The Bull on the Green, Lewes

Plain but still attractive brick pub in a fine position overlooking the village green. Refurbished interior retaining many exposed timbers, with semi-modern furniture in the bar and smartly decorated dining areas (with two real fires) off to the left. Oddly for a Shepherd Neame house, the only cask beer available from the three handpumps is Harvey's (£6.20).

Facebook page of The Bull on the Green - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Bull on the Green - www.bullnewick.co.uk

Facebook page of The Bull on the Green - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Bull on the Green - www.bullnewick.co.uk

On a recent Saturday afternoon I arrived in Newick by bus during a huge thunderstorm and downpour. As the bus pulled up at the stop I prepared myself for a sprint across the village green. I could hear the bus driver sniggering behind me as I leapt through the opening doors into a deluge of water. After skidding and sliding across the sodden turf I arrived at the Bull to find the bloody doors locked! Thankfully there was an overhanging roof that I was able to shelter under; it was just a shame about the waterfall that was falling from the guttering. Peering through the window I could see some movement inside but the door was firmly locked so I assumed they opened at 15:00, with my visit being at 14:30. After ten minutes of sheltering the door opened and a local appeared with cigarette in hand. He informed me that the staff had locked the door to stop the rain getting in. I am still unclear how locking a door that has a gap at the bottom of it stops water getting in. I was even more confused why they would leave me outside because they could clearly see me through the window as I cowered from the rain. I entered the pub to find twenty or so people in attendance that seemed to be oblivious to my previous plight. My sarcastic complaints to the idiot staff that had locked the door went sailing over their heads. This is a Shepherd Neame pub so the usual keg options of Oranjeboom, Asahi etc. were present on the bar that faces the entrance from the rear wall. One of the three hand pumps was unused leaving Spitfire and Whitstable Bay Pale Ale as the cask options. Monday to Saturday lunch is available from noon until 15:00 and dinner from 18:00 until 21:00. Roasts are available on Sundays from midday until the kitchen closes sometime during the afternoon. To the left of the pub are a seating area and inglenook under a low beamed ceiling. To the right are another inglenook and more seating with views of a flat screen TV that was off. There was no background music, in fact the only entertainment were the drenched ramblers that intermittently trudged through the pub. The Bull was my least favourite of the three pubs Newick had to offer.