Dressing The George Hotel in Rye for Christmas 2025
All lit up and ready for Christmas
Dressing The George Hotel in Rye for Christmas
This is now my third year, transforming The George Hotel in Rye for Christmas, always a hectic few weeks but still a highlight of the season, and a nice change from wedding flowers, although I often have to do both, in the month of November.
With its stunning interiors and boutique charm, this historic hotel provides the perfect canvas for festive magic. Every Christmas, we aim to do something fresh and different while repurposing and reinventing some of our decorations from previous years. It's a monumental task, and everything must be in place by the third week of November to coincide with Rye's much-loved "Turning the Lights On" event.
This annual tradition, featuring a local celebrity switch-on, carol singers, and mince pies in the High Street, typically draws crowds of locals, visitors and shop owners alike. Sadly, this year, Storm Bert forced the event’s cancellation. Yet, despite the weather, Rye still shines at Christmas, and The George remains a centre-piece of holiday beauty.
The transformation is no small feat. Outside, thousands of fairy lights (6000) are meticulously strung, the towering real Christmas tree is hoisted onto the balcony, and an enchanting archway is built to welcome guests through the doors. And that’s just the beginning! Once inside, the festive magic truly comes to life, making The George Hotel a true holiday destination.
A real fir arch made by Alex Ball @ Flowers in Rye
We began our festive preparations in the Ballroom, the crown jewel of The George Hotel at Christmas. This grand space is home to a towering Christmas tree and two beautifully adorned mantels. With a busy schedule of events leading up to Christmas Day—including weddings, parties, and festive celebrations—it’s crucial that the Ballroom is decorated first. For couples planning a November or December wedding, it’s an added bonus: free seasonal décor to enhance your winter nuptials.
This years festive Ballroom mantlepieces by Flowers in Rye
The Ballroom Christmas Tree and a winter wedding.
Adjacent to the Ballroom is the Long Room, a more intimate space often used for smaller gatherings or as an extension for larger weddings. This charming room has its own festive touches, including a smaller Christmas tree and garlands strung along the central beam, ensuring that every corner of the hotel exudes holiday cheer.
The Green Room is undoubtedly my favourite space in The George Hotel. Often used to welcome guests with a glass of champagne, it exudes warmth and comfort with its cosy sofas and inviting decor—perfect for relaxing later in the evening. This year, we decided to elevate its festive charm by adding a Christmas tree right in the centre of the room. Adorned with draping green and red streamers, it perfectly complements the hotel-wide theme for the season.
The Green Room Christmas Decorations by Alex Ball of Flowers in Rye
One of the standout features is the garland that graces the mantlepiece, complete with streamers and striking red amaryllis blooms. It’s a detail I’m particularly proud of, tying together the room's festive elegance and creating a space that feels both welcoming and magical.
The Green Room Decorations
Heading downstairs, the festive magic continues. As you step through the front door, you’re greeted by a stunning real pine arch adorned with twinkling gold fairy lights, locally gathered eucalyptus, and larch branches—a true showstopper that sets the tone for what’s inside.
To the right, the reception area leads into the cosy snug, an inviting space filled with plush chairs and anchored by a striking red wood-burner. This year, with the red and green theme extending throughout the hotel, we draped bold red and green streamers across the room. We also gave a second life to our two-year-old gypsophila wreaths by spraying them green and hanging them in the four windows overlooking the bustling high street.
The mantlepiece above the woodburner is another highlight, adorned with a lush green garland strung with gold lights, visible even from outside. Adding to the charm are red and green paper baubles suspended from the garland, completing a scene that feels both festive and elegant.
As you continue through to the Dragon Bar, the festive atmosphere deepens. This vibrant space features not one but two impressive red wood-burners, each beautifully adorned with lush garlands and twinkling lights. The warm glow of the fires combined with the sparkling decorations creates an inviting and cosy ambiance, making it the perfect spot to gather and celebrate during the holiday season.
Last year, I hung lichen-covered pear branches in the Dragon Bar, draping them with fairy lights—a feature that quickly became a favourite among guests. People loved sitting beneath the soft glow, so we decided to keep the branches in place year-round, updating them with seasonal touches like dried flowers and hops.
For Christmas, I’ve enhanced the branches with shimmering silver lametta, red and green paper baubles and festive ribbons. The result is magical, adding a unique and whimsical charm to the bar that perfectly complements the rest of the hotel’s holiday decor.
Hanging installation in the bar provided by Flowers in Rye
Lastly, we turned our attention to the restaurant, where the existing color palette called for something a little different from the red and green theme seen elsewhere in the hotel. Here, I created an elegant alternative: a stunning hanging installation made of soft pampas grass and white ostrich feathers with golden lights, suspended between the two main dining areas.
Hanging Christmas installation provided by Flowers in Rye
Camera shy Alex Ball, caught in action by a hotel guest.
To complement this centre-piece, we added a matching wreath in the bay window, tying the look together with a touch of understated sophistication. This airy, natural installation perfectly suits the restaurant’s ambiance while still capturing the festive spirit in a unique and refined way.
If you're inspired by the festive transformations we've created at The George Hotel and are looking to bring your own holiday or event space to life with beautiful, bespoke decorations, we'd love to help, next year. Whether it's a winter wedding, corporate event, or simply making your venue shine for the season, Flowers in Rye specialises in crafting unique, seasonal designs that captivate and delight.
Get in touch to discuss how we can make your vision a reality and bring your space to life with our creative flair and attention to detail. Let’s make this Christmas—and every season—extra special.