WELCOME TO THE NIGHT

THE NIGHTLIFE IN THIS COUNTY IS THRIVING, PACKED WITH CLUBS, PUBS, BARS AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES

Whether you fancy a pint of local ale in a cosy pub, cocktails in a chic bar, or dancing until dawn, East Sussex’s nightlife has it all. That’s without even mentioning the theatres, music venues and festivals that liven things up all year round. The hardest part is deciding where to start and finish your night!

Country Inns

Looking for a historic boozer down a cobbled country lane? Done. A picture-perfect country inn? Absolutely. A hip taproom serving its own craft beer? You betcha. Eastbourne has its fair share of traditional pubs. The Dolphin’s open fires and leather sofas add plenty of charm, and the excellent food and well-kept ales make it even better. A favourite with locals is The Marine Pub, which is renowned for its impressive selection of wine and spirits, as well as its delicious home-cooked meals.

If you want some history along with your beer, The Lamb Inn has you sorted. It dates to the 12th century and is the oldest pub in Eastbourne. You can also soak up the history at The Farm at Friday Street, a converted medieval farmhouse with original oak beams and ornate fireplaces. It features in the Good Pub Guide and serves a daily changing menu, using fresh, local ingredients. There’s also live music every Friday.

The Rainbow in the centre of the Old Town makes the most of its three spacious areas: the Great Hall, the Snug and the Main Hall. It retains its old character, including original hearths and repurposed pews from the local church.

For some art and culture to go with your food, The Crown in Hastings has an ever-changing exhibition of art, sculpture and photographs on its walls. Enjoy high-quality seasonal food, alongside a selection of local ales and craft beers, as you take it all in.

More traditional pubs in Hastings include The First In Last Out, which has been serving beer since around 1896, in a building from the 1500s. The Stag Inn also has real history, dating back to the 16th century. It has a lively front bar, which hosts various live bands, and a quieter dining room out the back. Ye Olde Pumphouse is another fantastic 16th-century pub that’s full of character, with timber frames and low ceilings.

Local Bands

It’s all about the atmosphere at The Marina Fountain, where you can listen to local bands while sampling their extensive selection of rum and gin. The St Leonard Pub is a real favourite with locals thanks to its welcoming atmosphere, excellent range of ales and beer from local breweries, together with a well-selected wine list. It also serves wood-fired pizza if you get peckish.

The Lewes Arms delivers some serious entertainment, including the World Pea-Throwing Championship, dwyle flunking (Google it!), pantomimes and spaniel racing (all breeds are welcome!). It was featured in The Telegraph’s list of Britain’s best pubs and is a proper old-school pub that is steeped in character and tradition.

The Pelham Arms has its own brewery, as well as a smokehouse for curing meats for its delicious menu. Every week, they showcase two ABYSS Brewing beers, so you might be lucky and get to try a new one first.

Over in Rye, you’ll find plenty of medieval charm and perhaps the odd ghost at The Mermaid Inn, said to be one of the most haunted inns in Britain. Built in 1420, it’s home to the Giant’s Fireplace Bar, which features a huge open fireplace (the clue is in the name), and offers a wide selection of beers, wines and whiskies.

The 16th-century Ship Inn is set among the old warehouses alongside the river estuary, serving top-notch grub alongside the booze; and there’s more character to be had at The Old Bell, a 15th-century pub named after a French raid on the town, when the church bells were stolen.

The history keeps on coming at the Rye Waterworks Micropub, which occupies a former ancient water pump house and soup kitchen. The family-run business offers eight local ales, two keg beers and 12 local ciders, along with a selection of wines, gins and soft drinks, and features in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2022

Just outside Rye, you will find The Globe Inn Marsh, a pretty clapperboard pub decorated with lots of quirky items on the walls, and an equally quirky vibe.

There are so many great pubs in East Sussex, we can’t possibly list them all here. A few others we can squeeze in include The Swan Inn, in Heathfield, which is an authentic country pub with real charm; Blackboys Inn, a beautiful 14th-century pub on the outskirts of Uckfield with multi-award-winning gardens; The Sussex Ox, in Polegate, which has its own organic farm; The Griffin

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Inn, in Fletching, where you can enjoy incredible views from its enormous garden, crackling fires in winter, and fantastic food; and the Ram Inn, in the tiny but gorgeous village of Firle, serving incredible Sunday roasts. Sophisticated cocktail bars and decadent drinking dens are commonplace in East Sussex, and if dancing’s your thing, there are plenty of places to kick off your heels and get your funk on. One thing’s for sure. A night out in East Sussex is never boring.

In Eastbourne, you could get things started with pre-dinner drinks at The Grand Hotel, which serves cocktails with a real kick. The menu includes many classics, with histories as colourful as the hotel, as well as some exciting new blends invented by the creative cocktail bar team. Not yet had your fill of colourful drinks? Eastbourne Cocktail Club has special drinks offers between 7pm and 11pm, as well as a nice line in cocktail masterclasses. Or you could try The Loft Lounge – a late-night cocktail lounge and bar spread over two floors, where award-winning mixologists will create the perfect drink. Make sure you book a booth or table if you’re out with a crowd.

If it’s live music you’re after, check out The Crown and Anchor, a former Eastbourne Herald Pub of the Year. Or make for Bar Blue, which has a down-to-earth vibe and puts on live gigs and comedy nights. Cameo Nightclub features DJs and live music, with party nights and private booths.

You can also see live music and theatre at Printers Playhouse – or, if you fancy having a go yourself, the open-stage night welcomes all musicians, poets, storytellers and comedians.

If participation is your thing, you will love Eastbourne’s adventure bar. Boom: Battle Bar has a range of bar games with a difference, including Bavarian axe throwing, augmented-reality darts, crazier golf, shuffleboard and hammerschlagen, which basically involves whacking things with a hammer. What’s not to like?

If you love live events, you’ll love Hastings, thanks to its lively alternative vibe and self-designated ‘Music City’ status. The Brass Monkey is open until late on Friday and Saturday evenings for live music and DJs, and puts on a silent disco at least once a month, while at Whistle Trago, you can munch on pizza and paninis while listening to rocking local bands.

Tuesday is open-mic night if you want to get up and have a go yourself. There’s always something going on at The Drift In Cafe Bar – a friendly, laid-back café and bar with great food, live music, vinyl nights and even sip and draw nights.

Cocktails are the speciality of Twisted Bunny, a quirky hideout in neighbouring St Leonards which has stupendous views of the beach. The cocktail game at nearby Cactus Hound is equally strong, and you can also work your way through their list of over 40 tequilas and mezcals.

To down your drinks in arty surroundings make for Dragon Bar, which puts on regular exhibitions and live DJs alongside an amazing selection of beers, wines, spirits and unique cocktails.

If you want to eat while you drink (it really is the sensible option!), there are plenty of bars serving fantastic food, with a large portion of fun on the side. Seed, Hastings is a buzzy tapas restaurant with an exciting drinks list, while the Bat and Bee serves up charcuterie and cheese platters along with its creative cocktails.

Owl & Pussycat Lounge offers regular DJ nights alongside its eclectic menus, which include gourmet burgers and pizza. The bar stays open until 3am, which gives you plenty of cocktail sampling time.

Local Favourites

Lewes is another East Sussex town with a long list of great places to grab a drink. While you won’t find banging clubs or the hottest DJs, it’s a town that certainly knows how to let its hair down.

DJ nights and a vinyl-only policy make The Swan Inn, on the outskirts of Lewes, a likely contender. It’s a real favourite with locals thanks to its kept beer garden, roaring log fire in winter, welcoming atmosphere and great food.

For live music, try Lewes Con Club, one of the best music and entertainment venues in the area. It has a wide range of acts, several times a week, often with free entry.

Cocktails are top dog at Fuego Lounge, but you’ll also find a small but perfectly formed wine list, alongside draught and bottled beer and cider. This funky café serves a fantastic range of food, including kids’, gluten-free and vegan menus.

For a night of culture, head to Depot, which was voted by Guardian readers as one of the top 10 independent cinemas in the UK.

It shows an interesting range of art-house films, as well as live arts, cinema and live music.

For something a bit special, you should try The Grapevine, an intimate champagne and jazz bar that offers elegance alongside top tunes and special events, with music seven nights a week.

There’s no time to get bored after dark in East Sussex. This cool county will keep you going all night with live music, theatre, cinema and a whole host of excellent bars, pubs and clubs.