please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now called The Smuggler's Rest, beer OK, staff friendly, food OK. Not super but not bad for a chain.
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Went in for lunch this Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. Vintage Inns in my experience tend to ride a roller coaster between good and bloody awful but on this occasion we were definitely near the top. It looks like there have been a few changes other than the name. We received a warm welcome. Beerwise the Harveys was not on but the Adnams was very good - I could easily have had a couple more but we had to be somewhere later. Food was good and came promptly and they provided a full table service though whether they will revert to the the wooden spoons in the high season is anyone's guess. I hope that this regime will continue as at this rate I could happily become a regular.
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Now renamed 'The Smuggler's Rest' but still an M & B establishment and I'm not aware of any other changes. Never did find out who Badger was or what he might have been watching but then I doubt if any smugglers rested here either.
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Took the under cliff walk from Brighton to Saltdean today and was looking for a pub to have a pint then maybe have dinner. Had been told about this place and was looking forward to the visit.. However upon arriving and waiting at the bar i was asked if we were ordering food and when i said not yet.. was expected to wait till another customer who had arrived after me had their order taken and drinks pored. The bar area was full so we took a small table beside the bar area to "enjoy" our drinks.. Only to be told we shouldn't be sitting there.. When we pointed out there was no seating available in the bar she again stated "these seats are for diners only" (there was not a single person eating in this area.. they were all sitting in the bar area) She sniffed and stalked off.. we finished our pint and left.. the Tavern pub up the road is about a million times nicer and friendlier
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We went here on Tuesday 26th April at about 1.15pm for a quick drink.Our dog was allowed in the bar area.The staff were pleasant and welcoming .We ordered two pints of the Reverend James bitter at �3.05 a pint which although slightly cloudy was very tasty and two packs of their cheese and onion crisps.We sat outside on the terrace which overlooks the sea.This seating area was clean and tidy.The toilets are upstairs and were clean and tidy with soap and hand drier.There were a few other customers enjoying food.The other beers available were Spitfire and Harvey's Best Bitter.The pub did not look untidy and ravaged even after a Bank Holiday Weekend.
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Well, made a return visit and have to admit that when its not too busy its not a bad place. Certainly the best Vintage Inn that I've been in so far. I've given it the highest mark not because its exceptional but just to raise its average score which I feel is too low.
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Porto Bello was a small lonely, coastal inlet in the cliffs and hamlet of Telscombe, adjacent to Warren Farm. Sometime before 1841 Coastguard Station Cottages were built here and a Coastal Blockade Station in 1825 is listed by Bullen (1995). But an even older building, built of flint and beach pebbles, was the Badgers Watch as it is known today. Also previously known as the Lifeboat Inn and Brewers Arms Inn, the name Badger likely originated from that of the infamous early 19th century Revenue Cutter that patrolled the Channel. William Osborn(e) was the tenant innkeeper in 1829. Sold in 1837 as a private residence, William (S?)Osborn(e) continued to occupy the former Brewers Arms Inn after the sale. This isolated access to the beach was ideal for the smuggling trade. Tracks still lead to Telscombe village and Southease to the bridge over the Ouse below Itford Farm. In January 1823 the various preventive forces set out to ambush smugglers at the bridge. Fifteen to twenty owlers or smugglers escaped along deep ditches and the value of goods seized was minimal. Mary Waugh in her book �Smuggling in Kent and Sussex 1700-1840� (1985) ch.7, mentions Bearshide (Peacehaven) and Porto Bello (Telscombe Cliffs) several times in connection with the illicit trade. Furthermore it was not illegal to sell smuggled goods and many a tavern advertised "Genuine Crow Link" schnappes, named after the landing place near Birling Gap, East Dean. As smuggling was particularly active in the first half of the 19th century, such circumstantial evidence suggests some direct or indirect involvement by the Osborn family.
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Fairly comfy gastropub - one of a chain. Beers are usually well-kept, anf a good selection of wines. Food is mass-catering average (powdered mashed potato anyone?) with an emphasis on the microwave. Don't be fooled by the "Great British Food" signs outside. I've eaten here several times over the years, and it's a mixed bag. The Telscombe Tavern, just up the road, does better food, though in not quite as pleasant surroundings.
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Its an M and B Vintage Inn and so shares both the good and bad points of all the others. Building and location are excellent, food, beer and service are adequate at best. I'm sure head office will be flattered to have the place called a gastropub and I'm sure they have pretentions in that direction (provided it doesn't cost anything). I now tend to avoid Vintages in high season as too many customers highlight the shortcomings of the organisation and even complaining to head office won't change anything but might get you a free dinner! Won't be going back for a good while as apart from the Brewers Fayre in Newhaven there are many better food pubs in the area.
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OK, it�s a gastropub. But then, it makes no claims to be anything else. I have eaten there perhaps a dozen times over the last five years and have never been disappointed, let alone had cause to complain. And for all that it is a gastropub, it has three decent ales on the hand pump.
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Visited yesterday - very pleasant location and good efficient service. Unfortunately we had to send the food back because it was served very lukewarm. Such a pity and hope the management spot these comments.
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It's a gastropub so my expectations weren't all that
high for the beer. Beer was dreadful and expensive, but the place is within walking distance from home. Will not be going back again, the nearby Telscombe Tavern has much better beer.
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I felt i just had to register to 'Beer in the evening' so i could leave a comment about this pub.
Having read all the horrible reviews about the pub and the food which had put us off for a while.
Been going for drinks so thought we would try the food as the pub is so lovely....anyway it was fantastic!
I feel so sorry for pubs that have had a bad rep and it stays with them. The starters and the mains that we had were gorgeous (crab cakes, seabass in ginger & soy & steak & Guiness pie), staff are really friendly, the drinks are one of the cheapest in the area at �2.50 a pint of Fosters & �2.00 for a Vodka.
Beautiful pub inside with plenty of areas to sit and little nooks with fireside arm chairs & sofas, lovley views across the cliffs with nice outside seating too.
Please don't be put off by the past reviews and give it a try!!
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Great restaurant - never had any complaints about the food, apart from the price and the wait here. Pleased to find Harvey's Best Bitter still on tap here also.
However, I wouldn't recommend sitting outside in the summer with the Portobello sewage treatment works next door (no, that's not just exposed seaweed at low tide you can smell).
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Love this pub!! My boyfirend and I have been visiting this pub since 2003 and love it. We drive 30 miles just to come here. Food is nice, wine is good and the view on a summers day is gorgeous!! We can even bring our dog!! Good memories and a pub we will cotinue to come to.
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Expensive food and drinks, horrible smell, no atmosphere, not recommended.
anonymous - 10 Sep 2007 10:20 |
Visited Sunday lunch 08.07.2007. 12.30. Sunday roast dishes quite good but quite a waiting for anything else.
In general attentive staff, good service and food 6 out of 10 for the type of venue it is.
Views stunning as it was a good day.
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"with huge view of the channel, but it smells"
maybe thats the sewage treatment centre just nearby!
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Have yet to see or hear of any trouble at the pub! Nice comfy atmosphere!
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We "experienced" it here once - that was enough! got a table which we had to clear ourselves, luke warm/cold food eventually 'arrived' and was promptly returned having made some minor adjustments to the food (as a test).. the test worked - the same luke warm/cold food came back with slightly warmer gravy on it.. and the carbonara was 'just' edible (only cos our child didnt want to moan and was starving by then) - needless to say we went hungry and was allowed a refund on the meals we didnt eat. Plus points?? mmm (hard one) suppose the Beer & drinks were ok (but the second round never arrived)and the chips ordered for our other child arrived hot!... Best part of the whole 'experience' was the 'spin the spooon' game we made with the numbered wooden spoon on our table! LOL.. Rating 2 (only cos of the entertainment the spoon gave us). Very Disappointing!
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The menu is far too big for anything to be cooked fresh. Most of it is just standard pub catering company microwave food. Surely most pubs should be embarassed by this level of catering these days. On the upside the pub is reasonably clean.
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Overpriced Microwaved Food, and no idea how to cook a steak,... Nice views though.
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I've been here many times and never seen a Badger, or his watch for that matter. Big 'garden' with huge view of the channel, but it smells - (could it be the Badgers?)Food is big & chunky, but not very tasty. The girl who served me had lovely shoes.
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