John Harvey Tavern, Lewes

The Harvey's tap house is in alleyway on the other side of Cliffe High Street from the Wharf Brewery but close to the original site. As traditional in appearance as you would expect, despite being housed in the stables of the former Bear Hotel, with simple wooden furniture in the Tap Room but a more refined look in the Lewes Room on the other side of the entrance corridor. Also has an upstairs dining room and some picnic benches out front. The beer's the thing of course, with Best and Old Ale (£3.70) dispensed by gravity from a stillage behind the bar, and IPA, Armada, Star of Eastbourne and Bonfire Boy available from the four handpumps on the counter.

Despite the old appearance, this is a relatively new pub and is a conversion of an old stable block. I can't trace the opening date, but I'm fairly certain it didn't exist twenty five years ago. It's a long narrow building with two interconnecting rooms the one furthest from the brewery having the bar. There js a third room upstairs that I didn't go and look at. There are some large old beams and a tiled floor. Thankfully this is one pub with no television. On a late Saturday afternoon it wasn't packed and I found it comfortable enough. The bar has only four hand pumps but Old and Best are served straight from cooled casks behind the bar. The other four Harvey's beers were Forward's Choice, Olympia, Armada and South Down Harvest. I went for the South Down Harvest (£3.80) which was in excellent condition. I found this place a lot more pleasant than other places in town and it was my favourite Lewes pub on the day. I was very tempted to stay for a second pint.