EAT.LIVE.DRIVE WITH BMW I & THE GALLIVANT IN CAMBER SANDS

IT’S INCREDIBLE how many sustainable hotels and restaurants there are popping up all over the place, we stayed at and loved the Gallivant but a couple of other favourites include heckield place, the ethicurean and the wild rabbit pub, all of which i’ve visited previously.

I was recently asked to get involved on Melissa Hemsley’s EAT.LIVE.DRIVE project in conjunction with the BMW i; a sustainable dining guide which aims to help create a more sustainable future through highlighting amazing sustainable restaurants alongside the groundbreaking innovation of BMW’s hybrid supercar, the i8. 

Full disclosure – I know very little about cars (although I can definitely appreciate a fancy car when I see one!) and I’m passionate about enjoying food that is as locally sourced and as sustainable as possible. My husband on the other hand loves his supercars so when we were offered the chance to borrow the i for the weekend and dine at a top sustainable restaurant we jumped at the chance. It looked like the perfect weekend for each of us.

The husband was desperate to pack in as many trips as possible and first takes us across town, along the Thames and over to Chelsea for a rifle through the interior shops and markets there.  Any excuse really to take the car out! He really is in his element here. Despite a definite winter chill in the air, he’s unphased and has the roof down, clearly loving every minute of it. As we drive slowly through the city of London he opts to make the most out of the hybrid functions of the car and drives for the most part on electric for an emission free drive (which he’s thrilled about)!

We then set back across town and out of London to The Gallivant for a night away at the Camber Sands sustainable hideaway. The beach is set a stones throw from an incredible stretch of deserted beach much to the Husband’s disappointment who was looking forward to driving us there to get another run in the car!

The hotel in true sustainable fashion is an upcycled old motel and boasts 20 rooms, a roaring fire and light drenched dining room. We’re lucky enough to have planned ahead and arrive on a Sunday in time to sample their Sunday lunch menu, all locally and responsibly sourced. It’s a feast. The Husband who is vegetarian is well catered for, the menu offers seasonal fare that’s completely indulgent. The sticky toffee pudding was incredible as was the roast beef I opted for, rare and generously portioned. The roast potatoes were also so good we request a backup batch which arrives abundantly portioned leading us (me) to request further gravy for dunking! Later on we retire to the cutest and most homely snug for back to back games of cards over one of their biodynamic red wines.

The Gallivant is an ideal weekend getaway and at under a two hour drive from London means it’s a trip that can be repeated easily. It’s utterly relaxing and with the staff as friendly as can be, we were less than keen to leave. A brisk morning walk along the beach completes our little seaside jaunt and it’s time for us to head back out in the BMW i. 

It might also be worth noting that this car is a complete showstopper. In all seriousness, when we pulled up at some shops to top up on our snacks we noticed two people filming or taking pictures of the car. With it’s winged doors and unique brassy orange finish it’s unlike any other car you see on the roads. A complete head turner and apparently it’s the dream to drive!!

HEAD HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE GALLIVANT

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BMW I ROASTER HEAD here