Entire home

Big House for Big Occasions! Ideal for luxury large get-togethers. Sleeps 16/18.

Choose dates to view prices

your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Big House for Big Occasions! Ideal for luxury large get-togethers. Sleeps 16/18.

Interior
Smart TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
On the beach, beach towels
Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

8 bedrooms8 bathroomsSleeps 18300 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
St Leonards on Sea, England
  • Hastings Beach
    1 min walk
  • Cafe Zanzibar Restaurant in Hastings
    1 min walk
  • St Leonards Warrior Square Station
    7 min walk
  • Lydd (LYX)
    52 min drive

Room options

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Big House for Big Occasions! Ideal for luxury large get-togethers. Sleeps 16/18.

This former award-winning boutique Hotel ('Zanzibar') in the trendy St Leonards area of Hastings boasts exceptional sea-views from all the major rooms and is perfect for large family get-togethers, high-end retreats and big occasions. Eight ensuite bedrooms comfortably sleep 16 to 18 while the ground-floor offers excellent reception rooms, a well-equipped kitchen and a terraced garden with BBQ, outdoor dining area and hot-tub. High-speed internet is available throughout the property and Netflix is available in all the bedrooms. High-quality bed linen, REN toiletries, luxury bath oils, fluffy bathrobes and complimentary slippers are all provided for maximum lounging. The bedrooms are spotlessly clean and maintained to a high standard. There are 2 parking spaces for your use in a secure car park nearby and there is further free, unrestricted on-street parking in ‘Warrior square’ (approx. 50m from the house).
The ground floor is the heart of the house. The fully-fitted kitchen is well-equipped and opens-up (via bi-fold doors) to a covered area of garden with BBQ, hot tub and outdoor lounge & dining areas. At the other end of the kitchen, the atmospheric dining room comfortably seats 14 / 16 people and there is an additional small table that seats 3 or 4 within easy reach. The main dining room leads to the cosy lounge with an array of comfortable seating, sea views, its own bar, a Sage (bean to cup) coffee machine, large screen TV & Bluray DVD. There is a well-stocked DVD library for your use and jigsaw puzzles & board games are available on request.

'Zanzibar' is 30 metres from the beach. Exit the house in either direction and you have miles of wide flat promenade along the top of the beach; ideal for walking, running, scooting or cycling. The Pubs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, take-aways, convenience stores and antique shops of St Leonards are all within easy reach. The cobbled streets and funicular railways of the historic old part of town are a 20-minute walk away. These give way to the Protected Hastings Country Park - essentially an extension to the nearby South Downs – offering cliff-top walks and stunning views all the way to the quaint Medieval village of Rye some 12 miles away. The Blue Reef Aquarium, the Hastings Contemporary art gallery, the fishermen’s museum and the characterful tall black net huts are all situated in the old part of Hastings, not to mention amusement arcades, fish ‘n’ chips, live music, crazy golf and the boating lake. The White Rock Theatre and Hastings Pier are less than 5 minutes’ walk away to the East. Head West from the house and the Art Deco De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill is reachable within a couple of hours (walking).
As a holiday house, the former hotel promises a special experience for family get-togethers, friends' reunions, noteworthy occasions, wedding anniversaries and big birthdays. The all-ensuite bedrooms offer space and privacy when needed while the open-plan reception areas allow for everyone to come together for evening cocktails, fabulous meals, and late-night film viewing.
Despite its coveted location opposite the beach, it's worth noting that Zanzibar is situated in a heavily residential area. Whilst we are happy to host big occasions, we are not able to hold events, stag / hen do's or noisy parties.
Dogs are permitted (by prior agreement) with an additional £50 cleaning fee and we ask that their access is limited to the ground floor and just a couple of the bedrooms. If more information is required, please get in touch with us directly via our own 'Zanzibar Hastings' website.
During your stay at this vacation home, you're just a quick walk from Hastings Beach. Features include a spa tub. Free WiFi and a jetted tub are available in the vacation home.
  • The vacation home offers a kitchen, a washing machine, and 8 bathrooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Steps from Hastings Beach and Warrior Square Gardens
This vacation home offers its guests a spa tub, barbecue grills, and a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property manager

Max ORourke

Languages

English, French, Italian, Spanish

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • A hot tub
  • Massages

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking options include a garage
  • On-site parking
  • Car not required

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Spices
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Ice maker

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 8 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 8 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Jetted
  • Soap
  • Hairdryer
  • Toilet paper
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided
  • Dressing gowns
  • Shampoo

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Video library
  • Books
  • Stereo
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Fenced garden
  • Barbecue
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near a laundromat

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 total (up to 25 kg per pet)
  • Welcoming dogs only

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Chef
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the sea
  • On the waterfront
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Sailing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 3229 sq ft (300 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 2 (weight limit: 55 lbs per pet)
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Note from host: Up to 2 well behaved dogs with responsible owners.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Proposed events must be discussed with the owners
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking.

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Luxury Victorian Beach House

Big House for Big Occasions! Ideal for luxury large get-togethers. Sleeps 16/18. Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 49 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Athena A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best lab retreat!
We stayed 3 nights at Zanzibar, for our lab retreat - 16 (neuro)scientists from London who were looking for a nice place to hang out, cook, drink, bind and talk science. Zanzibar did not disappoint! it's an amazing place to chill and have fun. Kitchen is fully equipped, rooms are set tastefully and beautifully, the common area has plenty of space to cozy up in big or small groups, and hot tup was a bonus. Location is great too -- short walk to the train station, a pleasant walk to hiking paths and local cafes. Max is a great host, easy communication and very helpful. This place might easily become The place to come back next year (and years after) for our annual retreat!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jacob B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic house!
Had a brilliant weekend at Zanzibar and exceeded all our expectations. The hosts were super helpful and we’ll definitely be coming back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jody T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Probably the best big house we've ever stayed in....
On approaching hotel Zanizibar I must admit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from its unassuming exterior. Within seconds of stepping foot inside all my fears were allayed as I was met with the most incredible treasure trove of rooms. On every floor and behind every door was another wonderful surprise. Each room was exquisitely decorated within its individual theme. The words ‘opulent’ and ‘majestic’ spring to mind. Some rooms had not only a shower but also a free-standing bath. Myself and my guests felt extremely lucky to be staying in such a great place. There was more than enough room for our party of 17, whether it be for us all to dine together or within our respective rooms. We also made very good use of the jacuzzi. Would recommend this to anyone looking for something special with that extra bit of wow factor.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephen W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Zanzibar - a great week for all the family
First class accommodation. Fabulous house. Lovely rooms, particularly bedrooms. Excellent quality bed linen & towels. Kitchens well equipped. Excellent location.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

George W.

Liked: Cleanliness
On the Beach
Had a great time. The property is simply amazing but does have quite a lot of stairs! Location is great with the beach just over the road. Max, the owner, was very helpful and accommodating.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter M.

Liked: Cleanliness
If you're in to quirky try this
On the seafront about 10 minutes walk from Hastings Pier, 15 minutes from shops restaurants and funfair etc. A fascinating property, no 2 rooms are the same either by size or furnishings. Superb kitchen area with everything you could possible need. No 2 bedrooms are anywhere near alike but most have great views out to sea (Hastings is not known for its shipping so expect a few fishing boats early morning and some sailing craft) The big plus is the owner Max. Nothing is too much trouble and if you have an issue, we had a couple of minor ones, he gets them sorted without delay. We had a great week and thoroughly recommend it.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Helen d.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent property for large groups
If you want somewhere special to meet with a large group of friends or family, Hotel Zanzibar is perfect. Great sleeping spaces all with en-suites, sea views from the front of the house, brilliant social space complete with a bar (we had a cocktail night!) and a fab host from start to finish. We had a great weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Georgina M.

Liked: Cleanliness
30th birthday celebration
Max was absolutely lovely, we’ve stayed in his other property ‘cliff hanger’. He’s always very helpful and accommodating. The house is stunning. The cake was beautiful and bottle of bubbly, such lovely little welcome gestures! Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Abigail F.

Liked: Cleanliness
The best property I've ever stayed in!
I travel alot and I can say without a doubt this is best house I've ever stayed in. 11/10 Max was excellent, responsive, kind and welcoming, he went over and above. I really appreciated everything did for us. I had 16 adults and 2 children guests for my 30th birthday weekend. The house is massive. It isn't accessible friendly because of the stairs but its totally worth it. There is so much space its insane. Beautifully decorated rooms that looks just like the pictures if not better. Well maintained and clean. The kitchen is a dream. All the feidge and freezer space you will ever need. I do not say lightly that it is was a weekend ill treasure forever. Thank you so much!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Fiona R.

Liked: Cleanliness
50th getaway with friends and family
This was the perfect place for my 50th birthday for three families with young adult children (18-23) it was exactly what we were looking for! Every room is absolutely gorgeous and the whole house is just stunning! There were 11 of us and it was so comfortable and we had a ball. Max the host is fantastic and I was so touched as he had arranged for a birthday cake (delicious) and a bottle of bubbly on our arrival. We will definitely be returning to this property xx
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

Michelle W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay....
10 of us had a great time in the hotel ZANZIBAR celebrating New Year. QUIRKY and fully equipped with extensive views of the sea. Would definitely recommend. Thank you Max and Katie
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Christmas break
Excellent property for family Christmas weekend
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing stay!
We rented Zanzibar for a 30th and 60th birthday with 12 friends and as soon as you walk through the door, you know it’s going to be a great place to stay! The rooms are full of quirky touches, comfortable and spacious! It was nice that everyone had access to their own bathroom! The living room space downstairs works perfectly for hosting. Everything has been thought through and we had such a special weekend there! We would all thoroughly recommend staying here! Max and Rachel were great with communication and the recommendations for restaurants were spot on! Thank you for letting us stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chloe S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Incredible weekend
The house was even better than the photos – incredibly spacious, impeccably clean, and perfect for birthday weekend. We enjoyed the hot tub, which was warmed up for our arrival, and the kitchen was ample and very well-equipped for our caterers. Thanks so much to Max for the warm welcome and we would love to come back in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing venue for an offsite work engagement
The venue was as described, perfect for our offsite working session. We could comfortably run a workshop / planning session for 8 people as well as it being a great social setting too. Having each room with an en suite made this a perfect venue for us. I can highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Holly R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just AMAZING
We had such a great time. Property was beyond expectations… Max was an excellent host and brilliant with communication every with the smallest requests. We loved our stay from start to finish.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deborah H., Kent, United Kingdom

Liked: Cleanliness
Birthday celebration with friends
Zanzibar is lovely! In fact even better in real life than the pictures. A great house for sharing time with friends. There was 15 of us, plus a small dog, and the space felt just right. We were lucky enough to have good, mild weather (November) which meant blue skies for our lovely sea views and we could make more use of the garden space than expected. I know this won’t always be possible for guests but for our trip we were able to check in earlier and leave a bit later, which is always nice! Max gave us a warm welcome on arrival and was really lovely to deal with, right from booking to departure. A little surprise on arrival was also a nice touch. I would definitely recommend Zanzibar for a special celebration/gathering. And if you want any catering, Helen (who came recommended by Max) made us a lovely 3 course meal plus canapes. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience all round.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christine D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great house for large family
We had a week together, 16 family members across three generations. Beautiful rooms, all very spacious. We really loved the themes of each room; something for everyone! Great location across from beach and within walking distance of St Leonard’s, old and new Hastings. Lots of choice for eating out. Secure parking very close by, but be careful where you park in Warrior Gardens as some areas closer to house are only for 2 hours with no return for another 2 hours. Would definitely recommend and revisit.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maralyn W.

Liked: Cleanliness
4 nights stay
Very well organised & lovely property. Exactly what we wanted for size & location. Max was very friendly & helpful at all times. Would certainly recommend a stay at Zanzibar
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Incredible house and an amazing host
Max was fantastic throughout the booking process and was such a lovely and welcoming host. The house is amazing, easy to get to and thoughtfully put together with everything you could need. We had an amazing weekend of board games and look forward to hopefully returning in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bianca B.

Liked: Cleanliness
GUTTED TO LEAVE STUNNING HOUSE & LOCATION!
Booked for my husbands 40! LOVED the house! The most amazing host Max. He went above and beyond.. thank you for all the extra's! All 10 of us loved our stay and cant wait to come back! The views & the rooms were just stunning... even better than the pictures. The location was ideal everything you need on your doorstep! Thank you for saving us with your beautiful baked Birthday cake 🎂
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Adam M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family birthday celebrations
We arrived at the House early and Max soon arrived with a cake in hand and a bottle of fiz and a very warm welcome and after showing us around and answering our questions he then left the house for us to explore. The house was exactly as described and in some ways better with a great hot tub that seats 4 people. Our overall stay was brilliant and the house is very close to nearby Hastings seafront and old town where there is plenty to do and see including mini golf! The house had all the amenities that you would expect and all of the bedrooms where fab and very quiet so we all had a good night's sleep. There where only a few things that came up during our stay which where as follows.... The top room shower was a little slow at warming up but the bath with waterfall filler from the ceiling was brilliant. Shower door handle was missing the screws that held it on so kept falling off. There was a leak in the kitchen when it rained but nothing major and max was aware. Some of the light switches where a little hard to find but had some fun finding out which ones went with which lights! And didn't realise the hall and stairs where on sensors. Overall I would highly recommend Zanzibar for family and friends to get together and have a great time. Thank you Max for being a great host!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bhavesh S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome Hastings
Max is a great host. Real took care of everything and was readily available throughout our stay. The house is perfect for a large family or group, plenty of space and the location is perfect for Hastings. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Abigail F., Concord

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous Weekend!
We rented Max's property for a large family gathering and we couldn't have been happier with our choice! The house and decor are of the highest standard imaginable and it is more than well-equipped with everything you could possibly need to enjoy your stay. Every single bedroom is as amazing as the next one and I guarantee that everyone in your party will be happy with where they sleep! The area itself is really lovely with plenty of restaurants, shops and bars. All in all this property is 10/10; stop searching and book it as you will not be disappointed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Giles T., Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Liked: Cleanliness
Family get together
Fab times with the family in a property suited to big groups who need their own space but also want to hang out. Brilliant time had by all
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022