retiredmartin

November 2025. Mayfield. East Sussex.

My penultimate East Sussex Beer Guide tick takes us deep into the Weald, but only half an hour from Mrs RM’s in-laws (and Kentish Paul, coincidentally).

Mayfield lies deep in the teenage Miss Spencer consciousness, for reasons we’ll see shortly, but first it’s lunch at the white boarded Rose & Crown.

We narrowly overtook the inevitable horsey riders at the turn (at about 3mph), and nabbed a table just before they made it to the bar for their Guinness 0.0.

I’d plonked down on a dull table by the door, mentally put off by that random coat,

but as it became obvious it was just a random parka reserving the prime table for no-one, Mrs RM made a dash for the warmth while I bought her beer.

Harvey’s obviously, but also the Three Acre Mosaic from down the road near Uckfield that gets you in the GBG because Guide pubs are expected to have indie (ugh) beers.

The nice barman leans across Mrs RM to add fuel to the fire,

which then becomes such a furnace that Mrs RM considers moving.

I am not for moving, even if Mrs RM is doing a Joan of Arc at the stake impression by now, and bang on cue her lambs liver arrives. Liver is the easiest dish of all to muck up, but this is sensational.

Press PLAY below to enjoy a proper real fire;

The banter behind the bubbles in the beers (both a 3, + or -), comes from your septuagenarian gentlefolk table of four who are trying to identify the cutting-edge pop soundtrack (played at a good volume so it’s easy to Shazam but gentlefolk aren’t really Shazam-confident).

“I believe in miracles…” he starts, speaking the words like Richard Harris doing Macarthur Park.

“Where you from. You sexy thing“. I know I love young people, but older people are great too. It’s the 49 year olds you need to worry about.

My burger looks meagre on the plate, but it’s also outstanding, though you really need Mrs RM’s £3 peppercorn sauce to dip your chips in.

The pub is quiet when we arrive, but more gentlefolk arrive after 1pm, attempting to pronounce “Arrabiata” on the special menu and failing.

“I’ve just finished the Forsyte” someone whispers.

“Ooh, lovely”.