The Five Bells, Lewes

Attractive country pub serving the various small communities that to together make the village of Chailey. The entrance leads to a central corridor, off which to the right can be found the relatively compact bar, with a smart semi-traditional seating / dining area beyond. Various other partly opened-out rooms can be found on the left-hand side. Three cask ales on handpump: Sussex Best and Old Ale from Harvey's plus Hopsteiner from the equally local Long Man Brewery (£5.50).

Visited 15/11/24 Three hand pumps, one not used and the other two dispensing Harvey's Sussex Best and Young's London Special - don't often see that out this way! Keg options were Thatchers Gold, San Miguel AF, K1664, Carlsberg, Angelo Poretti and Guinness. A somewhat unusual set of taps! Roadside pub and clearly an old coaching inn with a car park out the front and a small garden area on the right-hand side of the pub. It is the last surviving pub in Chailey, the Horns Lodge and the Kings Head have departed during my 10 years of being in the area. Inside, the bar counter is just to the right of the entrance and the immediate bar area has a few stools at the bar, a single tall table and a sofa with some padded chairs in the bay window opposite the bar counter. The ceiling is decorated with branches entwined with warm white fairy lights. To the right of the bar area is another seating area occupied by drinkers only on my visit. The are a number of rooms to the left of the entrance, one has a lovely hooded real fire with a couple of padded leather sofas on front thereof, separated by an old wooden trunk serving as a table. The same room has a bar billiards table, and the floor is composed of really very old bricks (presumably from the nearby brickworks) and the lighting in this part creates a lovely ambiance. Beyond this is a more brightly room probably used by diners, with some French windows opening into a marquee probably used for parties and events. Beyond that was a room that might be used for indoor functions that was a bit drab, but it did have an upright piano against the back wall. Low ceiling and beams are the order of the day here. I gather that Sunday lunches are popular here and the general feel of the place is judging me back to test that rumour.