EMBER ECSTASY IN HAYWARD’S HEATH

OK, there’s two lies there for a start. The Red Lion was rubbish, and it’s strictly in Lindfield, but I doubt anyone bar Mudgie knows where either place is.

The next few posts are all Sussex, which is decidedly more than a seaside town for hipsters. I can now travel on the railway to Brighton without changing though; aren’t trains brilliant ?

Lindfield is the posh bit of the Heath, as the kids would call it if there were any kids in Lindfield.

What you do get here are a great number of young professionals, identified by Jack Wills and expensive handbags, supplementing the gentlefolk diners.

And therefore a slightly more upmarket Ember than the pubbier specimens of Solihull or Grimsby.

At the bar I embarrassed myself by counting out the pennies for a £2.49 Monday Club pint, before being politely told it’s Tuesday, and therefore 50% more expensive.

As you can see, an exciting line-up.

The Harvey’s is neither rubbish nor great, either of which would have been preferable. NBSS 3 I guess.

NB The Stand Up Inn across the road is a better bet, daft name aside.

Two Professional Drinkers on high tables move their heads slightly to indicate my error in not having Perroni, which of course is probably no more #CO2Crisis.

I tried to capture the pub’s exciting book collection but my thumb got in the way. Russ will have something to say about this shot, I feel.

Simon will tell you every pub has its merits. He’s wrong. There’s potential for condiment drama, but it passes me by, and the soundtrack made Mumford & Sons sound punk.

The couple at the bar as I left ordered a diet coke and a jug of water (ice and lemon).

But Lindfield needed to be explored. A Google maps search for “bakery” brought up “Christine’s Cheescakes”, beyond the pond that serves as the village meeting point.

a country park of extreme dullness and the cricket ground, home to a World Cup match this century (FACT !)


But Christine’s Cheesecakes turned out to be a care home, so instead it was lunch from Washington’s chippy, reassuringly voted the Best in Haywards Heath in 2009 by Oathall Young Farmers Club.

Great service, tasty but overcooked fish, decent chips.

Is there anything brilliant in Haywards Heath ?

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

19 thoughts on “EMBER ECSTASY IN HAYWARD’S HEATH”

  1. “What you do get here are a great number of young professionals, ”

    As I understand it, that’s pretty much Sussex as opposed to Norfolk. 😉

    “and therefore 50% more expensive.”

    So… £3.75?

    “Russ will have something to say about this shot, I feel.”

    I thought you were giving the collection a big thumbs up. 🙂

    “But Christine’s Cheesecakes turned out to be a care home,”

    Bloody hell.

    “Is there anything brilliant in Haywards Heath ?”

    Surely the nightly marketing strategy by the Curry Inn and the Agra Classic as they battle it out for best Indian* restaurant? 😉

    Cheers

    * – dot, not feather

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  2. That fish may well have been ‘the best in …’ in 2009. It looks a bit tired and lifeless now. I’ve probably said it before, but fish & dirks are best avoided anywhere south of Chesterfield, unless you have a personal recommendation from someone with proper Northern roots.

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      1. And also in Margate, and Greatstone as well. Excellent fish and chips in Tonbridge too, from our local chippy, run by a Turkish famiy.

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  6. Haywards Heath is the dullest place on Earth – doesn’t even have an apostrophe, grocer’s or otherwise… oh hang on, there’s always Maidenhead.

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