he Abbot's Fireside Hotel is a Tudor style Hotel, built as an inn in 1451. It was then known as the "The Smithies Arms". It contains many 13th and 14th century features as found in Gothic buildings.

Legend has it that the Duke of Richmond and Charles II before he became King hid in the fireplace, the main feature when you enter the hotel.

The huge hand carved fireplace was taken out of Archbishop's Palace of Lyminge at the beginning of the 16th century. The bottom beam of the fireplace, the oldest part, depicts Jonah and the Whale.

In 1614 Richard Hayes carved the top of the fireplace, in the centre you can still witness the original coat of (Smithies) Arms dated 1614. It is surrounded by carvings of the five senses. The fireplace as a whole is an outstanding piece of history. It has priestholes which were used by priests to hide from King Henry VIII during the time of the Reformation. From the cellar of the hotel a tunnel leads underground to the church and to the manor house at the top of the hill. On the first floor you can still find 16th century wall paintings.
The most significant detail of the hotel's history is the fact that the
Duke of Wellington used The Abbot's Fireside as his head quarters in preparation for his battle with Napoleon in Waterloo. He determined his strategy while warming his feet in front of the fireplace. His troops were lined up in front of the building before leaving for the battle.
Around 1860 the hotel was divided into 4 cottages, named Keelers Mansions. Just before WWII the hotel was restored
and, after being closed during the war, the hotel reopened in the late 1940's under its present name. It has since then gradually been modernised, carefully maintaining its Medieval character.