The Star Inn, Alfriston, East Sussex
“As soon as you step into the Star, the rustic, welcoming atmosphere encapsulates you…”
“Judi designed and created the new look for our historic inn in Alfriston from Aug 2014, with the refurbishment being completed early 2015. Judi set up meetings with the owners and the General Manager, and her experience and ideas were professionally and enthusiastically presented.
Judi was sensitive to the remit - returning a historic inn to its roots, whilst promoting a modern contemporary feel for today's modern traveller.
I would not hesitate to recommend Judi.”
— Nicky Osborne, Client: Houzz Review 2016
Built in the 15th century, The Star Inn is one of the country’s oldest inns and described as "one of the best timber-framed houses of East Sussex” in Pevsner’s, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Until at least 1520, The Star at Alfriston was known as The Star of Bethlehem. The hostelry was run by the monks of Battle Abbey, where shelter, food and no doubt copious amounts of ale was provided to friars and pilgrims as they travelled to Chichester to visit the Shrine of St Richard.
The external frontage to the east facing High Street has elaborate carvings depicting ecclesiastical figures including a representation of St. George and the Dragon, various strange beasts including serpents. The Red Lion ships figurehead reportedly comes from a sunken warship at the Battle of Beachy Head in 1690 being brought into Alfriston by local smugglers.
The Inn houses a ‘Sanctuary Post’ which, when touched, tradition is said to have provided instant church protection to fugitives and smugglers. The post still remains in the bar today with the carved inscription, ‘ihs’ which is understood to mean Jesus.
The Star Inn has a Grade II* listed status with Historic England which means that it is a particularly important building of more than special interest. Only 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*.
The Sanctuary Post at The Star Inn, Alfriston in 2014
The medieval Star Inn based in the heart of Alfriston underwent an extensive refurbishment in 2015 which transformed this Grade II* listed Building.
Interior Design Concept
The interior design brief was to overhaul a tired and dated 37 bedroom hotel with a fast track refurbishment on a tight budget, from concept design to completion, all within 6 months. An important part of the brief was to ensure that the locals of The Star Inn public bar and restaurant were not to be alienated by the changes. In order to make the business successful, the hotel should become a destination to attract a wider client base.
The design ethos was to create a warm, inviting, atmospheric interior design experience to give guests a romantic feel of medieval times while being sensitive to this special Grade II* heritage building. The rich colour palette of burnt orange and red berry shades complemented the existing dark interior finishes and picked up on the heritage hand painted carvings. The scope included an electrical rewire, bespoke reception desk, bespoke lighting, new, bespoke and refurbished furniture, wallcoverings, decorations, curtains, bespoke carpets, rugs, upgraded artwork and bespoke signage throughout.
On entering The Star Inn, the design for the quirky Meet & Greet reception desk, influenced by seafaring pirate ships, was crafted using rusticated oak veneer stained black with a 3D hand painted emblem inspired by the medieval entrance door to the public bar.
The Star Inn featured a decadent bedroom named The Smugglers Lair, complete with a bespoke solid oak working stocks bed and a bespoke carpet influenced by a patchwork of medieval tapestries.
The interior lighting was custom designed to create atmosphere and to capture the romance of the unique timber framed building.
The new look hotel resulted in a significant increase in revenue with the successful business sold to the Polizzi’s in 2019.