On 8 Sep 2016 at 12:08pm bellis winter wrote:
Hello,
My Husband and I have decided to spend a romantic time in Sussex, and to stay in Lewes for our 10th anniversary at Christmas time
We are looking for a nice place to eat at Chrismas Eve and why not for Christmas day too.
Have you any idea for us ?
Thanks a lot
Best wishes
On 8 Sep 2016 at 5:46pm Bill's wrote:
Maybe . Why Lewes ? does it hold romantic memories.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 6:13pm bellis winter wrote:
We want to visit Brighton, Lewes, and the country side... and with our budget we've found a little flat in Lewes for the Christmas week-end and now we're looking for a nice place to eat. We love share moment in Pub.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 6:26pm mummy bear wrote:
What a lovely idea Lewes is a beautiful town. Unfortunately it lacks a truly good restaurant, if we want to eat somewhere good we would probably book Riddle & Finns on the Beach in Brighton or stay and eat somwhere like Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield. Pelham House in Lewes is okish. La famiglia is a local Lewes restaurant or there are the usual acceptable chains - Prezzo, pizza express etc.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 6:45pm Lewes Voter 3 wrote:
The usual chains are in no way acceptable to people who have lived here longer than a goldfishes memory. No idea why that last comment was made.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 6:58pm mummy bear wrote:
There are very few good independent restaurants in Lewes. I've lived here 35 years. Where would you suggest?
On 8 Sep 2016 at 7:21pm Feline wrote:
The Limetree Kitchen can be good. Though doubt they'd be open Christmas day.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 7:23pm Feline wrote:
The Limetree Kitchen can be good. Though doubt they'd be open Christmas day.
On 8 Sep 2016 at 9:02pm bellis winter wrote:
Mummy Bear, thank you for your advice. In fact we have no car so it must be a place in town...
Feline, perhaps not in Christmas day but for Christmas Eve perhaps... we'll arrived on saturday afternoon
On 8 Sep 2016 at 10:56pm Jennifer wrote:
Far and away, the best would be Bill's if they open on Christmas Day. They're an outlet of a broad, trend-led organic restaurant business that has larger branches in London, so they adhere to national standards. Lots of our new visitors love Bill's.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 8:50am Hungry wrote:
Jennifer - You sure!!
On 9 Sep 2016 at 9:14am Egon wrote:
Lemongrass (Thai) is very good. Aqua (Italian) opens end of October. Have looked at menu, is more than just pizza/pasta. Both are small chains so not sure if they'll be open. You may have to settle for one of the larger chains: Prezzo, Ask, Pizza Express or (The original) Bills.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 10:09am Ed Can Do wrote:
Nothing organic abut Bill's, Jennifer, you might want to check the facts i your PR handbook. All their food is bought as cheaply as possible and driven down from London, ready to be thrown on a plate and served by someone surly.
Pelham House is hit or miss at best. They get through chefs at an alarming rate so the consistency isn't great.
I did have a very enjoyable Christmas meal at Shelleys but that was about 20 years ago, I suspect it's not so nice now. Do the Brewers do Christmas lunch? I know they're open Christmas day, as are the Elly for a few hours but not sure either do food.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 10:28am Feline wrote:
I didn't rate Lemongrass at all. Not a patch on the wonderful Erewan which most definitely isn't a chain. Problem is it's rather cramped.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 12:15pm Just me wrote:
I think The Pelham Hotel does food on Christmas Day
On 9 Sep 2016 at 12:30pm Egon wrote:
Feline: What didn't you like about Lemongrass? I agree with you about Erewan have had some really good curries there, very fresh and fragrant. Only thing regarding the food is a lot of the first course items are bought in frozen (Imo) and deep fried. But still a really nice little place if on a budget as you can bring your own wine or not.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 1:12pm Town Flyer wrote:
Why do people love Bill's? When it was a green grocer it was great, then when he started serving a few small menu items, great. But now it is a pile of homogenised cack. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
On 9 Sep 2016 at 9:30pm Holly Berry wrote:
Hubby and I were married at the Grange on Christmas Eve many moons ago and we have been going to La Famiglia on that evening on and off for fifteen years or more. I can't begin to tell you how marvellously they have looked after us over the years and we wouldn't dream of going anywhere else.
On 10 Sep 2016 at 8:33am Zsolthimself wrote:
Another consideration - depending on where you choose to eat relative to where you will be staying - is the 1 in 3 risk of snow and whether you will be able to get there. Such as pubs dotted around the country like Jolly Sportsman in East Chiltington. On the other hand if it rains heavily then you may need a boat rather than car to reach the Anchor Inn which is in the Lewes flood defence zone. La Famiglia (already recommended by Holly Berry above) is my favourite place to eat in Lewes at any time of the year although the steps down to the loos can be difficult for guests who are unsteady on their pins. Enjoy your visit.
On 10 Sep 2016 at 6:30pm Bored wrote:
Bill's is a coffee shop that does some ok food, nothing more. Maybe get a cab and venture to one of the local pubs, Half moon at Plumpton of the Jolly sportsman (i think it still is a good food pub).
On 10 Sep 2016 at 9:03pm Meic wrote:
Z is wrong about the chance of snow. In the 36 years I've lived in Lewes there has nee been snow at Xmas, and I'd say about a one in five or six one any settling snow at any time in the winter. The town has flooded twice in 56 years.
Erewan serves the best presented food I've ever come across, and absolutely delicious, but you'd probably need to book Xmas e
Eve now.
Bill's is where you send people you don't like but think they won't notice.
Not been through the door since Bill sold it, but before that, well, if I wanted Tesco's fruit and veg or Waitrose's scones I'd pay supermarket prices, not Bill's markup. An object lesson in keeping your flood insurance up to scratch.
No idea about Xmas day.
On 11 Sep 2016 at 4:00pm jessrae wrote:
If you want a pub atmosphere and decent food you could do worse than The John Harvey tavern.
On 13 Sep 2016 at 7:52am Meat and 3 veg wrote:
Come and enjoy your stay, There are loads of decent places to eat that do not involve national chains The Brewers Arms, the Pelham, the Snowdrop are all renown for their culinary delights and a visit to the Gardeners & the Lewes Arms are must you can happily sit down with a glass and soak up the ambience like a native. Lewes it not about trendy places set up to attract DFL's it's about places that have been around a lot longer than the war memorial, enjoy your stay and dare I say it pop up the white hart boxing day for a bit of free entertainment in the morning.