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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Lewes Arms, Lewes
Lewes
BN7 1YH
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Lewes Arms
The Lewes Arms is a compact, multi-roomed back street pub, with an attractive curved façade and a convenient location close to the castle. The pub gained a bit of notoriety back in 2006-07 when the locals took on the Greene King brewery, to whom the pub was then tied, after Greene King’s bizarre decision to stop selling Harvey’s Best. A boycott of the pub was arranged, which saw the pub’s sales fall by 90% and a lot of negative publicity generated in the media, eventually forcing the Suffolk brewers into a U-turn. The pub has since been taken over by Fuller’s and is run by the former landlord of the Basketmakers Arms in Brighton.
You enter into a corridor, with a small bar area immediately to your right. This is a very basic space without tables – just a few bar stools and a bench seat under the front window. The Lewes coat of arms, which can also be found on the pub’s sign, has been painted on the end wall to quite good effect. The bar also serves a second room behind, which has some padded benches and low stools in a wooden floored space. There is a fireplace with a burner in it on one wall, a large collection of whisky boxes and a shelving unit in the corner which holds a mix of books and trophies, including one which is presented to the Lewes Arms Pea Throwing Champion – an annual event held at the pub. To the left of the corridor there is the largest room which, on my visit, was full of people enjoying their lunch from the reasonable menu. The seating is mainly standard tables and chairs, with a nice fireplace on the back wall, more whisky boxes and a dartboard and toad in the hole table. There are pump clips dotted all over the pub, but no single coherent collection seems to have been assembled yet.
On the bar, Harvey’s Best is still very much present and, based on my observations, still selling well. This was available alongside Fuller’s London Pride and Bengal Lancer, Gales HSB and Seafarers, Butcombe Bitter and Moles Best. I was a bit disappointed with the latter, although the conditioning was fine. I also enjoyed a nice, well filled bacon and brie sandwich for around a fiver.
This pub might be tied to a major brewery, but it has managed to retain its own sense of identity, much like the aforementioned Basketmakers Arms, I suppose. I really enjoyed this one and would mark it out as one of the essential stop off points on a visit to Lewes.
On 24th November 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 Lewes Arms
The Lewes Arms is a small but perfectly formed corner boozer. We were in just after lunch and the 6 of us managed to find seats in the tiny front bar. There was a good selection of brews on the bar and as I had already tried offerings from Harveys, I went for the London Pride, which whilst perfectly drinkable could have done with being a bit clearer. Nice locals and bar staff made us welcome, chatting about beer and the pub.
as we finished our pints, we decided on a quick game of toad in the Hole and although we didn't know the rules, an enjoyable half hour was spent making up our own rules and chucking the brass discs into the hole in the lead.
A must do beer location in Lewes, would call again if in town.
On 30th August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Lewes Arms
Having been a couple of times, I can advise that lunchtimes are fairly quiet, and you'll be hard-pressed to know what all the fuss is about in this well-regarded back-street pub. You'll get a table to yourself to contemplate your beer from the Fuller's range, Harvey's Sussex or occasional guest. Evenings are a different matter, however, when the place really comes alive with a real buzz of locals coming and going. Seats are at a bit of a premium, but the whole atmosphere is good-natured and lively. Food will still be served till 8.30 or 9.00, which is a bonus in a picturesque town low on nationwide chains.
If you're in Lewes for beer, you'll probably have it on your list, and rightly so.
On 28th August 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Lewes Arms
Excellent little traditional locals' pub tucked round the back streets, next to the old Beard's brewery (now a craft centre). Nicely unspoilt and good to escape to for a quiet pint. Good range of Fullers group beers, plus Harveys Best, in good nick.
On 19th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Lewes Arms
This place made the headlines a few years ago when Greene King, in a fit of pig-headed arrogance, tried to remove the Harveys Best from the pub. So of course a visit here was nailed-on. It’s up the hill just behind the castle and the attractive curved exterior (it sits on a narrow backstreet corner) gives way to a corridor and rambling multi-room layout off it. There’s an upstairs room up some creaky stairs with a stage and nicely decked sun terrace. These days the pub is owned by Fullers and in the front bar there were seven pumps dispensing six ales, two clipped with Harveys Best, four from Fullers and an Okells guest. I tried an Okells (sacrilege!) which was OK but I’ve had better. Rooms are decorated with pictures old Lewes, beer mats and pump clips. One of the rooms houses a dart board and the local’s favourite game, Toad in the Hole. In the theatre room upstairs previous productions put on here are documented on the walls. There’s a bawdy panto every year I understand.
Just a brief visit due to time constraints but there was enough beer and character to bring me back again.
On 4th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Lewes Arms
This is not the biggest pub and the small front and back bar areas were taken up with locals so my wife and I decided to find a table in the quieter side room that also houses a dartboard and toad-in-the-hole table.
Harveys Best and a range of Fullers beers were available alongside Staropramen, Amstel and nicely kept Guinness.
This place is ok, but there are plenty of great pubs in Lewes and in my opinion this one doesn't really stand out from the crowd.
On 3rd November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Lewes Arms
A Fullers pub these days, but still offering Harveys Sussex Best as well as a guest ale - in my case Butcombe Bitter.
Clean and comfortable inside but, apart from its recent history, it didn't strike me as being any more or less interesting than so many other pubs.
On 8th July 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about Lewes Arms
Was a bit concerned that it might be closed when I went past early and saw all the scaffolding but came back later and it was thankfully opened. I'd saved my first pint of Sussex Best on this trip for the Lewes Arms in homage to their battle with GK and wasn't disappointed with the quality. Definitely still a place to visit with it's interesting multi-room layout.
On 13th June 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 780 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Lewes Arms
Went in with the full intention of having a pint of the thankfully restored Harveys Best, but my eye was caught by the London Porter instead (from a good selection from the Fullers/Gales range). The place was packed, with a fairly young crowd giving it a friendly buzz. Much more bright and modern inside than I remember it, but the traditional exterior retains a sense of history.
On 19th April 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Lewes Arms
Surely Fullers are a better evil than GK. At least the second Battle of Lewes was won, to a certain extent. Sussex Best remains and was the choice of three of our party yesterday.
The central bar splits two areas, front and back plus another side room. Pics of old Lewes,lots of beer mats and pump clips. The local Toad in the Hole game is available in the side room, as is a dart board. Nice old pub, up the hill behind the castle.
On 5th April 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]