Just over 15 minutes by train from central Brighton, the charming town of Lewes offers a refreshing countryside escape for both tourists visiting the area and Brighton residents looking to get away from the busy city life for a day. This quaint little town has a wealth of local, independent businesses offering something a bit different from city attractions, including bars and pubs. According to locals and other tourists who have visited the town, these are the best ones to visit.
Enjoy a drink at one of these pubs in Lewes
| The Lewes Arms | A charming old-fashioned pub that has been standing for over 200 years. |
| The Snowdrop Inn | Family pub with a great food menu & regular live music. |
| The Rights of Man | A stylish pub on Lewes’ high street, offers traditional ambiance, quality food, local brews, and a diverse drink selection. |
| Fuego Lounge | Traditional tavern on Lewes High Street serving quality food & a well-stocked bar. |
| The Gardeners Arms | Award-winning quaint pub specialising in real ale. |
| The Swan Inn | Traditional local pub with a beer garden and regular DJ nights. |
| The Pelham Arms | 17th Century pub with vintage interior and locally produced food. |
| ABYSS Brewery and Tap | Locally established brewery offering Abyss beer and Mexican street food. |
The Lewes Arms
The Lewes Arms prides itself on being “the quintessential Lewes pub”, and upon visiting it won’t be hard to see why. This charming pub is over 220 years old, teeming with character and is only moments away from Lewes High Street, as well as the town’s historic Norman castle.
Alongside a bar well stocked with a fantastic range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, The Lewes Arms offers an extensive menu of handmade pizzas made from locally sourced ingredients, plus fries and sides if you’re after a lighter bite.
They also have a private function room which can be booked for all sorts of events. No matter the occasion, the Lewes Arms is a fantastic spot to head to for your visit to the town.
Website: https://www.lewesarms.co.uk/index.html
Address: 1 Mount Place, Lewes, BN7 1YH
The Snowdrop Inn
The Snowdrop Inn is another of Lewes’ wonderful traditional pubs, offering a bar well stocked with cask ales, craft beer, and much more. Their kitchen, open from 12-9 pm every day, changes their menu every day and uses locally sourced products to create fantastic meals.
They have two beer gardens to enjoy in warm weather and have regular live music to keep you entertained during your visit. The Snowdrop Inn is a great pub to visit to get a real taste of local flavour and is certainly not to be missed.
Address: 119 South Street, Lewes, BN7 2BU
Website: https://www.harveys.org.uk/stockist/snowdrop-inn
The Rights of Man
Located on the high street and named in honour of the founding father who once called Lewes home, this stylish yet traditional pub is one of the town’s favourite pubs. Oak panelling and art deco lighting combine the contemporary with the classical in The Rights of Man’s interior, while their terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink or meal in the Summer months.
They offer a fantastic range of food, from hearty pub fare of the highest quality to sandwiches and tapas, and of course their highly popular Sunday Roast menu.
Behind the bar, they offer a selection of beers and ales from the local Harvey’s brewery, as well as an impressive range of specialist gins and an extensive wine list. The Rights of Man has something for any occasion and is well worth a visit.
Address: 179 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1YE
Website: https://www.rightsofmanlewes.com
Fuego Lounge
Fuego Lounge is a stylish and cosy café bar near the centre of Lewes with a fantastic range of food and drinks. Their open and spacious interior makes for a welcoming space to enjoy a drink or meal from their impressive menu, or their outdoor seating is the perfect spot for people-watching when the sun is shining.
Their food menu has a huge range of options including sandwiches, main meals, tapas, and all-day brunch options. Their drinks menu is just as impressive; alongside standard beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, they have an extensive cocktail menu, alongside a delicious selection of alcohol-free and soft drinks. Fuego Lounge has something for everyone on any occasion and is sure to be a hit with everyone.
Address: Unit 1, The Old Courthouse, Friars Walk, BN7 2FS
Website: https://thelounges.co.uk/fuego/#menu
The Gardener’s Arms
The Gardener’s Arms is a quaint country pub that many guests have praised for being a ‘real authentic English pub’. Though they don’t offer any food apart from bar snacks, they pride themselves on their fantastic range of real ales, many of which are locally crafted.
They rotate their fantastic cask and keg selection regularly, providing patrons with the opportunity to sample a wide variety of ale, beer, and cider.
With welcoming staff, a friendly atmosphere, and an outside seating area for warmer days, The Gardener’s Arms is a hidden gem which is not to be missed.
Address: 46 Cliffe High Street, Lewes, BN7 2AN
Website: https://www.facebook.com/GardenersLewes/?locale=en_GB
The Swan Inn
This cosy pub, located within walking distance from Lewes train station, is a wonderful place for both tourists and locals. Providing a variety of homemade food, from small plates to their Sunday Roasts, as well as a good selection of beer and ale, The Swan Inn is a friendly and welcoming pub that is fantastic for all sorts of occasions. They have two bars; a larger one that’s available for private hire, and a smaller ‘saloon’ style bar, which plays host to regular DJ nights.
The Swan Inn’s pride and joy, however, is their beer garden. It’s split into two parts, a lawn garden and cobbled courtyard, and features bird boxes, picnic benches, a vegetable patch and a covered and heated area for poorer weather. They don’t take bookings for the garden, so if you want to visit, just show up and enjoy the space.
Address: 30A Southover Street, Lewes, BN7 1HU
Website: https://theswaninnlewes.co.uk
The Pelham Arms
Originally established in the 17th Century, The Pelham Arms is the birthplace of ABYSS Brewing, Lewes’ first craft beer brewery. Although ABYSS Brewery has grown and gone onto bigger things since its initial establishment in 2016, The Pelham Arms remains the brewery’s ‘testing station’ for new beers. They offer two different ABYSS beers each week, occasionally offering new and never-before-tried options, making this a must-visit for any craft beer fans.
As well as their selection of beers, The Pelham Arms also has a food menu with a great selection of food. They specialise in traditional pub grub, such as fish & chips and burgers, but also offer small plates and sandwiches for anyone after lighter bites. Situated on Lewes high street, this fantastic pub has everything and is not to be missed.
Address: High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XL
Website: https://www.thepelhamarms.co.uk
ABYSS Brewery + Tap
After establishing themselves at The Pelham Arms, the founders of the ABYSS Brewery opened their taproom on the other side of Lewes in 2021 in the building that was once home to the South Downs Brewery.
This local brewery, offering a huge selection of its own fantastic craft beer and ale, has both indoor and outdoor seating, making it the perfect spot for the Summer. As well as beer, ABYSS Brewery also hosts a permanent Mexican street food restaurant, who offer a selection of unique dishes as well as “low intervention wines and cocktails”.
With all this, plus fresh coffee provided by the nearby Tigermoth Roastery, the ABYSS Brewery has something for everyone.
Address: The Malthouse, Davey’s Lane, Lewes, BN7 2BF
