Merrie Harriers, Hailsham

Very traditional village pub, with an attractive facade and a characterful interior. Retains two semi-separate rooms at right angles, the front being the bar and the other more of a dining area, although both are similar in appearance. Also has some wooden benches out front and a beer garden extending back on one side. Just Harvey's (£4.80) available from a pair of handpumps on each counter.

The Merrie Harriers has restrictive opening hours, more akin to a restaurant than pub. So when I spotted the front door ajar as I drove past yesterday afternoon I decided to turn around and pay a long overdue visit to this 16th century village pub. Through the front entrance I was greeted by the governor who was standing behind the L-shaped bar. This bar serves a wooden floorboarded front public bar and the carpeted restaurant area down the left side of the pub to the rear. The governor explained that the pub was in fact closed, but he was serving drinks for consumption in the garden. This meant that I didn’t get to have a proper look around the pub. I thought I would try the old “where is the toilet” trick, but alas it was located just to the right of the entrance next to an eye-catching inglenook in the right wall. Outside, there is a small parking area to the left of the pub and out the back is a raised patio area that overlooks more seating and a grass covered area. Beyond the garden are great views of the rolling East Sussex countryside. I spotted a bank of two handpumps in each bar, both with Harvey’s Best and one unused pump. There is also a limited keg selection of San Miguel, Staropramen, Pravha, Atlantic Pale Ale and Aspall’s Cider. Food is available for lunch and dinner, the bacon cheeseburger is priced at £14. This is a friendly pub, but it’s not somewhere I would go again just for a beer.

Official site of Merrie Harriers - themerrieharriers.co.uk