March 2026. East Grinstead. West Sussex.
Our weekly trip from Sheffield to Waterbeach was followed by the monthly mercy mission to Kent, where we took father-in-law over Sussex border to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead for essential maintenance.
The Vic is a world-renowned centre for facial surgery, but sadly the parking isn’t quite of that level, so we dropped off Michael at the door and headed into town for an hour.
You can see East Grinstead in half that time if I’m honest, which is more than I can see for neighbouring Burgess Hill.
The council have put on a decent trail starting at the parish church,
St Swithuns is a minor gem,
and the High Street has a great collection of old timber.
But it’s a town a bit worn down by the flow of traffic (see also : Ware or old Hemel), and the much heralded coaching inns look a bit down at heel.
Impressive, but not engrossing.
Loads of cafes, plenty of spiritually influenced hardware shops,
and a mini-entertainment centre containing cinema, Dominos and Spoons, the height of UK culture.
Nothing in the GBG apart from a craft bar hidden down an alley (and closed now), but you should always visit a Spoons, because all Spoons get in the Beer Guide eventually, right ?
Well, have you seen an emptier JDW ?
Nope.
The “manager special”, normally yesterday’s curry or Punk IPA sold off for a quid, is intriguing;
A stuffing ball ? Just the one ?
I thought I’d better get my pre-emptive in, an unconvincing festival special brewed at Oakham.
I couldn’t finish a half. I guess that’s why they sell the festival beers in thirds. No such problem finishing Meow’s marvellous Meal for Three an hour later though.
retiredmartin 