The Lansdown Arms, Lewes

Very handy for the station for a first or last pint, but rather disappointed yesterday with the limited selection. Popped in early to find just Harveys Best and Flowers on with three pumps reverse clipped. The side snug seems to be the cider bar, where Hecks Farmhouse(6.5%) and Double Vision(7.4%) were on, but again other pumps unused. A music venue with a stage in the corner of the main bar. Partly wooden and partly stone flagged floors, there is also a papier mache tree! Later visit pre match at the nearby Dripping Pan only to find no real ale left at all, so supped a quick half of cider. Perhaps our small band of travelling fans had drunk the place dry. On reflection, I should've stayed for a few more ciders to anaesthetise me for the dross to follow. I note the current high rating, perhaps I was unlucky choice wise, so I'll try again on another Lewes visit.

Dropped in quickly on the way back to the station. I found it a bit dreary and the poor ale selection told me not to trust the quality. Probably serves it's purpose as a station pub and to avoid the walk up that hill to the decent pubs.

Harveys Best, Dark Star, Over the Moon and a couple of random ales were available during my visit along with a standard draught selection from which I had a decent pint of Guinness. I got the feeling that this is a music venue even though nothing much was going on. There was a football match playing, but the plasma was off and I saw no sport ads so I gather there is no Sky Sports. I was surprised to see a paper-mache tree in the bar area, but not so surprised to find the smelliest toilet in Lewes festering at the rear of the pub. I found it hard to get settled in here and if in Lewes again I will walk past to the superior pubs up the steep hill.

The Lansdown Arms has great beer (Harveys), great atmosphere and great live music. You can even visit their site at www.lansdownarms.com for an interactive diary showing details of what's on and what's been on - it's brilliant!