The Green Man, Lewes

Facebook page of The Green Man - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Green Man - www.facebook.com

Greene King pub on the Halland side of Ringmer, set back from the road a bit and with an almost vegetate facade. Partly opened-out and extended at some stage to leave an overall L-shaped layout, and refurbished in a rather dull mix of traditional and modern (but the green man's head sculpture over the fireplace is worthy of note, as were the wholly unexpected Bernard Cribbins tracks I heard...). Ruddles, Olde Trip, Yardbird, Abbot and - unavoidably - Harvey's (£5.85 with a packet of peanuts).

The Green Man is an L-shaped Greene King food led countryside pub with a central L-shaped bar counter that supports standard keg alongside Peroni and six hand pumps. The five pumps in operation were drawing Harveys Best as well as GK’s Ruddles, Olde Trip, Abbot and Fireside Winter Ale. My visit was not long after the pub had opened at midday on a Thursday before Christmas, so all of the tables up the left hand side of the pub were either being used by diners or were reserved. In fact the only free tables were the high ones opposite the bar counter by the front entrance. These tables are separated from the dining area by a large doubled sided chimney breast that had a log fire burning inside. I didn’t see a menu, but the chicken burger on the specials board was priced at £13. I thought this place was more pub-like than the Anchor up the road, there were actually a few locals drinking at the bar. Although not a bad pub, the bus from my house to here carries onto Lewes where there are better options, so I cannot see myself alighting here again.