The Black Horse Inn, Lewes

The review by PSM below is comprehensive and accurate, so I'll just mention the beer range, which although this is a Greene King pub is by no means confined to that brewery's product. The house beer, a session ale called Black Horse Bitter, is badged as Hardys and Hansons, and the only other beers from the same stable are Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen, the other offerings being from local micros such as Bedlam and Burning Sky, with a cider on the eighth hand pump. Definitely one to visit if you find yourself in Lewes. Date of visit: 25th November 2014

Situated at the Western end of town, the Black Horse is far enough from the bustle of tourists to make it a peaceful haven compared to some of the more well known pubs in town. Set in a Grade II listed building, the pub has a large open front room and a smaller space past the bar to the rear. The front bar area has bare floorboards with some high tables, including some made from old barrels, and high stools. The servery is opposite the front door and there are fireplaces on each side wall; one with a TV screen above it, the other beneath a wonderful old pub sign. There are some nice curved banquettes under the front bay windows and there is also a bar billiards table and shove ha’penny board to the left of the bar. On the right hand side there was the obligatory Toad in the Hole table and the wall on this side was papered with old advertisements and had a beer bottle collection running along a high shelf. Access to the rear room is via a narrow space past the right hand side of the servery, taking you to some button backed seating arranged around another fireplace. Music was playing throughout my stay and a young lady with an acoustic guitar was setting up in preparation for a performance later in the evening. There was an excellent beer selection on the row of hand pumps, with the options on my visit comprising Greene King Abbot Ale, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Turners Golden Ale, 1648 Signature Ale, White Horse War Horse and Nelson Flagship IPA with Dark Star Meltdown available on stilage. One real cider, Biddendens Bushels, was also available and the otherwise standard keg range included Noble Lager. My pint of War Horse was very well kept and I was served by a very friendly and welcoming barman. It would be quite easy to visit Lewes and miss out on this pub, but in my opinion it is one of the best in town and certainly merits the short walk from the town centre.