Lewes
The Cuckmere Inn

The Cuckmere Inn

Exceat Bridge, Lewes, United Kingdom, BN25 4AB

Steak • Fusion • British • Dessert


"We live in Kent but often take a trip to Seaford and have lunch in the Cuckmere Inn, which, up until now, was always very good. We went yesterday and it was awful. We had seen on their website a fixed price lunch menu so expected to be offered this. The server gave us the normal menu and, on asking about the fixed price menu, she said I don't think we do that. On checking she found they did. We ordered our food. Whilst waiting there were two ladies on another table who had ordered a large pizza to share. When this arrived with only a knife to cut it, they had to ask for plates, which they eventually got. They then had no cutlery or serviettes, fortunately we had some spare on our table which they had. The young server seemed oblivious to this. We had to wait a very long time for our food and watched the young servers. They didn't appear to clear any tables, never asked if more drinks were required. Having worked in the hospitality trade, I always kept an eye on tables and never walked away without clearing empty glasses, plates, etc. Another table near to us with four people had to ask where their food was as they had been waiting well over an hour for it. After another very long wait we were asked if we wanted dessert and asked for mini pud and a coffee, and were told no hot drinks as machine not working! We were given another cold drink and again had another very long wait for the mini pud. I will say the food was ok, but we were in the restaurant for over two and a half hours. There were other people who we heard grumbling about the waiting time. If they are short staffed and having trouble serving the food, then they shouldn't accept customers. Hence it will be a very long time before we visit the Cuckmere Inn again. Will wait to read further reviews."

Cafe Ringmer

Cafe Ringmer

58 Spingett Ave, BN8 5HB, Lewes, United Kingdom

Cafe • Vegan • British • Vegetarian


"I haven’t written a Tripadvisor review for quite sometime and I thought long and hard before writing this one. We have passed this place quite a lot of times but as we have a favourite tea room/cafe which we like to support we had never called in. We popped in for a cheese scone and a cup of tea last week and sat outside in what is effectively a car park. As soon as the scone arrived we knew it was bad news. If something doesn’t look like a scone, doesn’t have the consistency of a scone and doesn’t taste like a scone then it’s not a scone. I’m not quite sure what we had, I think it was a brioche bun with a bit of cheese on top. It was faintly sweet and quite horrible. When I queried it the waitress simply said ‘what is a scone then? My wife’s tea was very weak, the loose tea leaves having been enclosed in a metal wire sphere which was left in the pot. The only flavour was of metal, the tea flavour can’t escape from the metal cage!! To add insult to injury to ‘scones’ were priced at £4.50 each so two teas and two scones was £14, I felt completely ripped off. £4.50 for a scone is a London west end price. Mark Cross garden centre £2.50, Whites nursery Five ashes, £3 and so on. How on earth can you justify £4.50 for a ‘scone? They had better be careful, Stavertons garden centre is about to open a new cafe and its only a few minutes from Ringmer, I know where I’ll be going in future."

Kings Head

Kings Head

9 Southover High Street, Lewes, United Kingdom

Steak • Cakes • Seafood • Spanish


"It was my birthday, and my other half booked a room at the Kings Head as a special treat as we wanted to have a look around Lewes. Their website showed numerous photos of the newly refurbished bedrooms, and they looked very nice. We checked the menu while we were on the site, and much of the food seemed to tapas related, but there was also burgers, steak, fresh fish and fish stew, so we knew there would be something decent to eat. The room, The Brighton, was as expected. Freshly decorated with a sumptuous bed, brand new carpet and a bathroom with underfloor heating and even a sauna! 5 stars all the way. However, when it came to dinner, we 'd booked a table but that was totally unnecessary as the place was almost empty at 7:30 which was odd as the had live music from 8 pm. On being given the menu, we soon found out why it was almost devoid of other customers. The first page of the menu was almost entirely tapas, then baguettes. The burger turned out to be a vegan burger, and there were no steaks, fresh fish or fish stew as promised. The online menu mentioned a specials board, but when my other half asked about that, the young barman looked at her though she were insane and said there was no such thing. They didn 't even have so much as a position of crisps available!We left and walked into town to find a decent pub with food and a soul. When we returned to the Kings Head around 10:30 that night, the live music was in full swing.... but the place was still virtually empty. We saw 3 people inside as we trudged passed on the rain towards out room. In summary, the rooms are stunning, but the whole food issue needs to be urgently addressed. The current menu maybe okay for lunchtime, but is poor in the extreme for evenings. Stay there by all means, but go to another pub to eat!!"

Valentina's Delicatessen

Valentina's Delicatessen

5 Broad Street, Lewes, United Kingdom

Pizza • Vegan • Italian • European


"I visited valentina for lunch today. we know that eating from past experience is great and also it tends to be a waiting for eating, but after waiting for our pizza we have got a bit hungry to say the least. the restaurant. was quite busy and asking how much longer the chef told me he was alone and fought to maintain with the commands, as he had not enough space in his many to fit everything. the young waitress was apologetic and said they would adjust the bill accordingly, what we noticed that she did not, but that is not why I write this review. my man and I live in seaford and so much like to support and use our local restaurants and can recommend them. she said that a cook had gone without warning and that meant that she had only a new one from italy and he was not used to the kitchen yet. that confused me when he looked like the same one that had been there for a while? whatever the reasons for the delays exist, there seems such a scandal that a restaurant that produces large food does not seem to sort the delivery of it or the front of home staff the training, at least keep their customers up to date standing on their order. I sincerely hope that they can regulate this, because it would be a pity not to support them in the future. I have booked a table for friends in the juni, and I think now I should think this booking new and take it elsewhere. Perhaps the owner of this restaurant can convince me otherwise."