November 2025. Lewes.
Back from Newhaven to Lewes for a fourth new GBG tick by 3pm. Four in the bag so early in the week used to set me up for those 20 pub weeks that BRAPA knocks off on the way to Beer Guide glory, but in 2025 I don’t have that stress anymore.
Actually, I wish I’d taken Lewes at a more leisurely pace, it’s one of the great pub towns, and rewards your aimless wandering.
In Luton you see cans of 1664 on windowsills, in Lewes it’s La Vielle Ferme.
The Swan is on the edge of town, probably listed under Southover next year, and I must have walked past it a dozen times and thought “Oooh, nice” or something equally deep.
It’s definitely in the “suburban gastro” category, but it’s rare in 2025 to see a menu without pizza and burgers.
I head right to the Public, which is empty, so order a pint and walk across to the lounge, where there’s a jug of water and glasses that’s a welcome touch..
“Sussex, please ?”
“Pint of Best ?”. Well, obviously, but presumably some folk drink halves (I know ! ).
I sit at a table with knitted flowers reserved from 7:30 for Vicci with two “c”s, I’m seeing more and more of these reservations for a time hours in the future, mainly for the quiz, and it would annoy me if I cared.
But I don’t care, I’m pleased to see a genteel but unpretentious pub still busy at 3pm on a Monday, and you can tell how good the Harvey’s is by the lacings.
My notes say “cool, chewy NBSS 4”, so those lacings must be telling the truth.
The toddler (who’s limiting my photos a bit) wants to go home, and his Dad gets up to take him home. Don’t make children overstay their pubbing and they’ll be happy to go again.
The banter is all about family. “I called Mum “Ma Ma” “. “I called my Dad “The Master of the House” “.
I think he was joking. But in Lewes you can never be absolutely sure.
retiredmartin 
Nice pub, the Swan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Paul, a bit further for me but I’ve enjoyed both my visits there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Four in the bag so early in the week used to set me up for those 20 pub weeks that BRAPA knocks off on the way to Beer Guide glory, but in 2025 I don’t have that stress anymore.”
Here’s to less stress!
“In Luton you see cans of 1664 on windowsills, in Lewes it’s La Vielle Ferme.”
Those insidious French won’t stop at their attempts to infiltrate the UK!
“and I must have walked past it a dozen times and thought “Oooh, nice” or something equally deep.”
(looks down)
You walked past THAT?
“but it’s rare in 2025 to see a menu without pizza and burgers.”
(looks down at menu)
I fail to see why I need to know the allergies the staff have, or how intolerant they are. Hmpff!
“where there’s a jug of water and glasses that’s a welcome touch.”
Agreed. That menu is a bit hard to read from afar.
“I sit at a table with knitted flours”
Blimey. My wife can make her own pasta from scratch (flour) but she’s never knitted any!
(hint: flowers I do believe was your intention)
“mainly for the quiz, and it would annoy me if I cared”
I’m getting to the age where I can see both sides of that argument. 😉
“My notes say “cool, chewy NBSS 4”, so those lacings must be telling the truth.”
Lacings don’t lie; unless they’re on the corset of a, um, robust body.
“Don’t make children overstay their pubbing and they’ll be happy to go again.”
I think ladies of the evening have a similar philosophy, so to speak.
“I think he was joking. But in Lewes you can never be absolutely sure.”
These days one has to run it thru ChatGPT, and even then you’re still not sure!
Cheers
LikeLike
Nice looking pub and beer.
Dick
LikeLike
“Ohh nice” always suffices. I love stained glass so I am particularly glad you shared the swan window.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Lana, I love stained glass too and am always amazed at the craftmanship of it in curved woodwork above the bar counter in Manchester’s Peveril of the Peak. And there’s often lovely stained glass in churches, not that I’ve been getting to many lately.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I find adding in the odd church, gig or art gallery visit to my blog convinces people I’m not a complete ****head
LikeLiked by 2 people
My parents have an original stained glass landing window in their 1930s home, so characterful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Lana, inter war tends to be when houses as well as public houses were fitted with some lovely stained glass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you not have a WP blog Paul?
LikeLike
Paul probably writes more (and more eloquently) on this blog than most bloggers do on their own one. And I’m very grateful that he does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am grateful too.
LikeLike
No Lana, I’ve never been much good with computers.
LikeLike