retiredmartin

November 2024. Eastbourne.

Eastbourne is a surprisingly large seaside town (pop. 101,000), as you’ll notice from the train and a walk through the dreadful shopping street to the sea.

It can seem a bit under-pubbed for those 101,000 souls, and hadn’t troubled the Beer Guide till this years two beer shop newbies (be patient, be patient !).

But the pubs it does have include a few classics. Two years ago in Eastbourne I wrote “Everything about the Lamb is quality. Apart from my photos. I’ll go back and do it properly.”

Time to do it justice. Perhaps.

I’ve really agonised over this post; perhaps just let the pictures do the talking ?

Oooh, history.

You know me, love a bit of history,

even if it isn’t true.

First in at noon, except that there’s already the inevitable Old Boy at the bar, half way through a pint of Peroni. Is there an Old Boy season ticket for Sussex pubs that allows you early entry ?

Mrs RM’s septuagenarian uncle lived in the Old Town and frequented the Lamb, and by a quarter past the lounge is almost entirely blokes in their late middle age (seventy to eighty).

I’ve at least nabbed the seat with the best view of the action, and the fire, which is being stoked by Laura.

I make my first mistake of the day, eschewing the Peroni Sussex in favour of the Old because I’ve got “old” on the brain, and because that red pump clip demands that I do.

And it’s lovely, it really is, a cool and rich NBSS 3. It’s just not the Best, is it ?

It’s a pub where Lionel singing “Easy” sounds absolutely right,

so I’m taken aback by the question posed on the next table by “Derek”, 64, from Hailsham.

“Who sung that “Funky Town” then ?“.

“Lipps Inc !” I shout, thinking I’m still at Quiz Night in the Sun.

And then it hits me. These fellas were early 20s when “Funkytown” came out. This was their youth.

I’m very much still in my youth, of course, though quite how much more of it I’ll have if I keep having fish and chips with my pint is another matter.

I don’t regret that lunch because it was bad, though the chips were indistinct and £18 is steeper than the Mermaid in Rye, it’s just that there’s more exotic options in the New Town.

But you’re paying for the seat, and lovely staff, and the view down the well,

and that fire,

and a slice of history.

No regrets, though I still don’t think I nailed the photos. Shoulda brought Mrs RM along.