Last Sunday the weather was mixed, mainly sunny, but with the odd shower but that did not stop the visitors coming. Despite the elements, Rye seemed to be busier than the town has been for a long time. The vehicles kept on coming into town, tourists of varying ages and nationalities arrived continuously, and hopefully local businesses had a good day.
But it sounded as if someone was driving around town with music blaring from their car stereo as the sound echoed around the town. With the varying buildings and architecture in Rye the sound seemed to bounce off the walls in a number of directions and it was difficult to pinpoint where it was coming from.
Live music has not been seen or heard in Rye for quite a time but today, Sunday, August 23 things changed. Many had made their way along Cinque Ports Street, or through a packed market car park, to the source of the action, the garden of the Cinque Ports pub where a band was performing live covers to a large and appreciative audience outside – at a distance!
The crowds had also made their way past the Waterworks where socially distanced drinkers sat outside, or through the Landgate where Knoops proved to be extremely popular, Rye Lodge Hotel too, and the High Street was busy – but not uncomfortably so.
The main pinch points seemed to be at the junction of the High Street with Market Street, where many cars turn right down the hill, and where Mermaid Street meets The Mint, Wish Ward and The Strand at a complicated junction, social distancing here is not easy despite anyone’s best endeavours.
The main observation is that Rye is back on the tourist trail once more it seems and, while some shops and businesses are still unable to take advantage of the growing numbers, for those who are open – given the numbers of visitors – the cobwebs will have been blown off their tills.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .