Long Man Inn, Polegate

Facebook page of Long Man Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Long Man Inn - www.facebook.com

Official site of Long Man Inn - longmaninn.co.uk

Official site of Long Man Inn - longmaninn.co.uk

According to an old Sussex beer guide this was a Courage pub called the Wilmington Arms and apparently even earlier the Black Horse. It seems fitting that the current name should reflect the local chalk figure and that this pub has also adopted itself as the brewery tap for the local brewery named after the Giant. It's an attractive building just a short distance from the busy A27 at the northern end of the attractive village. Inside it has bare floorboards with random tables and chairs rather like a small Antic pub. However, there any similarity with a London pub ends as the impression is that this place is very much the village local that keeps itself going by offering B&B and freshly cooked food. On the bar there were three of the four pumps going offering Long Man Blonde, Best and Sussex Pride. I didn't catch the prices as I wasn't paying, but dare say it would be around the £3.50 mark typical for the area. I tried the Best and the Sussex Pride which I thought was a little tired, but that may just have been bad luck. The food was tasty pub grub that appeared to be freshly cooked rather than the usual ping and fling. All in all I thought this was a good country pub that is well worth a look. The 126 bus from Seaford to Eastbourne is the only public transport option but is infrequent, although the travelling time from Polegate Station is quite short.

Not much to look at from the road, so the attractive light and modern decor inside comes as something of a surprise. We were also immediately impressed by the friendly and helpful landlord, and you could see why the two legs of the bar were filling up with lunch-time diners. Wooden patio tables in the front beer garden. Four real ales on handpump, with Harveys and Summer Lightning in addition to the very local Long Blonde (£3.00) and Old Man (£1.60 for a half) from Long Man Brewery. PS - Still the 'most druid-friendly pub in Sussex' (with the certificates to prove it)...

I’m not sure of the criteria Sussex’s most Druid friendly pub has to meet, but the Giant’s Rest has achieved this accolade as a couple of certificates on the wall opposite the bar profess. Maybe a heavy stream of Druids passes through this pub on the way to the Long Man of Wilmington that is located a mile or so away on the slopes of the South Downs. There are some picnic tables out the front that are probably great during the Summer months as this pub is just far enough away from the A27 to escape the majority of the noise. Being in the middle of nowhere this pub is very food orientated and the mains start at around £10. There were four other groups in attendance during my visit early on Sunday evening and they were all dining. The pub is U shaped with potted plants dotted around and the twigs hanging from the ceiling had some Christmas decorations intertwined. The bar is located on the left hand wall and adjacent to the limited draught taps are three hand pumps that were drawing Summer Lightening alongside Harveys Best and Old Sussex. The beer is available for take-away, as is the award winning chutney and piccalilli that is available at £3 a jar. There is no TV, but some very low background music was playing and a quiz is advertised for the last Tuesday of every month. This is a pleasant enough pub, but it is a little too food led and out of the way for me to consider revisiting.