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The Union, Rye, East Sussex

The Union

4.6
4.6
747 Reviews
£26 to £40
Contemporary British
Top tags:

The Union is a modern British restaurant, with a cocktail bar upstairs, set in a beautiful 15th century building in the heart of Rye. Our menu is made up of small and large plates which we recommend sharing across the table. Our team will be on hand to guide you through your visit.

Our food is guided by the seasons and our menu changes depending on what produce we have available to us. We primarily use British produce and work with local suppliers to ensure we always source the very best ingredients we can get our hands on.

We’ve carefully selected a fantastic crop of our favourite wines from across the world, as well as aperitifs and cocktails, and local beers, which we feel work wonderfully with our food offer and casual dining service.

Make a booking

2 people
May 2022
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
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Sun
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19:00
Booked 4 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Contemporary British, Tapas / Small Plates, Cocktail Bar

  • Hours of Operation

    Wed–Sun 12:00–22:00 Lunch Thu, Fri 12:00–15:00 Sat, Sun 12:00–17:00 Dinner Wed–Fri 17:30–21:00 Sat, Sun 17:00–21:00

  • Phone number

    01797 229289

  • Website

    https://www.theunionrye.co.uk/

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Location

    8 East Street Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JY

  • Area

    Rye

  • Cross Street

    High Street, Rye

  • Parking Details

    Street parking is available on our road (East Street), as well as anywhere along the High Street (within easy walking distance to us). A 2hr stay costs 80p and parking tickets are available from a machine or via the RingGo app. Parking fares apply Mon-Sun 9am-6pm.

  • Public Transit

    We are situated 5 minutes walk from Rye train station and bus stops servicing the local area.

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 747 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • East Sussex

    Best Overall

  • East Sussex

    Best Food

  • East Sussex

    Best Service

  • East Sussex

    Best Ambience

  • East Sussex

    Best Value

  • East Sussex

    Fit for Foodies

  • East Sussex

    Healthy

  • East Sussex

    Neighbourhood Gem

  • East Sussex

    Romance

  • East Sussex

    Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

  1. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great sharing menu with good choice of dishes for vegetarians & meat eaters alike. The whole seabass with samphire & purslane was cooked to perfection. Friendly & efficient service added to the occasion.

  2. I

    Insync100

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely Tapas style sharing meal.

  3. LP

    LysterP

    West Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    There was nothing to fault our evening at the Union. The service was friendly and attentive, the ambiance relaxed and the food amazing - would definitely come here again and also try their other business The Plough.

  4. DO

    DanielO

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Imaginatively prepared and nicely presented food with great service. Excellent value.

  5. NG

    NicolaG

    Birmingham

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely relaxed restaurant with excellent food. Loved the concept of sharing plates and trying lots of different flavours. Very interesting ideas and lots of fresh local ingredients. Friendly and efficient service - will definitely be back!

  6. MS

    MarkSLQ

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Stunning food and great service. Would really recommend

  7. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Surrey

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Utterly fabulous mean last night. The staff are super attentive and as food….. amazing, compliments to the chef. Was a real highlight of our mini break. Thank you

  8. SH

    SamH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A truly exceptional restaurant. Everything about our experience was wonderful, from the beautifully decorated space, the cosy ambience, the relaxed yet very attentive staff, and the delicious food. The menu is unusual and intriguing, based around smaller sharing plates (a concept we love), and we were not disappointed by a single dish. We couldn't have asked for more!

  9. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Loved it, took my husband here for his birthday with our dogs. We had an amazing relaxing time x

  10. IF

    IanF

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 May 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Good food. Imaginative menu with food options outside the run of the mill.Very good ambience. Outstanding value in comparison to London!

  11. RP

    RichardP

    Brighton

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 27 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A really fantastic dinner. Delicious and varied food and great service.

  12. JH

    JohnH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 23 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent food and charming staff. A must if visiting Rye.

  13. JH

    JennieH

    East Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    fantastic selection of food, the staff were really helpful. I would recommend the steak!

  14. I

    Izabela

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 17 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful experience. Cosy place, friendly staff and amazingly tasty food. High recommend!

  15. CA

    ChristopherA

    Hampshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Interesting menu, good service and very welcome calm on a Bank Holiday weekend in Rye.

  16. g

    georginab

    Kent

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    fab food, fab service - we would definitely eat there again.

  17. JB

    JenniferB

    East Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely experience, would highly recommend. Brilliant local produce cooked to perfection

  18. L

    Lesley

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A really pleasant late afternoon supper was enjoyed in this lovely restaurant after a day out in Rye. It was a splendid meal and we will certainly be returning. Thank you.

  19. NB

    NeilB

    Berkshire

    34 reviews

    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on 2 April 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Quite exceptional. A stylish restaurant with an eclectic menu. Attentive service, will certainly return.

  20. TP

    T60P

    East Sussex

    9 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 24 March 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Interesting sharing menu, including several vegetarian options. Dishes well presented, fresh and very tasty. Truly excellent service.

  21. JB

    JoyB

    Kent

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 March 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food and excellent service, thoroughly enjoyed it!

  22. SW

    StephenW

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 20 March 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Lovely location and super food. Well recommended

  23. LS

    LeonS

    East Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 March 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Our first visit to the Union for my wife and I, it was brilliant, personable and friendly staff, lovely food, good selection of wine in a cosy relaxed space. Thank you all for a lovely evening. Sue & Leon

  24. FL

    FrankL

    East Sussex

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 17 March 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Very good food and good service. It would be nice to have hot plates for the main course as with a sharing menu it all gets cold very quickly when you move the food to your plate. Perhaps another vegetable, the Beetroot was excellent, but the Spinach was either undercooked or getting a bit old!

  25. DM

    DuncanM

    East Sussex

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 March 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The union is an excellent restaurant, the food is always fantastic and the service very welcoming. Amazing value too

  26. j

    jamesg

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 March 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    An enjoyable evening. Good food, with a different style of menu than normal. Pleasant staff. Would book again.

  27. WB

    WalterB

    East Sussex

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 March 2022

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    Nice relaxing warm atmosphere, good attentive service, food nicely presented but would like to see a wider menu. General overall impression was good.

  28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    London

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 10 March 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Simply delicious food and I love the small dishes concept to try many flavours at once. Brilliant to have such a good selection of local wines. It’s great ambience and dog friendly as well. Must try!

  29. KD

    KemsingDJL

    Kent

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 March 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Our first visit to the Union Rye & will not be our last. The menu was a refreshing change from the normal. The tapas style arrangement & the different combinations of ingredients made for an exceptional eating experience. Added to this the excellent service received from Nadine (who mixes a mean Martini by the way) who, was very knowledgeable regarding the menu, and also expertly advised on food choices. The log fire added to the ambience (and again thanks to Nadine) was maintained to a hearth roaring warmth that only added to the eating experience. In my opinion the must haves (i) Deep Fried Greens (ii) Romney Marsh Hogget (iii) Rye Bay Scallops.

  30. F

    Foody

    East Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 26 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent food, well presented, delicious. Good atmosphere. Sharing plates were ample.

  31. L

    Lenny

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 24 February 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Lovely restaurant with attentive service. Loved the idea of sharing plates. We ordered 4 plus 2 sides and had plenty to eat.

  32. K

    Kate

    London

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 23 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    A wonderful meal served by delightful staff. The duck with lentils, the hogged, the crevettes and the sauté potatoes were really good and the apple and mint sorbet was fantastic. A finger bowl was provided for the crevettes which doesn’t always happen. A reasonably priced selection of wines but also a good selection of English wines.

  33. ES

    EmilyS

    Birmingham

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Gorgeous meal made with lovely local ingredients. Friendly staff ensured a warm welcome to this lovely spot!

  34. CM

    ChristopherM

    London

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 19 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Interesting menu, well presented food. The “sharing” concept was a little tricky to navigate but our waitress was very helpful and prevented us from over-ordering. I would recommend highly. I thought it was very good value compared to what you would need to pay for this quality in London.

  35. AS

    AdamS

    London

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 19 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Really enjoyed our meal, tasty food and great service. Would definitely come again if we're ever back in Rye

  36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Kent

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 19 February 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Fabulous well cooked food, great staff.

  37. AB

    AlisonB

    Kent

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 17 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Just a superb experience all round. Food was delicious and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. A sharing menu is a lovely idea. Would definitely recommend.

  38. r

    rickp

    London

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 12 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Good selection for vegetarians. Friendly and professional service. The Union had a great atmosphere. Tapas style food to share. Everything we selected was really tasty. Would highly recommend it.

  39. J

    Jules

    East Sussex

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 February 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Fabulous restaurant. Staff are wonderful, very attentive from start to finish. Food is great. Very high standard and different.

  40. A

    Alilash

    London

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 11 February 2022

    overall4food5service4ambience4

    Very good food, although no substantial vegetarian options. Dinners are located as closely as possible to each other in an otherwise empty restaurant, not ideally if you are concerned about covid or don't like overhearing other dinners conversations. Expect to be regularly reminded that they need your table back toward the end of your 2 hour slot.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas

  • Protective equipment

    • Waiting staff wear masks

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Union is rated 4.6 stars by 747 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
May 2022
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
19:00
Booked 4 times today
Google Map for The Union

8 East Street Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JY

Additional information

  • Cross Street

    High Street, Rye

  • Area

    Rye

  • Hours of Operation

    Wed–Sun 12:00–22:00 Lunch Thu, Fri 12:00–15:00 Sat, Sun 12:00–17:00 Dinner Wed–Fri 17:30–21:00 Sat, Sun 17:00–21:00

  • Cuisines

    Contemporary British, Tapas / Small Plates, Cocktail Bar

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress Code

    Smart Casual

  • Parking Details

    Street parking is available on our road (East Street), as well as anywhere along the High Street (within easy walking distance to us). A 2hr stay costs 80p and parking tickets are available from a machine or via the RingGo app. Parking fares apply Mon-Sun 9am-6pm.

  • Public Transit

    We are situated 5 minutes walk from Rye train station and bus stops servicing the local area.

  • Payment Options

    AMEX, MasterCard, Visa

  • Additional

    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

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