The Tiger Inn, Eastbourne

On the edge of the small village green in East Dean, which is close to Eastbourne, Beachy Head and the Birling Gap, is The Tiger Inn. It’s a 16th century former smugglers haunt, apparently A large rampant tiger sign on the whitewashed pub wall tells us that we are entering the Beachy Head Brewery Tap. Either side of the entrance is a giant beer barrel. Reflecting the fact that we’re in walking country, the inevitable water bowl for dogs is by the door. Down a couple of steps, and facing us, is the main bar, featuring light wooden ceiling beams, a lino floor and a traditional country pub feel enhanced by a copper topped fireplace, horse brasses and some old framed photos and prints of the pub. Blackboards on the bar gantry have sayings from various people such as W C Fields and George Bernard Shaw. Behind the bar, we see a number of CAMRA certificates won by The Beachy Head Brewery as “Microbrewery of the Festival” On the right hand side, down several further steps is a small brighter, carpeted extension, which has something of a small conservatory look to it. On the other side of the main bar, down a small corridor, is a separate dedicated restaurant area. There’s no TV’s or fruit machines or anything. I suppose you’d sum up the interior as being pleasant, but unremarkable, by country pub standards. Whilst there were a few locals propping up the bar, engaging in amiable banter with mine host, there’s an inevitable food emphasis with, on my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, a number of walkers and family groups coming in at regular intervals looking for tables for lunch. Outside at the front are a number of seats overlooking the small village green and its war memorial. On a pleasant, sunny, but fresh Saturday lunchtime in late November, the pub’s popularity was clearly evident. 3 real ales were on – the ubiquitous Harveys Best, Longman Brewery’s Long Blonde plus Legless Rambler ( ABV – 5% ) from the Beachy Head Brewery. The latter went off pretty quickly, and, rather disappointingly, was not replaced at all, leaving just the two beers on, neither of which was from Beachy Head. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular, but I was disappointed by the absence of Beachy Head beers. This is a pleasant enough pub with an idyllic village green setting, but I don’t think it’s specifically worth going far out of your way to visit

Tiger Inn pages - www.beachyhead.org.uk

Tiger Inn pages - www.beachyhead.org.uk

This is a wonderful Olde Worlde building with a vast outside drinkng area. Visiting it on the first warm and sunny day since March meant that the outside tables were being rapidly filled while the inside ones were mainly free. The two Beachy Head beers were in fine form and the food was very good indeed, maybe a tad pricey but this is Sussex and the salad appeared to be either local or home grown. I'm not sure that the Beachy Head beers match up to the high standards of some micros, I thought it had a bit of a "home Brew" taste. Anyone who has ever used a Boots home brew kit will know what I mean. It's a great pub that seems to be part of a larger village complex including the Village Hall. Definitely worth a visit.