On 24 Jan 2015 at 6:55am mrs wrote:
Nice new refurb but they have got rid of that lovely big table under the specials board. Prices have gone up too. Shame to try and fix something that wasn't broken. Greedy Harveys trying to cash in on what was a successful business. From what I've heard they need to start looking after their staff a bit better too............
On 24 Jan 2015 at 8:30am townie wrote:
Not seen the new refurb. However, if it's not liked, people will just go elsewhere.
I've also heard, from previous and present employees that they are a shocking employer and treat their staff like dirt
On 24 Jan 2015 at 9:16am ducatipete wrote:
Is Lisa still there?
On 24 Jan 2015 at 9:20am hassle wrote:
Lisa is still there thankfully but from what I gather her hands are tied by harveys now. I've heard that the brewery are shocking to their pub staff too.
On 24 Jan 2015 at 9:43am You're Fired wrote:
everywhere needs refreshing every so often, to keep up with the competition, unfortunately people don't like change, especially in Lewes ! #stuckinthemuds
On 24 Jan 2015 at 11:18am Cliche wrote:
The old 'people don't like change' cliché favoured by inept politicians. If it was true there would be no fashion industry.
On 24 Jan 2015 at 11:58am trooper wrote:
Re JHT I went in AM today to see the re-furbishment and was quite pleased,it was not as I, and I am sure others feared been turned into a "Chelsea in the country," all in all a decent job.
On 24 Jan 2015 at 1:22pm Acronym wrote:
Where is AM is it near JHT ?
On 24 Jan 2015 at 4:35pm skyfall wrote:
I popped in today. £4.40 for a pint of Guinness and £1.25 for a packet of crisps! Harveys have set the prices and they seem to have no idea!!
On 24 Jan 2015 at 4:59pm Sussex Jim wrote:
Why use the JHT when you can get a good pint of real ale at a sensible price just along the Cliffe in the Gardeners Arms?
On 24 Jan 2015 at 5:01pm spoons wrote:
Much as I love their beer, I fear its time that the Harveys Lewes/local monopoly was smashed. Witherspoons would shake it up in favour of the consumer and not the greedy breweries.
On 24 Jan 2015 at 5:43pm the kronic wrote:
That's ok if you want to drink John Smith smooth, Spoons. Trouble, is, many people, including myself, drink Harvey's or nothing.
On 24 Jan 2015 at 6:07pm Dr man wrote:
Dorset arms nice pub good beer and food
On 24 Jan 2015 at 7:00pm MoanMoanMoan wrote:
The JHT has always been an Harveys pub, John HARVEY Tavern? The fact that employees work there and in other Harveys pub in town and have done for years. The reason for the price increase is surely to help fund the refit, no? It definitely needed a refit, I went there shortly before Christmas and the sofas in the left hand seating area looked like they had been handed to a litter of puppies for a few weeks, the main bar always smelt like pee because of the close proximity to the toilets. Personally I quite like the JHT but definitely needed a refit, those who say otherwise must not have been for a while or have been there too often and got used to all the bad things about it.
On 26 Jan 2015 at 11:09am ducatipete wrote:
Guinness in my Harvey owned local is £4.10. Best Bitter is £3.50.
On 27 Jan 2015 at 11:13am GhostBike wrote:
"Trouble, is, many people, including myself, drink Harvey's or nothing."
I really don't get people who only drink Harveys. I drink a lot of it myself, it's a great beer, but the diversity and variety of the UK real ale industry is a marvel in itself. If I didn't get to try a few different and new beers every few weeks I would get very bored. It would be a bit like saying you were only ever going to eat one or two meals for the rest of your life.
On 27 Jan 2015 at 6:13pm Mystic Pizza wrote:
MoanMoanMoan, you are right the JHT has always been a Harveys' pub but until now it has always been a Harveys' tenanted pub, which means that, while under contract to buy their drinks from Harveys and renting the premises from Harveys, the business itself is owned and run by the tenant. The pub's employees were employed by the tenant, not Harveys and the tenant was responsible for setting prices.
Until very recently Harveys has never run pubs, only rented them, and therefore not employed pub staff or set prices.
Following a decision to change the structure of the tied pub estate, the JHT is now one of the first Harveys' managed houses; the business is now owned and run directly by Harveys, and the staff, including the manager, are now direct employees of Harveys.
It's fair to say that the switch from tenanted pubs to managed pubs is one of the biggest structural changes made by the company in its entire history. It goes far beyond a modest refit and it should be expected that many people in the town and in the pub industry are watching the outcome with great interest.
I hope this explains some of the earlier comments regarding staff and prices.
On 28 Jan 2015 at 8:20am funfair wrote:
A great response mystic pizza. I think the pub looks lovely but the change to a managed house is a big mistake. It has taken the personality out of the place and the lovely staff. Harveys need to realise that pubs need that or each one will just become a generic wine bar/bistro pub. Bring back the old jht but with a lick of paint, new furniture and not much else please!
On 28 Jan 2015 at 3:40pm Local drinker wrote:
@the kronic
I have visited a number of 'spoons over last few years, when out and about away from Lewes, and many 'spoons actually serve a few decent, local, real-ale brews as well as the expected selection of national-brand fizzy-kegged stuff.
If you ask nicely, some even allow you to have a pint of the local beers as part of the usual 'spoons 'meal with a free drink' offer, even though the offer strictly only applies to the mainstream beer brands.
While I always prefer a decent "non-chain" Pub wth true home-cooked food for an evening meal, 'spoons are okay for a quick lunch... but I agree they can be far less pleasant come saturday evening when the noisy "yoof" element turn up to pre-load and get a few cheap pints down their necks before heading off to a nightclub.
Arrival of a 'spoons in Lewes might not be a bad thing if it forces other PHs to realise they have to offer a better "experience" rather than simply lod on assuming locals have no real choice but to pay over the top prices for "nothing special" meals or jaded decor/ambience.
Some pubs in Lewes have little to fear from arrival of a 'spoons, but a few others perhaps need to 'up their game'..or maybe they are happy to rely on "regulars" rather than try to attract passing trade too?
On 1 Feb 2015 at 4:29pm mikey wrote:
Still the best pub in Lewes. Shame about the food, can't even get a decent portion of chips.
On 1 Feb 2015 at 9:19pm Mr Happy wrote:
What food are they now doing ?