On 25 Feb 2017 at 8:00pm Localist wrote:
So now The Lamb Inn is going to close down, be refurbished and reopen as yet another foodie pub it seems. There is little or nothing left of old Lewes now. I know its not to everyones taste, but it is a class music venue. Does Lewes really need yet another gastropub?
On 25 Feb 2017 at 8:14pm Megawhat? wrote:
Whaaaa? Is that what's happening? What a shame, it is a good venue and draws a lively crowd. I don't think another foodie pub is going to add much to the town. It does seem that all the interesting elements to are gradually disappearing... Whatever next?!
On 25 Feb 2017 at 8:18pm Localist wrote:
Yes, its happening. It was meant to close this week, but it is staying open for a few more while the owners Green King finalise the new managing tenant.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 8:35pm Billy Bull wrote:
It feels like Lewes is slowly dying, as soulless people with wealth homogenise everything that made it so good they moved here in the first place.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 9:25pm Woody wrote:
What a sad thing.
Bring back Johnny Saunders.
He'd make it great again.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 9:29pm Historian wrote:
Could it be the price of the property out weighs the value of the business occupying it ?? Business rates are due to sky rocket next month, in line with local current rental values. A pint and a sandwich won't pay the bills any more. It's real business coming to the hobby shops.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 10:02pm Shhhhhhhhhh wrote:
Great news. There should be much less noise in future and a classier clientele.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 10:21pm the dog's wrote:
I heard Dec from the Black Horse is taking a temporary managerial role.
On 25 Feb 2017 at 11:14pm Pedro wrote:
Far too many pubs in Lewes, and people are not drinking as much, or certainly not in pubs. They're just slowly becoming morphing into overpriced grubby restaurants with a token bar.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 12:04am Mines a pint wrote:
Another pointless post from that pr#t Pedro
On 26 Feb 2017 at 12:16am Pint of pedro wrote:
This guy pedro obviously doesn't live in Lewes. Let's hope they keep the music and add the food. Might work. Better than the pub folding altogether
On 26 Feb 2017 at 8:11am Robert wrote:
Considering the extreme spike in property price increases here in Lewes, the owners are probably merely seeking to change the business into one that will generate a rent that reflects the new enhanced market rates here. A tightly managed, centrally resourced licenced restaurant properly using a national company's marketing resources can achieve better profit. What's wrong with that?
As a general observation throughout Lewes, too many freeholders are undervaluing the business rent potential of their properties, permitting the rise of unsustainable small business outlets. Property owners ought to be terminating those leases to bring in properly resourced high-margin chains that will actually pay their way, returning wealth to the people who invested it, creating sustainability. This is reality. "Community" is not a line on my balance sheet.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 8:41am Pedro wrote:
@ "mines a pint" and "pint of pedro" aka The Chuckle Brothers. I certainly do live in Lewes, and have been in lots of the pubs in town, but probably not all of them....because there are clearly so bloody many of them for a town of just 16k residents. Many of the pubs seem to have gone quiet in recent years, and thats because there is a shift in drinking culture and habits in this country, partly fuelled by far cheaper supermarket price booze, as well as other entertainment forms becoming an alternative to going down the pub. The smoking ban and reduction in smoking has also appeared to have coincided with the demise of the pub trade.
This has then caused pubs re-thinking their strategy, and focusing instead of turning drinking establishments into eateries. This is the only way for pubs to survive, as culturally the population is doing a lot more "dining out" now than it did ever before. Whether this is a good or bad thing is a personal thing, but this is just the result of trends and progress.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 9:27am Redballs wrote:
It will be a shame to loose its identity which has been at the centre of Lewes culture for so many years. So many great pubs now lost or changed beyond belief. Pedro I have been in all of them many times. Perhaps you should try to go in them all including the Tally Ho it might broaden your perspective.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 9:40am Localist wrote:
As I understand it, it is changing hands not for business reasons but personal. I don't doubt it could be a very successful business if re-modelled, but thats not my point. It is about yet another Lewes institution being homogenised. Its a very nice property, and valuable freehold, it could be many things with imagination. I would prefer to see it remain a music venue, but with upgraded loos.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 9:44am drinker wrote:
It has always seemed a travesty to me the way the Lewes Arms has become a food smelling cafe. I have fond memories of a proper drinking and talking pub. I don't think many of these present day eaters would rouse themselves to run a picket line nowadays. The price of a round in a Lewes pub is eye watering. The price of the usually revolting wines on offer (that could be better so easily with proper sourcing is a scandal. It's sad. There are one or two establishments that still hold a fine balance -
the Snow drop, and the Swan spring to mind. But it's a slippery slope. I agree with Billy Bull's point. Like so much of London Lewes is becoming less 'real'
by the minute. Money is branding and negating all the real quirky communality of the place. Bland, and twee are words that come to mind when thinking about Lewes' inevitable demise. Then the money will move on to fresh pastures.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 9:45am Pedro wrote:
@ Redballs. I've been in a great deal of them already, but admittedly not even heard of the "Tally Ho"?! Er, where is that??
"Lewes Culture" (and everywhere else) has simply just changed over the decades, due to market forces as well as just general shifts in the way people choose to spend their time (and money). Perhaps its a shame in some ways, but its just the way life rolls. I'm not really a drinker anymore, so I can't say I miss it that much, especially the hangovers!
On 26 Feb 2017 at 9:53am Localist wrote:
I agree to an extent, but feel that despite the smell, the LA is still a good local drinking hole. No music, no machines, lots of groups meeting there etc. It is much better under the new LL, the previous one was an angry, miserable thing. Plus they have finally fixed the loos there. The food side is actually a separate operation to the bar, run under a different licence. The maintenance of the kitchens is separate from the pub, so the smells are not under the control of the pub LL.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 10:00am Pint of pedro wrote:
We are so lucky to have pedro. He simply knows everything about everything. Well at least what he reads in the Daily Mail
On 26 Feb 2017 at 10:12am Pedro wrote:
Ha, never been labelled as a Daily Mail reader before!
On 26 Feb 2017 at 10:35am Oh dear wrote:
I am slightly shocked but find myself agreeing with Pedro. Drinking habits have changed, costs have risen and a town like Lewes just can't sustain a large number of 'drinking' pubs. Plus breweries want to maximise their profits and see food as the way of doing this. It seems sad but I'd rather see pubs stay open as a pub / restaurant rather than close down.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 11:30am SHS wrote:
@Robert - you said "....bring in properly resourced high-margin chains that will actually pay their way, returning wealth to the people who invested it, creating sustainability"
Don't the workers, from the cleaner to the chef to the waitresses, invest in the business? There time, skills, customer service, flexibility, loyalty, local knowledge and word-of-mouth advertising? To me these are arguably more important than those who put up capital in the first place and they should be rewarded, not squeezed by high margins. Without these workers the business will fail. And if we only accept 'properly-resourced high-margin chains', the variety of businesses in Lewes will be so small and mundane that punters will cease to find the town attractive and take their custom elsewhere. Failure again.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 12:08pm Shameus wrote:
Shame, the gem that is Lewes in a grip of slow strangulation to the "wealth creators".
On 26 Feb 2017 at 4:15pm Johnny Fizzballs wrote:
I've heard a rumour going around town that it's going to be a 16th Century themed strip joint with a taxidermy museum in the small bar. Apparently it's to bring in the young hipster crowd according to my mate Dave's next door neighbours dog...
On 26 Feb 2017 at 4:16pm Old bike wrote:
"" I've been in a great deal of them already, but admittedly not even heard of the "Tally Ho"?! Er, where is that??""
I've struggled with almost everything that I've been bothered to read if Pedro's posts over the few months he's been around but this just sums him up for me. A total ignoramus, who is only too willing to share his honespun 'wisdom' with anyone prepared to read. His brain is adled by copious cannabis consumption which has given him delusions of self importance.
Pedro, you are a blight on this forum and I utterly despise you. I know that is wrong but I have been driven to admit it.
I strongly suspect you are a troll as I find it difficult to believe that anyone could have such a lack of self awareness.
In any case you are the reason that I will not be using the forum any longer.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 4:54pm Pedro wrote:
@old bike. Your bitterness and irrational anger towards a total stranger reflects more poorly on you than me. Exactly how does my post merely asking about a pub I wasn't familiar with, summing me up?
I laughed out loud when you used the term "copious" regarding my alleged cannabis "addiction" though. You really ought to be a tabloid journalist!
Goodbye and see you under an alternative unregistered username before the day is out.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 5:28pm Beer and skittles. wrote:
After we have extricated ourselves from the dreadful EU, beer will revert to 1950s prices, all the pubs will be full,all children will have rosy cheeks and everyone will be happy.
On 26 Feb 2017 at 5:42pm Old bike fan club wrote:
Well said. He is a bad blight. Clearly not from round these parts and clearly self indulgent. Anything he says could apply to anywhere in the UK. Anything to say on bonfire pedro?? Troll
On 26 Feb 2017 at 6:23pm Observer wrote:
I disagree with Pedro's point though. Lewes pubs seem quite busy most of the week, despite the numbers. The town might be small but it services a wider area and there are also students, council workers etc.
I'm surprised how lively most of them are. The Lamb is one of the livelier ones. If it's changing it's not because of lack of custom or business rationale.
On 27 Feb 2017 at 9:56am Hahahaha wrote:
Gotta love the Lewes Forum rumour mill. It's not getting refurbished particularly, there was just a mix up with the end date of Alec's contract. Green King are putting in someone who knows the local music scene with a view to continuing the place running primarily as a live music venue and given that Alec was pestering them for years to do up the kitchen it'd be a bit odd for them to suddenly want to turn the place into a gastro-pub now don't you think?
On 27 Feb 2017 at 11:44am @Pedro wrote:
Not surprised you live in Lewes when I read your self opinionated ramblings where you lecture all and sundry - this forum is infested with know alls.
Do you work in Lewes as well?
Must be an easy job given the amount of time you spend on here.
On 27 Feb 2017 at 11:49am ar10642 wrote:
This is not a Lewes thing, it's happening everywhere. Your choice is, the business changes to a profitable one, or it shuts down and becomes "luxuxy apartments with great access to the station" or another local supermarket. I'd rather it was still a pub, myself, even if it has to change a bit.
On 27 Feb 2017 at 11:57am Hypocrite wrote:
I see The Cypriot soon disappeared once he was outed as Pedro...mwhahaha
On 27 Feb 2017 at 2:23pm Pedro wrote:
You are infatuated with me. Its hilarious! Surely some sort of illness!
On 27 Feb 2017 at 2:54pm @Pedro wrote:
The infatuation is all yours - you're forever on here.
What is your job?
On 27 Feb 2017 at 4:50pm Pedro wrote:
You're still talking to me?
On 27 Feb 2017 at 4:51pm Pedro wrote:
Being angry or aggravated at me won't help you in life. Find some peace.
On 28 Feb 2017 at 8:33am Belladonna wrote:
I hope HAHAHAHAHA.. Is right and that this is a rumour twisted out of proportion. The Lamb is a great music venue which distinguishes it from every other pub in Lewes. Greene King would be mad to change a successful formula.
Lewes arms still attracts a lot of drinkers and thinkers, with the bonus of cheap pub grub, certainly not gastropub.
The Swan has become a gastro/middle class/hipster watering hole, focussing on food, in fact it's hard to get a table there now just to drink, they seem to be constantly reserved.
Food at Snowdrop is overrated and pricey. And the upstairs area has the atmosphere of a morgue.