please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I'm with Dogtrain on this place. Beer choice limited, Hophead, Long Man Best and Harvey's. Hophead a bit indifferent and quite expensive. Food was ok but again expensive for what was only really a poncy sarnie. I'll go back under duress.
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I'm with Dogtrain on this place. Beer choice limited, Hophead, Long Man Best and Harvey's. Hophead a bit indifferent spend quite expensive. Food was ok but again expensive for what was only really a poncy sarnie. I'll go back under duress.
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Visited after a long gap as we had heard that it had improved and it has. Now owned by a local villager it has been cleaned up and the food has improved immensely. They had Harveys best and a couple of Hurst Brewery's beers on draught, which were all well kept. The staff were efficient and friendly and it has become very popular again. Well worth a visit and we will be back soon, now that it has improved.
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Over 300 years old, a crackin' pub, that my brother and I visited having already walked nearly 10 miles, so were looking forward to a good pint, and that is what we got!
We sat outside in the large 'garden with a view' to enjoy the ale, which was the local brewer, Long Man's 3.8% Long Blonde, very refreshing and in excellent condition, and friendly service, cheers!
They also had Long Man Copper Hop (4.2%), another excellent ale, and Adnams Broadside, and the ubiquitous, for East Sussex, Harveys Sussex Best.
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Poor Longman Blonde and the Harveys Best no better.
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Harveys Bitter always seems to taste good here - maybe it's the long walk beforehand. Other than that this place seems to rely on it's location and maybe they think they don't have to try too hard. Food mediocre.
Floyd - 27 Aug 2012 13:46 |
Visited again one lunchtime this week with some friends. We had to wait over an hour for our food, although we were among the first to order. There was no explanation or apology for the delay and the food was pretty mediocre when it did arrive. It was also still expensive for what it was. The Harveys wasn't too bad. I don't particularly want to visit here again but probably will, as it is on a popular walking route. Will bring my lunch with me next time.
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I often visit this pub on walks and visited today with my wife and we were a little disappointed. There seemed to be a bit of a problem with the Harveys, which took ages to pull and was gassy. It tasted OK but nothing special. The food seems expensive for what it is. The main criticism was the cleanliness, particularly the ladies toilet which according to my wife was shabby. She said there was a bowl of dusty pot pourri on a shelf and the rubbish bin in the ladies was a battered old wicker basket lined with a carrier bag - she thought the profit they made on her baguette would at least fund a new bin. I also noticed an accumulation of dust and other muck on the shelf that houses the coffee cups. On the plus side, the staff were efficient and friendly. Due to its location on a main walking route we will inevitably visit again. Hopefully things will have improved by then.
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My no.1 favourite ale is Harveys Best & this is absolutely my favourite Sussex pub. Never once in the 19 years I've visited it have I had a bad experience. The Harveys & food are both excellent, along with service & atmosphere. During the summer months, the garden is very appealing too.
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This is the perfect pub on a warm summer's evening. The garden overlooks green meadows and is the most tranquil of spots. Shall never forget sitting here in the dusk watching bats flitting to and fro. If bats don't light your candle, then the interior is warm and friendly and in winter there is a roaring fire. The menu is outstanding with a wealth of options. Even if you are on a budget the choice is good (I recommend the Stilton Burger). The Chef has a rel knowledge and love of food. Not a great range of ales, always a well kept Harvey's Best and Adnam's Broadside has been on the menu for a while now. In the winter months Harvey's Old makes a welcome appearance. Serving Youngs at present for the warmer days. One of my favourite hostelries in the Seaford area and in a beautiful location, especially for walkers. Hard to beat.
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Visited this lovely pub for the first time yesterday and we really enjoyed it. There was a good Sunday lunchtime atmosphere, the service was quick and the staff polite. Had a lovely pint of Harveys.
There were a lot of terriers in the bar as the local Jevington 'Grand National' terrier race was taking part in a nearby field. The walls are festooned in racing photos as Jevington is home to a racing stable operated by Anna Newton-Smith.
This is a proper country pub and I shall certainly be visiting again very soon. Put it on your list of pubs to visit.
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We walked here from Seaford last week, my second lunchtime visit. The first was Summer 2010, it was mobbed. The beer garden then was very nice and just right for a lunch. Parking can be a problem in busy periods I guess. This time a few diners and a few locals, who proved surprisingly friendly, as did their dogs (in the other bar) too. The food is a bit expensive I feel, as is the beer although in line with some of the other rural pubs in the area. Our lunch of prawn/crayfish baguette and sausage and onion baguette, both served with chips and salad garnish was good but at over �15 for the 2 I'll take a picnic next time. 3 real ales on, Broadside, Young's Gold and Harvey's. Youngs was OK, didn't try the others. Muddy boots are catered for at the door with a variety of supermarket plastic bags to wear as over shoes. As regards friendliness, I've always found it to be better when its a 2 way street, not disappointed here.
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Myself and my family have eaten here a number of times and the food has always been found to be excellent. Harveys is an extremely pleasant ale. The service has been efficient, friendly and accommodating to our particular requests. I have only been during lunch times so can't comment on the evening trade. I am not local but when I visit my father we always choose the Eight Bells for lunch. We have tried others but they don't match the standard here.
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This used to be a lovely old pub, serving good food and nice ale. I am sorry to say this is no longer the case, the food is awful as is the ale, both are expensive and the service aint great either. The bar staff are friendly enough but with the prices they're charging they need to be. Its more a drinkers pub than a nice old country pub these days. It is not at all children friendly, they dont even do a kids meal, and dont ask for one or you will be looked at like you,ve just stod in dog mess. Maybe its a sign of the times but we definately not be returning, there are too many lovely little pubs around the sussex country side.
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I have to say I do agree about the snobby locals. They seem to have a right chavy lot behind the bar these days too.
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Oh dear. You will see from my previous posts that we used to love coming to this pub. We have spent quite a bit on meals out here at the weekends and often stop by in the evening during the week. We decided to do our regular visit, Christmas lunchtime. We ordered our drinks and were surprised that the first one wasn't free anymore (we've been using the pub for years) oh well I suppose times are hard. Then we noticed that all the local horsey types started trailing in and were quite clearly being given their free first drink. So instead of staying for 3 or 4 we decided to move on.
Guess what? We won't be returning! Have fun with your local snobby set. Maybe they will keep you going with your newly advertised cheapy steak nights because it won't be us. We'll be calling to cancel our New Year reservation and going somewhere more friendly.
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I think some of the comments about the locals are unjustified. I have been here on numerous occasions, and they have always been subdued and polite, and as much as people now seem to dislike the idea of real pubs with smoky air, only half full, and containing quirky locals, they ARE still drinking establishments, and the eight bells cleverly mixes gastropub with a good old english country pub atmosphere. From bangers and mash to carpaccio, from wine tasting to country music and from walkers to businessmen this pub has something for everyone, but yes...if you come here expecting it to cater solely for your groups individual needs, you are going to have to expect some other client�le.
It is a well run and well staffed pub, and has been previously mentioned the staff will go above and beyond to ensure everything is satisfactory, they have adapted the meals for my (admittedly) fussy appetite, they have come across warm, friendly and eager to know about you. During one visit I even had a conversation regarding astrophysics. 10/10 everytime, and this will continue to be my first stop whenever I am in the area.
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Served our group of walkers our pre-ordered food fairly quickly and at the same time. Very substantial Stilton Ploughmans, the kitchen overdid it with the coleslaw. Decent Harveys Best. Other individuals were waiting a substantial time for their food orders so perhaps we were lucky.
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I felt a bit like the guy in American Werewolf in London who pops into a pub on the moors. Felt very uncomfortable. Expensive and the regulars seem snobbish and ghastly. Won't be returning.
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Called in after a nice 6 mile walk with 3 friends at 12 noon on a sunny Wednesday Lunchtime very recently.
The interior was packed as was the garden, I think this is the place for the county set, maybe the place we are all supposed to rave over BUT the lovely old pub or the beer MAY be the reason!
On handpump were Harveys, Adnams Broadside (4.75% and a delicious malty beer) and Everards Tiger all at reasonable prices for their ilk.
All were sampled and all were well kept.
That was where the good stuff ended for me.
Have been here before and food was OK- ish BUT THIS TIME
Food was NOT good.
I really wanted a light summer salad but could not see one on the board or menu, perhaps I should have asked but it was SO busy...
One of our company spotted Mackerel fish cakes with salad as a special but we were told this was sold out .. at 12.30 lunchtime ! (BUT not surprisingly really as most of the other dishes were expensive and not summer food) , a 25 degree Centigrade HOT and sticky day and Shepherds Pie and Liver and Bacon etc .. were chalked on the board and were Just NOT SUITABLE for most people.
Come on guys watch the weather forecast!
Against my better judgement I had Cod and chips and one friend joined me. Our tiny minnows of fish in a beer batter were over battered, overcooked and dried up as were the mountains of dark brown tastless chips (the sort you get from a cheap frozen food supplier) and the cost of �9.50 was well over the top.
As an alternative, The Lamb at Hooe does a huge portion of fish in a light batter with perfectly cooked chips for �7.25 as does The Golden Galleon at Exeat.
Another friend had Liver and Bacon and mash with Veg, at �10.50 This was a bit steep for offal but certainly better cooked than our fish. The mashed potato was however not nice and seemed dry and lumpy.
The last of our party had Scampi and chips, plenty of it but again those horrrible over cooked dry old chips.
The only saving grace was the Real Ale.
This may have been a one off and the pub was VERY busy but I think next time we are in the area (and this is wonderful walking country, so it may not be too long) we will just stick to the beer and eat before or after our visit.
There are too many GOOD pubs that deserve patronage to be bothered with over priced, poor quality food.
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This is a great pub - with the occasional music on Sunday afternoons - outside - with a beaut of a veg patch next door - and the rolling downs - Harveys - perfect
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Nice pub, very good, well kept beer and friendly efficient staff, HOWEVER, we paid �8.50 for main course size servings of mussels, and got very meagre and rather cool portions. We saw a lot of decent sized burgers going past, so perhaps that's a one-off.
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A very clicky pub im afraid, been here on many occasions and yes the food may be good the locals never cease to amaze me with their arrogance and sheer ignorance...You are only welcome here if you are a regular. Bar staff friendly though although I do miss the old manager from a few years back. He was a character
anonymous - 21 Mar 2007 23:58 |
We love this pub, this has become one of our regulars, friendly, unpretentious(?)staff, food has been great and extremely good value. Good selection of drinks and priced just right. Music adds to the ambience as do the candles when the lit at dusk, just perfect.
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Lovley pub, cheap prices and a lovely mulled wine. Cooked the camembert in the box for too long but all other food has been excellent
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One of my favourite pubs in a very nice setting. I highly reconmend this pub.
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Looks like its all been said for me. Incidently, if you notice any similarities between the menu here and the one at the Barley Mow its because the same chap owns both. As he also owns the Ram at Ripe I fully intend to check that out too.
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Heartily endorse last poster's comments. Simple country pub, but with above average food and very welcoming bar staff. Highly recommended.
Salty - 23 Sep 2005 13:37 |
Nice, unspolit country freehouse. A proper pub, catering for locals and visitors, very unpretentious, friendly staff, beer in excellent condition
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