The Abergavenny Arms, Lewes

Front entrance on a busy road with bar area on right immediately inside. Front part has quite low ceiling with dark beams. To left are a couple of booth tables leading up a couple of steps to a raised area that wraps round in an area laid out for diners. Following round and via a couple of secluded spots with wingback armchairs takes you to the dining area beyond the bar (which you can also access by walking through the bar). Tables with church pew style benches, chairs and some further booth style seating against the back wall looking out onto the rear beer garden. The beer garden is a nice spot on a couple of levels with picnic style bench seating and plenty of greenery. Four cask options, namely Harvey's Best, Fullers Golden Rays, Hophead and Long Man Old Man. Not seen the Golden Rays previously so I went for that and a decent pint, well kept. Plenty of keg options, with lagers (Asahi, Grolsch, Peroni, Long Man Lager), ciders (Cornish Orchards - cherry & blackberry & South Downs Silver Lining), Guinness, Lucky Saint and Abyss Super Pale Have passed this place many times but this was the first visit. It is a really nice pub. A good step from the next nearest venue (back into Lewes or onwards to Newhaven) but well worth stopping at. Measures up to any pub in either of those places, especially Newhaven.

Attractive village pub, set between the Downs and the River Ouse floodplain. Partly opened-out inside, with the various seating / dining areas (on several slightly different levels) modernised in a reasonably sympathetic way. Four cask beers on handpump: Harvey's of course, Old Man from Long Man (£5.20), Gun Brewery's Project Babylon and Dark Star Hophead.