On 20 Jun 2011 at 2:36pm TomStore wrote:
Word on the street is that Marco Pierre White has bought a pub in lewes, does anyone know which one?
On 20 Jun 2011 at 3:03pm 'ere be monsters wrote:
The Crown perhaps!!
On 20 Jun 2011 at 4:08pm bastian wrote:
now that would be interesting,I hope he likes the punters...never seen so much puke in one windowbox.
On 20 Jun 2011 at 5:24pm Frank wrote:
The Swan,
about time someone did something with that place
On 20 Jun 2011 at 5:52pm bastian wrote:
someone's doing up the landsdown,again
On 20 Jun 2011 at 6:12pm huw wrote:
Ben and Viv are going back into the Lansdown. Don't know when it's opening, but think it could be this weekend.
On 20 Jun 2011 at 6:44pm stevie wrote:
Think they are hoping to open 1st July
On 20 Jun 2011 at 8:09pm Trevor wrote:
I thought it was a pub in Uckfield.
On 20 Jun 2011 at 8:32pm The Don wrote:
Mr White has turned the 'local pub' in Maresfield (Chequers) into anything but. I guess the Lewes demographic would make it a possibility but cant see it being the Swan as it stands. IMO there is not enough tables or big enough kitchen unless he is extending out the back/side.
On 20 Jun 2011 at 9:10pm mrmzholland wrote:
Thank you 'The Don' for making me snort some tea out of my nose when I laughed at the end of your post (so to speak)! 
On 20 Jun 2011 at 10:59pm Decent Citizen wrote:
Do hope the SWAN does not go all modern and trendy. Very few pubs like the late John Blackman and his wife ran.No loud pop music, able to chat without having to shout. A decent place to have a party without breaking the bank. as I recall so well. His Sunday roasts were great! If it IS the SWAN, I shall give it a go. Hope my memories are not ruined.John you are sorely missedx
On 21 Jun 2011 at 9:19am 'ere be monsters wrote:
Not sure why Harvey's would want to sell The Swan.
On 21 Jun 2011 at 9:45am Spartacus wrote:
It's the Maresfield pub, though I heard it was the Rainbow... Not a lewes pub, not a harvey's pub and def not the Swan.
On 21 Jun 2011 at 12:16pm Ed Can Do wrote:
Marco's had the Chequers in Maresfield for well over a year now. I know the Lewes rumour mill moves slowly but I doubt that's the rumour TomStore heard, it was after all a very well publicised take-over.
Whilst it's not now as local-pubby as it once was, given the size of the building there's no way it'd ever have survived as just a pub, given the tiny population of Maresfield and I imagine if a restauranteer had not bought it, a property developer would have. Marco himself is still in there at least twice a week and makes daily phone calls to check everything's ok by all accounts so it's not like he bought it to stick his name over the door then forget about. I've eaten there a couple of times since he took over and the food really is excellent and I for one think it'd be nice for Lewes to have a decent, top-end eatery. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of places you can get a great meal in Lewes but there is nowhere selling English or French cuisine elevated much beyond pub-grub apart from Pelham House and it gets a bit boring going there all the time.
Anyway, it is but a rumour and if anyone would know it'd be Huw so until he tells us which it is, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.
On 21 Jun 2011 at 3:39pm Kevsy wrote:
I'll second that - the Chequers served me a great, reasonably priced, well cooked meal in nice surroundings. Can't think of a single reason why I wouldn't want it replicated in one of teh tired pubs in Lewes that are rapidly going down the dripping pan - such as The Crown. Bring on Marco, even if he is a bit of a k@*b
On 21 Jun 2011 at 5:38pm Trevor wrote:
Can someone take over the smelly White Hart as well.
On 21 Jun 2011 at 10:59pm Boom! wrote:
Decent Citizen - your kind comments about the Swan are not going to waste. It is so nice to hear people say such good things about the place. John Blackman is sorely missed, along with the pub atmosphere that went with him.