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Detail Pages
The Dorset, Lewes
Cliffe
Postal town: Lewes
BN7 2RD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Dorset
A slightly hidden away Harvey's local on the side-street out of Cliffe to (South) Malling, with a bar that has been opened out and refurbished at some stage but its character probably remains little altered in recent years. The most notable feature is probably the effigy of a cardinal (?) beside the front door, explained by this being the home of one of the (in)famous Lewes bonfire societies. Anyway, on the real ale front, Sussex and the Old Ale (£4.40, and in excellent condition) were available from the pair of handpumps.
On 8th November 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Dorset
Traditional Harvey's pub with six handpumps and a decent range of Harveys Beers. Refurbed a good number of years ago ,its smart but I found it to be rather characterless and not a place I would make a bee-line to if back in Lewes.
On 19th July 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Dorset
The Dorset is a Harvey’s pub with a decent location, close to the town centre and brewery, but tucked away so as to avoid the majority of the tourist crush. Entering at the front, there is a choice of bars, with a pleasant snug to the right with limited seating and a small fireplace, and a saloon bar to the left. This area has a few standard tables and chairs, dark red walls and muted lighting all of which creates a nice ambiance. There are some nice features here including some examples of stained and etched glass, which the area at the back of the pub seems to have missed out on. This rear area is partly carpeted, partly tiled with some comfy sofas arranged in front of a nice open range which was lit on my visit. This fireplace also serves a small, three table dining space behind, which has some old photos of other Harvey’s pubs on the wall. A door here leads out to a large paved area with lots of picnic benches around a gnarly old tree and stairs lead up to the B&B accommodation, with 6 en suite rooms available. Music was playing throughout my stay at a decent level, although there was a distressingly high proportion of Justin Bieber-esque rubbish.
Three ales and two real ciders were available, with Harvey’s Best, Old Ale and Bonfire Boy on the hand pumps. I gave the Old Ale a try and was pleased to find it in very good nick. The staff were young but personable and prompt in their service.
As others have said, this place doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of character, although I thought there were glimpses of potential. In isolation, this is a pretty good pub, but taken in the context of Lewes’ other excellent ale houses, it doesn’t quite make the grade.
On 30th November 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Dorset
This feels rather like the Harvey's showpiece pub. Thoroughly refurbished throughout with pub designer-type fittings, plus the occasional inserted fireplace and other accessories. Saved by having a slightly random layout, so you can find a corner somewhere. Good range of Harveys beers; food and accommodation available. Good access for wheelchairs etc. Safe enough for a drink, but not exciting.
On 19th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Dorset Arms
I found this pub to be very food orientated and I'm always suspicious of pubs that advertise an a la carte menu, especially when it is only on a Friday and Saturday night. My wife and I decided that we should eat before we started our crawl of Lewes and I will report that our sandwiches were a bit on the pricey side for what they were and I did start to get very irritated by the bong coming out of a speaker at the side of the bar that lets the staff know that there is food ready to pick up.
The pub consists of a small public bar with a toad-in-the-hole table which was probably the nicest part of the pub and a rather bland L-shaped main bar area that stretches around to a large fireplace that segregates a few more tables in the far corner. There is also a dining type area at the rear and plenty of seating out the back which overlooks a car park. The wife did argue that it was very clean and the staff didn't stop working even when there were no customers, so 10/10 for effort.
Best, Star of Eastbourne, Old Ale and Armada were all available from the Harveys Brewery along with Old Rosie and Westons for the cider drinkers.
I didn't spot any TV and the music was so low that I wondered why they had bothered putting it on.
The staff were nice enough, but I think that there are better places to drink in the area.
On 4th November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Dorset Arms
Offers half-a-dozen rooms and, to be honest, The Dorset does have the feel of a hotel bar about it. Service was pretty slow on my visit, too, mainly due to tourists unfamiliar with the routine and food orders.
There's positives as well: beer is Harveys and pretty good. Plenty of outside seating on the sunny side of a quiet street a minute or two from Cliffe High Street (and the brewery).
On 8th July 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Dorset Arms
You can't really get away from Harvey's in Lewes, and the Dorset serves a decent pint in comfortable if unremarkable surroundings. You need to be a great pub to be a good pub in Lewes and this place probably just hangs on thanks to it's food offering.
On 14th June 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Dorset Arms
A large pub/hotel with an emphasis on food especially seafood dishes. Still ok for a pint though with Harvey's Sussex Best and Porter plus Westons Old Rosie cider available yesterday. Fairly upmarket though with that hotel feel. The bar is centrally located on entering, a number of areas to choose from inside. A large inglenook fireplace with chopped logs indicates a roaring fire may be an attraction, but not yesterday, it was very mild. Plenty of outside seating to the rear with the usual wooden bench tables.
A small snug bar by the entrance gives some character, but to be honest this place wasn't "pubby" enough for me but I'm sure it will appeal to its target clientele.
A very well kept pint though and served to the brim.
On 5th April 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Dorset
Standard Harveys options with Best & Olympia both in good condition. Larger bar to left leads round to accommodation area, smaller more traditionally furnished room to rt of entrance where we were the sole occupants, so we took advantage of the 'toad-in-the-hole', although wouldn't fancy sitting there with others playing and brass coins ricocheting around the room, just occasionally of course!
On 1st July 2008
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]