The Five Bells, Chailey - pub details
Address: Chailey Green, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4DA [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 20554) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Plumpton (2.9 miles), Cooksbridge (4.1 miles), Wivelsfield (4.8 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Food served
- Outside seating
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> Current user rating: 5.6/10 (rated by 22 users)
other pubs nearby:
Horns Lodge, South Chailey (0.7 miles), Kings Head, North Chailey (1.0 miles), Plough, Plumpton Green (1.9 miles), Crown Inn, Newick (2.0 miles), Royal Oak, Newick (2.0 miles)
user reviews of the Five Bells, Chailey
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 26 shown - see all reviews
| 'Pompous prat of a manager' (see last review from 2012) has now been replaced by a very pleasant couple of new tenants (without Porsche), one of whom is the chef and the food is now excellent. Good beer, food, atmosphere, service, and well worth a visit. furze19 - 13 Jul 2014 15:22 |
| What can I say? We arrived and it wasn't particularly busy, but it was 20 minutes before the larger than life pompous prat of a manager even acknowledged us. We were informed that most of the menu was sold out, so we had all of about 3 mains to choose from. I had a steak, my wife had fish and chips. The chef has clearly got no idea on how to cook a steak medium rare as mine had been taken far beyond well done and had no pink left. When I informed the landlord he laughed at me, took it back to the kitchen and brought it straight back out saying the chef thinks it's fine. My wife's fish and chips was clearly cooked in oil that wasn't hot enough as the fish was far overcooked (and FULL of bones) in a pathetically soggy anemic batter. The Harveys was cloudy, but we were told that it was fine (it wasn't). We couldnt help but overhear a torrent of foul language from the kitchen, with a complete disregard for the customers sitting 5 feet from the door. Eventually the landlord wandered out of the pub and drove off in his porsche cayenne (I guess that's where all the money in this pub is going) to do some shopping while a sour faced lady who I can only assume was his wife informed us that a badly cooked crap cut of steak, out of condition harveys and awful fish and chips should still be charged at full price. We informed her that such an attitude would make us seriously consider returning, and she said "Good, we don't need whinging ****s like you in here anyway". I should also add that I suffered a terrible upset stomach as soon as I got home. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to this pub. ChrisMartin - 9 Jan 2012 20:19 |
| Stopped on way to Shefield Park as I used to a few years ago. Dont bother, food really not good and service awful. The place looks like it is falling down. I will be going to Newick next time. olivegerald111111 - 22 Sep 2011 16:11 |
| Quite often stop off here for some sustenance when on the way to Eastbourne, as the beer garden looks so inviting. Apparently a bar billiards table has just been installed, so even more reason to visit. tommo5 - 3 Aug 2011 15:46 |
| After a hiatus of 33 years 5 months, and now of an age where I am more qualified to pass judgement on its wares, I finally paid a proper visit to the Five Bells. I was pleasantly surprised on initial inspection as the place hasn't altered much - I have family album photos to prove it - and the charming internal and external character of the place has been maintained, with its spacious alcoves, bar area and various rooms to the rear. It is set back from the road with an appealing weather-boarded exterior and well-proportioned frontage. There is a sizeable beer garden to the right-hand-side of the building. I was met by the new licensee, who incidentally took over on the 33rd anniversary of my last visit - 11 June - and he seemed a perfectly affable chap, who appeared to know which direction the pub was going and, ostensibly at least, seemed to have finally got his act together, having admitted some teeting troubles in the early phase. According to him, there is an assortment of various groups who are gradually latching on to the pub, from an exclusive car club to wedding parties; diners to fans of live music, which apparently features most weeks. Food was not yet being served and I didn't have need of it, but I can only trust that the most recent review is more accurate than the preceding few. Ale-wise, it was uninspiring, with only Harvey's Best and Sharp's Doom Bar featuring at present. I took a half of the latter, and it was acceptable, though not the best. If the 5 Bells is to match the achievements cask-wise of its nearby neighbour the Horns Lodge, it has some way to go, in terms of both quality and range. Nevertheless, the licensee was not averse to expanding the ale variety should there be a clear demand; in that case he must ensure the quality of what he serves now is consistently good. This really is a pub that is laden with latent potential to excel in a variety of ways. As yet it remains to be seen whether the new incumbents can truly realise this. The signals appeared to be positive, but I suppose the regular visitors will be the judges of their efforts, provided they at least give it a chance. At the moment, a tentative 6/10, but with some hope of improvement in the coming months. I will be back to find out at some point; I shan't be leaving it over 3 decades this time. TWG - 29 Nov 2010 15:53 |
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