On 19 Apr 2014 at 3:36pm Chris wrote:
Following on from Drinkers post the other day, a friend and I were trying to work out which is the best Lewes pub. It was impossible to say because we are blessed with so many gems (keep up the good work ALL of you publicans!). We eventually split the whole thing in to categories, so for FUN.
1. Best pint of Best?
2. Best 'other drink' selection?
3. Best Food?
4. Best for Sports?
5. Best for Music?
6. Best bar people?
On 19 Apr 2014 at 4:57pm Dave wrote:
I don't want to say which is the best pub in Lewes as then everyone will go there and I won't be able to get a table or get to the bar.
Oh, ok it's The Volly
On 19 Apr 2014 at 5:24pm Sam wrote:
A much better post than Drinkers utterly incomparable and ignorant attempt. We are indeed blessed, but here goes!
The JHT for Harvey's, The Pelham for food, The Ele/Brewers for sport, The Lansdown/ Lamb for music and staff. Lucky punters!
On 19 Apr 2014 at 7:31pm drone wrote:
In no particular order
The Elly
Gardeners
Snowy
On 19 Apr 2014 at 8:52pm mytown wrote:
J H T nice pub and nice people
Doeset good for food
Elly for sport
Brewers for sport
oak ok
they are all nice pubs
On 19 Apr 2014 at 9:47pm lewes born and bred wrote:
3 pubs in Lewes have sport...Elly, Brewers and The Tally Ho
Volly, lamb, con club, snowie all have live music at times
Elly, snowie, lewes arms, Volly, Gardeners, JHT and a few more sell Harvey's
The Chalk pit do decent food, The Elly do decent burgers and pub grub
On 20 Apr 2014 at 1:29am Henry wrote:
The Lamb has the best Music by far
On 20 Apr 2014 at 5:33am The Kronic wrote:
In your opinion, that is Henry.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 6:39am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
For food, the Pelham or the Snowdrop.
For Harveys, the JHT or the Snowdrop (although no Lewes pub seems to reach the sublime standard of the Best in the Black Horse in the Vic Newman years - always excellent and often out of this world).
Best staff would probably be the JHT, but it rather depends who's working at the time. I've had great, friendly service at the Pelham, but yesterday it wasn't that good and they were a bit grumpy.
The Lewes Arms is generally good for service, but it's got too damn child friendly for our liking. I'm not keen on having to clamber over a huge off road buggy and a kid's bike every time I go to the bog, like I did last time I was in there.
Why they needed to bring the buggy and bike into a crammed back bar I have no idea.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 9:49am ducatipete wrote:
Ignore Lewes pubs I think the best pint of Harveys is at The Foresters East Hoathly and I have drunk a few in every Lewes pub over the years. Yes good old Vic at the Black Horse what a star!
On 20 Apr 2014 at 10:07am Kettle wrote:
Normally the Pelham wins at everything for me. Not a beer drinker. However went there the other night and although the food was fantastic, the service was very grumpy indeed.
Love the snowdrop for dog friendliness too.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 10:42am Sussex Jim wrote:
The Brewers gives the best value for money for good quality food.
And a discount with a Rooks' card.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 11:01am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
If we're allowed to consider pubs outside Lewes, Pete, the Horns Lodge at Chailey does a damn fine pint.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 1:02pm Taking the lead wrote:
The Black Horse is now close to winning all Categories. It now has Sky sport TV, the food is very good and Dec is a great host. Not sure if it even does harvey's though but I personally don't care as I drink Lager
On 20 Apr 2014 at 3:48pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I agree Dec is great, but the same can't be said of all the staff in there.
The food's good, but nowhere near in the same league as the Pelham or the Snowy imo, and the thing that really holds it back is the lack of Harveys.
Sky sport is the other reason we don't go there much, I'm afraid. A late lunch one Sunday was ruined when the football came on and much roaring and yelling ensued. As there seems to be football on most of the time at weekends, it's easier to avoid the place completely if you don't like it.
It's great that Lewes has such a variety of pubs that almost everyone can find one that is to their taste.
On 20 Apr 2014 at 10:39pm Resident 4393 wrote:
I'm surprised no-one's mentioned the Swan, which is great these days -- and the food isn't bad either. I'd second the Lewes Arms and Snowdrop. I hate sport in pubs so that puts me off some, although the Elly is a fine establishment in every other way. The Kings Head is more restaurant than pub but the food has always been excellent.
On 21 Apr 2014 at 8:43am Deelite 2 wrote:
Not being much of a pub-goer nowadays I've only been to the Lansdown Arms three or four times in the last couple of years but each time it felt like a home from home (dangerously so). I can't fault it.
It's the Royal Oak I don't like. A quite depressing place.
On 21 Apr 2014 at 9:00am Resident4393 wrote:
The black horse is too bloody bright inside. And for all the disguise its still greene king....
On 21 Apr 2014 at 10:56am Horseman7 wrote:
I don't go in pubs much as I don't drink. When I do, I've always found The Dorset and The Elly very welcoming - and happy to make me a cup of tea. In the Dorset it comes on a nice silver tray with all the trimmings - how about it Huw?
On 21 Apr 2014 at 11:47am huw wrote:
Horseman7, I'm afraid the best I have to offer is a nice tea pot (I don't have any silver trays but would be happy to serve it on a Harveys tray if you like)
Nice to see a bit of positive conversation on the forum.
Lewes is blessed with a number of pubs that cater to a whole range of people. As with anything based on personal taste there won't be a consensus on where is the best.
For me I like the Brewers or the Gardeners in the afternoon, I've been up to the Lewes Arms early evening a few times recently and had a nice time. Although I don't really like live music the Lamb always seems to get some interesting sounding bands in.
The best pint of Harveys is very difficult. Best is one of the most changeable ales I've come across. Each cask can vary so it's not always the fault of the cellarman when you get a pint that's not quite up to scratch (although he/she can have a great effect on what you're drinking).
Keep up the good work everyone and lets have a few more threads like this one.
On 22 Apr 2014 at 7:52am Julia Squeezer wrote:
Can't beat The Elly for me, especially as it's very close to home. The JHT is very good too, as is the Dorset. Harveys is the unifying factor.
On 22 Apr 2014 at 9:23am jolly roger wrote:
1. Best pint of Best?
JHT
2. Best 'other drink' selection?
Snowdrop and Gardeners for ale, Black Horse for their craft lager.
3. Best Food?
Snowdrop, Pelham is too hit and miss and the young waitress serving me last week was very rude.
4. Best for Sports?
Black Horse, although they need to remove those strange tall tables in the front bar which are incredibly uncomfortable to sit on!!
5. Best for Music?
Lamb
6. Best bar people?
Snowdrop, Black Horse or Lewes Arms
i'm ashamed to say i've not been to the Elly yet as fairly new to Lewes but will have to check it out!
On 22 Apr 2014 at 11:10am Earl of De Montfort wrote:
Best Best: JHT or Rights of Man
'Other Drink': Snowdrop but still confused over their pricing of some craft beers when other freehouse pubs sell them much cheaper
Food: Pelham
Sports: Elly although only go there occasionally for F1 - football is pubs is a reason for me not to go there
Music: Snowdrop & Lamb
Bar staff: Pelham and Lewes Arms
We do indeed have great pubs, something to cater for everyone. If you don't like a particular aspect, there's plenty more to choose from. Good work!
On 22 Apr 2014 at 3:19pm Frak wrote:
Just wondering does anyone actually try any beer other than Harveys? To me it always has a bit of a musty flavour?
Darkstar for me.
On 22 Apr 2014 at 11:04pm Resident8364 wrote:
There are lots of good breweries in sussex (and the rest of the country). I love dark star just as much as harveys, and long man are great too. You could add kings to that list too, and a few others besides. As for the rest of the country, i love hook norton, bath ales, thornbridge, wye valley, skinners, i could go on.
Yeah, i like harveys, love it even. But life would be smaller if i didnt get variety, it would be like saying i have to eat my favourite meal every night for the rest of my life.
On 23 Apr 2014 at 9:23am Resident8364 wrote:
The Snowdrop's beer selection is fantastic. Even though I'm mostly an alehead, I do like the odd drop of Brooklyn Lager, Warsteiner or the occasional guest they have on. Note to Stella/Grolsch/Fosters drinkers: That is what lager is supposed to taste like, not the chemical rubbish you imbibe.