The Red Lion, Haywards Heath

Village pub set within the expanse of Ashdown Forest, and very much food-led these days as you would expect, but it does open for drinks at 11:00 which is a bonus if planning a walk. Partly opened-out layout with the bar in the centre, a little dining room at the right-hand end, a lounge area off to the left and a further small dining area at the back. It's a Shepherd Neame pub, but the only regular cask ale is Harvey's (£5.50) which unsurprisingly sells much better in these parts.

Visited 20/08/24 Shepherd Neame pub. Bar faces you as you walk through front door and has stools around the front and sides. Pub looks like its main trade is dining with most tables over to the left-hand side set for dining. Area to the right of the bar is a cosy drinker’s area with comfy armchairs and a sofa plus some tall tables. There is a large beer garden out the back with a covered area immediately outside the back of the venue . The beer garden is really lovely in terms of its aspect and setting. There were 4 hand pumps, one not clipped, two clipped but turned around (one clearly Spitfire), another dispensing fine Harvey’s Sussex Best on my visit. Tap choices were Bear Island Triple Hopped lager, Inch’s cider, Whitstable Bay Blonde lager, Spitfire lager, San Miguel, Bear Island East Coast Pale Ale, Guinness, a low abv Bear Island IPA. One of the pubs near me in Sussex that I hadn’t previously visited even though we pass it regularly. It is a bit on its own and it didn’t have enough for me on the beer front to make it somewhere I would revisit when there a good number of better country pubs in my area there.

We were the first customers of the day on a Friday morning visit to this roadside hostelry located nextdoor to a BMW garage. It's reasonably smart and functional inside, with a large garden area to the rear. The two barmaids were friendly, but real ale was limited to Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter. The pub has links to Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy and there is information provided on the walls about this. A fairly average country pub.