Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Black Horse Inn, Lewes
Lewes
BN7 1RS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Black Horse Inn
Despite the dispiriting Greene King branding, this is one of their Local Heroes dissidents. A decent half of Long Man Blonde is all my notes reveal, so I'm going with my fellow crawlers.
On 22nd April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Black Horse Inn
This was a very comfortable pub with a relaxed atmosphere along with the laidback barman. The beer in here was excellent quality and not dangerously overpriced. I especially liked the layout and the main features were the two bay windows, which protrude out from the main building. A few of us had a try at the Toad in the Hole and lucky for BF he managed to score on his second throw. Definitely worth a look in if you're around this part of town.
On 16th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Black Horse Inn
A bit of a schlepp out west,but worth the effort.From a distance the Greene King signage does make the heart sink ,but thankfully the ale selection does include any of their poor brews ,it appears free of tie.
The interior is traditional with a darts board to the left and two Toad in the Hole boxes infront ,there is a lively toad league in Lewes.There is a long section to the right side which has the feel of a dining area but empty on a Friday lunchtime.Drinkers were gathered around the high tables in the front section.
The barman explained he was involved with the local CAMRA branch and was a friendly fellow.His ale range on my trip was Long Man Long Blonde (NBSS 3.5),Three Acres Skylark Stout,TT Landlord,Rother Valley Boadicea Ale and Harvey Sussex Best together with a handpumped cider from Big Nose.
A decent ale house feel ,worth including on any crawl around town.Any pub with a soundtrack including Led Zepplin will always get my vote.
On 12th April 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Black Horse Inn
Visited 04/10/24. Visited previously on 09/08/20.
Eight hand pumps, six in use providing Harvey's Sussex Best, Rosie's Pig Rhubarb cider, Long Man Old Man, Tiny Rebel Supersonic, Harvey's Pells Pale and Loud Shirt Like Clockwork pale ale. Keg options were Amstel, Moretti, Neck Oil, Staro, Thatcher's regular cider and Guinness.
Old school L-shaped boozer on the main road into Lewes. Bar counter is along the wall and opposite the entrance and has a curved end which takes you to the rear area of the pub, which is carpeted and has regular tables along both sides of its length, with one large leather banquette plus regular chairs. Bar counter does extend a little way into this section, largely to house the large coffee machine! The front part has a couple of bay windows with banquettes around the windows and tables in front of that which were popular with groups of early Friday evening quaffers. The floor is bar boarded and has a mix of regular tables and chairs and tall tables with stools. The walls are plastered with a mish mash of memorabilia and there is an operational traditional fire grate against the right-hand wall with a TV above it. There is also a TV above the door and another one on the left-hand wall next to the dartboard. It is a popular destination in Lewes to watch sports and the cricket was on the TV's during my visit. The venue has a regular Sunday evening quiz that is v popular. Toads is also played in this venue, and it feels like a good local’s type venue.
On 7th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Black Horse Inn
A good looking pub on the edge of town, given its location it's very much a locals pub with a robust traditional interior.Some good beer to be had as well, Harveys Sussex, Goldmark APA,Gun Zamanza IPA, Burning Sky Plateau and Dark Star Sunquake, the Cider was Rosies Pig, a solid pub worthy of crawl inclussion.
On 8th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Black Horse Inn
An excellent and unpretentious ale house on the edge of town. Apart from the slight aberration of a couple of high tables with stools planted right in the middle, it is nicely unspoilt with a number of interesting features, which outweigh the Greene King corporate touches. The bar billiards seems to have perished but toad-in-the-hole is still prominent. The excellent array of handpumps featured mainly local ales from the likes of Long Man, Burning Sky and Gun, with the usual Abbot and Old Speckled Hen. Well worth the short walk from town.
On 16th October 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Black Horse Inn
Excellent traditional pub at the west end of town. The 'L'-shaped layout comprises the main bar at the front (with a bar billiards table and alehouse-style furniture and decor) and a lounge / dining area further back. Also offers accommodation. Reputedly still a Greene King house, although you would never know it from the fine selection of seven real ales and a cider available on handpump, including a couple from Burning Sky brewery and Flaming Embers from Old Dairy (£3.70).
On 13th November 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Black Horse Inn
The review by PSM below is comprehensive and accurate, so I'll just mention the beer range, which although this is a Greene King pub is by no means confined to that brewery's product. The house beer, a session ale called Black Horse Bitter, is badged as Hardys and Hansons, and the only other beers from the same stable are Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen, the other offerings being from local micros such as Bedlam and Burning Sky, with a cider on the eighth hand pump. Definitely one to visit if you find yourself in Lewes.
Date of visit: 25th November 2014
On 5th January 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Black Horse Inn
Situated at the Western end of town, the Black Horse is far enough from the bustle of tourists to make it a peaceful haven compared to some of the more well known pubs in town. Set in a Grade II listed building, the pub has a large open front room and a smaller space past the bar to the rear. The front bar area has bare floorboards with some high tables, including some made from old barrels, and high stools. The servery is opposite the front door and there are fireplaces on each side wall; one with a TV screen above it, the other beneath a wonderful old pub sign. There are some nice curved banquettes under the front bay windows and there is also a bar billiards table and shove ha’penny board to the left of the bar. On the right hand side there was the obligatory Toad in the Hole table and the wall on this side was papered with old advertisements and had a beer bottle collection running along a high shelf. Access to the rear room is via a narrow space past the right hand side of the servery, taking you to some button backed seating arranged around another fireplace. Music was playing throughout my stay and a young lady with an acoustic guitar was setting up in preparation for a performance later in the evening.
There was an excellent beer selection on the row of hand pumps, with the options on my visit comprising Greene King Abbot Ale, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Turners Golden Ale, 1648 Signature Ale, White Horse War Horse and Nelson Flagship IPA with Dark Star Meltdown available on stilage. One real cider, Biddendens Bushels, was also available and the otherwise standard keg range included Noble Lager. My pint of War Horse was very well kept and I was served by a very friendly and welcoming barman.
It would be quite easy to visit Lewes and miss out on this pub, but in my opinion it is one of the best in town and certainly merits the short walk from the town centre.
On 8th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Black Horse Inn
The refit is complete and by all accounts, a great success. The fixtures and fittings are all well chosen and the interior decorators resisted the temptation to go pastel throughout. Fantastic selection of beers on the bar, so much so that we played a joker and stayed for 2. Aside from the wedding party pre loading, the pub was quiet on a Saturday lunch. Footie and Cricket was being shown and was accompanied by a running comentry from the Doncaster born bar man. The toilets were probably the cleanest and most modern of any I have ever been in in any pub. the back room now looks like it is mostly reserved for diners, but the main event is the beer, as it should be. Well worth walking right past the Pelham go get out to this slightly off the beaten track boozer.
On 29th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]