When you are traveling, it is always lovely to come back to a place that you have stayed before, and find welcoming each and every time. When we are in Burnham-on-Crouch, My Beloved Brit’s favorite sailing spot for decades, we stay on the seafront at The White Harte. In honor of Burnham Week this week, I thought it was the perfect time to re-visit an old favorite.
The White Harte on the seawall side of Burnham-on-Crouch. Photo by me.
The White Harte is located on the “seawall” facing the River Crouch, with easy access to the yacht clubs, restaurants and old friends who live in town.
The front door of The White Harte, “G. J.Lewis, licensed to sell Beer, Wines, Spirits & Tobacco. Licensed in pursuance of Act of Parliament for Music & Dancing.” Photo by me
On our trip this year we were able to reserve our favorite room, #6, and were pleased to find that it had been newly refreshed with classic floral drapes, and new carpet. The room is on the back of the inn facing towards the high street rather than the seafront, but it is roomy and can accommodate our massive amount of luggage–and it is only one flight of steps up from the parking area, so easier to haul the luggage to the room.
Almost all the comforts of home, room #6 at The White Harte. Photo by me
One of the best parts of our stay is the full English breakfast in the dining room that looks out on the seafront walk.
Outside the front door of the old inn–the seawall is the perfect place to gather if the sun comes out. Photo by me.
So as we eat our breakfast, we can watch the dog walkers and the odd boats sail out for an early morning move up the river.
My Beloved Brit managed to get a full English breakfast with sausage and bacon, almost every morning. I loved watching early morning walkers along the sea wall. Photo by me.
There is an active pub downstairs from our room…
A corner of the White Harte’s pub, a favorite gathering place in town. Photo by me.
…where most evenings you can find a friendly face to share a pint with and catch up on the latest “dock talk”, the grapevine of information that constantly runs through Burnham.
The pub downstairs from our room. It’s quiet in the morning, but by lunch it comes alive. Photo by me.
Of course, as the saying goes, what starts at one end of the seawall changes considerably by the time it gets to the other end, but it still keeps the lines of communications open.
The seawall stretches from one end of town to the other and is a great place to run in to friends and find out the last news…”dock talk”. Photo by me.
MBB has known John Lewis, the inn’s proprietor, for many years, and his father before him. I love Burnham. It is like coming home for me, and with the sailing involved and the old familiar faces, it’s even a better stop for MBB.
