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 
“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.
Blimey. You do get around.
“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.”
Thank goodness he’s ambulatory enough for that.
“You can see East Grinstead in half that time if I’m honest, which is more than I can see for neighbouring Burgess Hill.”
I remember that one!
“St Swithuns is a minor gem,”
(looks down)
That looks like something out of Harry Potter.
“and the High Street has a great collection of old timber.”
(looks down)
I very much like that style of architecture.
“Impressive, but not engrossing.”
I’d give the Ship the nod over the Dorset.
“plenty of spiritually influenced hardware shops,”
(looks down)
Crickey!
“and a mini-entertainment centre containing cinema, Dominos and Spoons”
For a second I thought you meant dominos IN the Spoons.
“Well, have you seen an emptier JDW ?
(looks down)
As my dear old Dad was known to say; bleedin’ Nora!
“A stuffing ball ? Just the one ?”
Maybe they mean one per person?
“I couldn’t finish a half.”
Yikes!
“No such problem finishing Meow’s marvellous Meal for Three an hour later though.”
(looks down)
Tempting, but I’ll pass. 😉
Cheers
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You don’t know what you’re missing with Meow’s, Russ.
You’ve missed the posts where the Americans visit and I go to watch an American lesbian in Nottingham, by the way.
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I’ve missed a lot of posts, big catch-up required when I get back to the Frozen North.
“American lesbian in Nottingham” reminds me of my Dad’s tale of drinking Calvados in a transvestite bar in Alexandria. Join the Army and see the world, as they used to say
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Ok, you’ve piqued my interest. I’ll take a gander this weekend, hopefully when the weather improves and my wife can do a bit of gardening. 😎
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“… but you should always visit a Spoons, because all Spoons get in the Beer Guide eventually, right ?”
That’s currently BRAPAs working hypothesis.
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I sometimes think Simon is working on the principle “Do ALL the pubs, just in case” !
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That was Alan Winfield’s strategy, wasn’t it?
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Commuter territory.
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This great post had me been looking up my East Grinstead postcards. First one was July 1998 which featured St Swithins Church and noted “no plans to move here” and June 2002 noted “nothing special.” I should return and see if I feel any better about the town after all these years especially with a stuffing ball and blob of cranberry sauce to be enjoyed. From my notes and return trips I liked Horsham the most in that area.
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Horsham is definitely the best of inland West Sussex.
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My father-in-law had to go to East Grinstead to get an eye removed. Not the greatest recommendation. “See East Grinstead and…err…then see it again but not quite so well.”
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