The Royal

Where to begin… we were amazed!! My partner and I came in recently looking for a quiet dinner, initially it looked like a normal pub with your typical pub decor. However, we were met with a really pleasant server, Christian, who walked us through to the restaurant. As we sat down, the vibe of the place changed. It was quiet yet welcoming, with unique pictures of various plants on the walls. I looked at the menu and didn’t understand half of the words, but every question we had was swiftly answered by Christian, he really knew his stuff. My partner and I love to share food, so in total we ordered 6 dishes, as they come, and loved every single one. What stood out to me was how fresh the Squid with Orzo dish was and my partner loved the Lamb with what we felt was a fun Greek twist. The beetroot starter with capers, we thought was inspired and delicious. We finished with a cheese taster and a Chocolate Tart with Sour Cherries and Crème Fraîche which balanced each other perfectly. We thought this would cost an arm and a leg but we were shocked when the bill came in extremely reasonable. Christian was also very sweet with our son who loves to throw his toys about, so thank you for your patience. Overall, fantastic experience, well done. Thank you for an enjoyable evening! Tl;dr Great service, great food, great atmosphere. Must visit.

The service was friendly and welcoming, which set a nice tone for the evening. The broccoli cavatelli, however, was mediocre at best—bland and lacking depth. In contrast, the lamb was excellent—tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection, though it could’ve been served a bit warmer. The space is quite cramped, so keep that in mind if you're looking for a more comfortable or private setting. Overall, it was a good experience with solid value for money.

Lovely lunch experience at the Royal! The oxtail with mashed potato was so comforting and perfect for a gloomy day in the seaside. Never skip dessert for me so I ordered panna cotta! It didn’t disappoint and was so good! Really like the casual dining atmosphere as well. Quality food with reasonable price! Plan to go back for dinner and Sunday roast soon.

Atmosphere and service was lovely! Pub was delightful and had quick service, had a few beautifully poured pints in there. But sadly the food which was the main reason we were there did not live up to the hype for us. I got the grey mullet with ratte potatoes which while presented beautifully was criminally under seasoned. A friend got the pork chop with lentils which was overdone and dry. Would try again as I can see the potential of this team

Really delicious meal this evening - yummy cauliflower and almond soup, guinea fowl and chestnut pie (served for two) and orange polenta cake. Glass of wine - £43 total. Shame bread not included with soup . A bit mean really … however all in all really good value and it was all properly cooked.

Loved our experience here! Everything was perfect - portions were very generous and good value for money x

From the booking to our visit it was a kind experience, as well as a culinary pleasure. We were a group with different needs and not particularly easy ones, and our server as well as the person who responded to my email and questions, were nothing but kind, discret and humane. I was very touched by this. Thankyou. The food was beautiful and “soigné” and we were very happy to find two vegetarian dishes that were as complete as a meat based proposition.

First dinner here but not last! Everything from starter to dessert was unbelievably tasty, good portion sizes too - I was stuffed after the crazy good rump steak, not usually my favourite steak but here - WOW. The smoked duck starter was amazing too. The service was attentive and friendly too. I don't know why I waited so long to eat here, I heard the portions were small for the price - not true. Now my favourite place to eat in St Leonards/Hastings, what a lovely surprise! No more pricey than other good local restaurants in the area, but just way more impressive. Thanks, the Royal team for an amazing first impression!