by kevo » Sat May 25, 2019 1:25 pm
Just repeating my post from last time they played there, in case it's useful!
Lewes is a great little historic town and was home to Yan, Hammy and the Secretary during the early years of BSP (Fear of Drowning was inspired by the Lewes floods of 2000). It used to be my manor too (I grew up a few miles away), so here are some tips for anyone coming to the gig.
First of all pubs. These are the best ones imho:
The Snowdrop: Quirky, eccentric pub, slightly out of the centre (head down Cliffe High St and turn right) - but well worth the detour (everywhere is reasonably close in any case). Fun decor, music, and, as Blackout said, does great food.
The Gardeners Arms, Cliffe High Street. Nice little pub and home of the Cliffe Bonfire Society. You usually get a few odd Lewes characters in here!
The John Harvey. Just along the river off Cliffe Hight St. The Harveys Brewery pub.
Lansdown Arms. Handily placed a minute from the station. Maybe a slightly younger, trendier vibe. Interesting decor. Always a pleasant place for a pint before/ after your train.
The Swan. Really lovely old Harveys pub in a nice part of town, at the end of Southover High St. The only pub in Lewes I know of with a beer garden.
Pubs to avoid (though they may have got better since I last visited): the Royal Oak and the Volunteer.
As for ones in the immediate vicinity of the venue, there are four I can think of: the Pelham Arms, the Black Horse, the Brewer's Arms and the Rights of Man. 'Hungry Joe' (Damselfly) elsewhere suggested the Brewers as the best meet up one. Never been in, but trust his judgement. The Rights of Man, another Harveys pub, is a bit bland but might have more space. Never visited the other two. Apart from the Snowdrop, everywhere else is within a 5-10 min walk, so take your pick.
Other things to see/do:
The Castle. Great views from the tower at the top (though you have to pay to get in). At the back of the castle precincts is Castle Lane, a spooky late-night detour which comes out near the Con Club (lots of ghosts in Lewes - partcularly in the little lanes that run down to Friars Walk).
Harveys Brewey and the brewery shop (all BSP fans should pick up a Bob Copper ale!), on Cliffe High Street.
Keere St, off the main High St. A very steep cobbled lane, where some prince or other once drove a horse and carriage for a bet.
This comes out at Southover Grange and Southover High St, Anne of Cleeves House and the ruins of Lewes priory. Turn left and you are back at the station and the Dripping Pan, Lewes FC's scenic ground, haunted by ghost monks. Turn right for the Swan.
If anyone has a bit more time on either the Fri or Sat, I'd recommend a walk along Juggs Road, an ancient track that used to lead to Brighton. It starts at the other end of Southover High St to the station (right next to the Swan), and takes you to Kingston Windmill. Beautiful views of the surrounding Downs. From the windmill you can head down to Kingston village and the Juggs Inn.
In the other direction, you can head up Mount Caburn, an atmospheric neolithic hill fort overlooking the Ouse valley. North west of the town, you can also walk up to the old racecouse to the battle site on Mount Harry.
Finally, a miscellaneous Lewes BSP fact: the vinyl 7" of Carrion was released in a limited edition of 1,264 copies to commemorate the date of the Battle of Lewes (allegedly......)