Tried & Tested
them feel comfortable and well catered for. It’s worth noting, if you’re on the look-out for somewhere to entertain special diets, that gluten free and vegetarian options are clearly denoted on the menu, so you needn’t even ask the kitchen about these. They are obviously well prepared. The brief wait for our food was an excellent chance to look out of The Apostrophe’s long windows at a view that can only be described as quintessentially Sussex. From its position atop the hill of Lewes’ high street, the back of The Shelleys enjoys an uninterrupted vista from the roll of the downs, across the flattest part of the county, towards the bustling hub of Gatwick. I can’t imagine a better place to give a visitor a taste of Sussex from a single window. Unfortunately, on the day we visited it was a little too cold to sit out on the restaurant’s terrace, but it was easy to imagine how pleasant that experience would be on a less windy day! There was a flourish of starter-envy when our food was brought to us with
“The Apostrophe is a sedate but luxurious slice of Sussex, which would be ideal for giving clients from afield a taste of the beautiful county we work in” a smile, so my colleague and I shared our dishes. The scallops with black pudding were rich yet refined whilst the blue cheese rarebit, grilled on a stuffed mushroom, was hearty and satisfying but light enough to leave us both looking forward to our main courses. The restaurant staff were friendly and attentive without at any point seeming overbearing. On a quiet weekday lunchtime, a moderately sized gathering would be almost guaranteed the staff’s undivided attention, and our glasses were certainly never allowed to be empty.
Our fish main courses were vastly different – one in a beurre blanc, the other in a crumb coating atop a mushroom ragout – but they both shared a refined richness and depth of delicate flavours that allowed the quality of the ingredients to be savoured. Feeling rather full, we quickly skimmed the extensive dessert menu and opted for coffee and petit fours, which were in themselves the perfect sweet treat to finish our meal. We opted to have them brought to us in the hotel’s gorgeous regency-style lounge, where comfortable, deeply upholstered chairs once again threatened to lure us from the office for the entire afternoon. With a front door on Lewes high street and a back door leading to acres of Sussex countryside, The Apostrophe at The Shelleys is a sedate but luxurious slice of Sussex, which would be ideal for giving clients from afield a taste of the beautiful county we work in, or reminding those of us who take working somewhere so beautiful just how lucky we are! www.the-shelleys.co.uk/dining
SBT
Recommendations Three more top restaurants to visit in Lewes.
The Real Eating Company
The Pelham Arms
Pelham House Restaurant
For high quality, seasonal food with a local flavour, look no further than The Real Eating Company. With cafes in Horsham, Bournemouth and Chichester as well as Lewes, they focus on top quality handmade foods which are sure to delight every taste. www.real-eating.co.uk
If you’re looking for tasty food with a conscience, check out this Sussex Kitchen! Great food, from down the road… All their meat, dairy and cheese is free range and from local suppliers, plus they only use organic grains, locally caught fish and fair trade coffee and tea. www.thepelhamarms.co.uk
The Pelham House Restaurant offers top class classic modern food in Lewes, focusing on simple and delicious fare, using locally sourced produce. The restaurant itself is a feast for the eyes, set in the Garden Room, and Panelled Room, decorated in remarkable wood carvings.. www.pelhamhouse.com
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