The Royal in St Leonards-on-Sea is a welcoming, low-key and down-to-earth gastropub, occupying an historic corner site right opposite Warrior Square station.

We opened in mid October 2019, serving draft beers, real ales, decent wines and simple but elevated pub cooking.

The pub dates back to the 1860s, when it opened as an hotel; in its new incarnation, we serve locals for drinks, and people from all over the Hastings and St Leonards area, out of town and further afield for interesting, unfussy seasonal food.

Our menu will change often and feature local produce that might include griddled squid with chilli and lemon, pork rillete with piccalilli, or roast beetroot, carrots and goat’s curd. Mains will range from wild mushroom and spinach pithivier to salt marsh lamb with sprouting broccoli and anchoïade, or pot-roast shin of beef and risotto Milanese for two to share. You can drink crémant de Limoux sparkling wine from £6.5 a glass kicking off an unpretentious and great value wine list with new and old world offerings.

The co-owners, James Hickson and Sam Coxhead both share a solid background at well-loved restaurants and gastropubs including St John, Great Queen Street, The Canton Arms and Moro. They are hands-on at the pub, overseeing the relaxed yet lively atmosphere, friendly service and sophisticated food and drink.