residents to unwarranted noise disturbance. It is, in essence, a matter of respect for local residents to simply avoid creating the disturbance in the first place. Loud music noise disturbance a.k.a noise pollution, is antisocial, un-neighbouly, and simply unacceptable. But one feels confident that a new establishment like this pub will most certainly want to respect village residents and establish very good relations with them. Keeping music, however it is produced, within the building will certainly be essential to these good relations.
My comment was delivered with a very large dose of sarcasm. (From someone who is not a Gitonissa)!
I play in a band and most pubs prefer afternoon gigs rather than evenings in the summer. The Fish Bar on Simmonds Quay have bands on Fridays, not every Friday, from 5pm to 8pm.
Cheer let people be happy for a change enjoy
Brilliant news we used to go to the Inkerman often so its great to know its back in business. Every success to them
Used to be a great pub and I’m sure it will again. Good luck with your enterprise.
We were sad when it had to close (COVID restrictions).
And have been waiting for it to reopen as a Free House.
Will visit you next month when back down in Rye Harbour.
Cheers
I’m delighted that the Inkerman Arms is re-opening and I wish it well. When I lived in the area I often had lunch in what was then renowned for the finest fish in the area. There used to be a certificate for anyone who could eat the large cod & chips – I got 3 over the years. My wife and I still visit Rye Bay Nature reserve several times each year and usually want lunch before we drive home. We will certainly call in after our next visit. Well done. We need pubs to remain open.
Regards,
Bill
I used to be friends with the landlady’s daughter, during the late 60’s. I can still remember the ‘takeaway’ hatch at the front.
Wishing the new owners the best of luck.
Like Bill, I too am delighted the Inkerman Arms has reopened and I wish you well. Quite the best pub in the neighbourhood for fresh fish. Despite living in Belgium now, we will be visiting you whenever we are staying nearby. Well done. Yes, we need pubs to remain open.
Best wishes,
John
My old man lived in Winchelsea & had his fishing boat moored in the harbour, we often had a few pints in the Inkerman, and also the Conqueror which was also a good pub (When big Bernie ran it).
So pleased the Inkerman has re-opened I wish you all the best. I still have family in the area so will definitely be visiting soon. Rob