What’s the Victorian Beach House like?
This luxurious one-bedroom apartment is in a six-storey building overlooking St Leonards’ Warrior Square. The spacious ground floor flat has lovely sea views, as well as a private patio looking out over the manicured rose garden. The apartment, which has recently been refurbished, is 15 minutes’ walk from Hastings town centre and 25 minutes’ from the atmospheric Old Town.
How dog-friendly is the Victorian Beach House?
Very good. Aside from in the bedroom, there are wooden floors throughout the apartment and throws on the sofa. The enclosed garden is also a lovely bonus but the walls are quite low. If you have small dogs, be especially careful around the gate as there are a few gaps they could potentially sneak through. We also spotted at least two cats in the apartment next-door so if your dog is reactive, be aware! There is no extra charge for dogs to stay and no set limit. The most that have visited at one time is three.
Tell me more about the Victorian Beach House
From the moment you walk through the French doors overlooking the garden, you’ll be blown away. Light pours in through the huge windows – which have original wooden shutters – and the ceilings are at least 12ft high so the apartment has a real light and airy feel. Everything is very chic and stylish, with Victorian-style radiators, big chandeliers, arty prints and nods to life by the seaside.
The lounge area has a large flatscreen TV, complete with Sky and Netflix. And on the other side of the open-plan room is a dining table and chairs, plus a telescope to make the most of those sea views. The stylish kitchen is kitted out with Smeg appliances and, handily, a washing machine. There’s even board games you can borrow and a well-priced honesty bar with everything from soft drinks to spirits such as gin and vermouth.
A corridor leads up to the enormous minimalist bedroom, which has cool animal prints on the walls and a shabby chic-style wardrobe. And before you get to the bedroom, you’ll pass the lovely bathroom with its funky tiled floor. The door to the original entrance leads in to the bedroom but the layout has obviously changed since the apartment was refurbed – and is all the better for it. Another big bonus is that there’s free parking on the surrounding streets.
What’s the food like at the Victorian Beach House?
This is a self-catering apartment so you’ll need to bring your own. But when we visited, there were several kitchen essentials in the cupboards and milk, bottled water and butter in the fridge. There was also a Krups coffee machine complete with pods and a complimentary bottle of lemon ketchup, which is produced locally.
It would be a shame not to eat out when you’re staying here though. Kings Road, in the heart of St Leonards, is just moments away and is where you’ll find dog-loving coffee shop, Fika@44. Beach cafes don’t come much cooler than Goat Ledge, opposite Warrior Square, pictured above, and we can also recommend the Marina Fountain. This lovely community-run pub is a 20-minute walk away. There are lots of other recommendations in the house guide and, of course, our Ruff Guide to Hastings.
Are there resident dogs at the Victorian Beach House?
No, but Warrior Square is hugely popular with dog walkers so you will meet plenty of other pooches out and about. In fact, there was an almost constant procession of dogs going past the apartment!
Where are the best dog walks near the Victorian Beach House?
Warrior Square, right outside your front door, is a great place to take a stroll and popular with dog walkers. It also leads down to the seafront where you can walk for miles in either direction. Turn left and walk along the promenade to Hastings and its charming Old Town or turn right and head for Bexhill-on-Sea. The latter walk takes around 1.5hrs and will take you past lots of cute wooden beach huts and shingle beaches. Time your walk to coincide with low tide, however, and you’ll be rewarded with miles of sand. Beach restrictions do apply for dogs during the summer months – find out more here.
While you’re in the area, be sure to visit Hastings Country Park, too. This beautiful nature reserve, on top of the cliffs, spans more than 850 acres and is the largest open space in the borough. The views from the park are simply stunning – on a clear day, you can even see France. The park can be accessed via the East Cliff lift in the Old Town (£4 return, dogs travel free), or from one of several car parks in the reserve. To see the main highlights, check out the four walks recommended by the Friends of Hastings Country Park. For more inspiration when it comes to dog-friendly things to see and do, check out our Ruff Guide to Hastings.
What Ernie and Stan loved about the Victorian Beach House
The amazing views over the park, being so close to the beach, the fact there were so many local dogs to meet
What I loved about the Victorian Beach House
The beautiful sea view, the stylish decor, the quiet location
How to book the Victorian Beach House
Stays start from £90 per night, plus cleaning and service charges. For more information or to book, check out the apartment’s Airbnb listing.