Destination Lewes

Location: Lewes

The county town of East Sussex is quirky, fiercely independent, steeped in history and a whole lot of fun to visit writes Sara Whatley

Lewes is an Aladdin’s Cave nestled in the South Downs; every time you visit this ancient market town you will be delighted by a new wonder, discover a new favourite shop or a beautiful secret garden.

Thousands of visitors are attracted here every year to meander along the medieval cobbled streets and enjoy the history, shopping and unique lifestyle Lewes has to offer. Not to mention the countless cafes, restaurants and pubs at every turn.

Antique lovers throng for the numerous antique shops trading in ceramics and furniture, as well as flea markets, second hand clothes shops, bookshops specialising in rare books, markets and countless elegant independent boutiques.

Those wanting to in indulge in all the history Lewes has to offer simply have to walk the streets to pass timber framed Tudor houses and traditional

Lewes Castle

This Norman fortress looms over the town from high on a hill Pells Pool

An invigorating fresh water lido from 1860 surrounded by pine trees Southover Grange Gardens

Beautiful formal gardens surround a charming 16th century Grade II listed manor house

Lewes Bonfire

Hedonistic and pagan celebrations set the entire town ablaze on November 5th

Lewes FC

Semi professional football club who play at The Dripping Pan

There is as a thriving scene of exhibitions, live music and talks about the town

Sussex brick buildings. The Norman castle towers over the town and you will also find Anne of Cleves House where you can learn how the Tudors and Elizabethans lived, and the Priory of St Pancras where you can walk in the footsteps of medieval monks. Thomas Paine, writer and revolutionary, also lived in Lewes, in The Bull House from 1768 until 1774.

Lewes has long been known for welcoming artists, musicians and creative thinkers and as such there is as a thriving scene of exhibitions, live music and talks about the town. An independent cinema down by the railway station is a great arts hub.

The River Ouse cuts through the town and offers peaceful riverside walks and picturesque bridges. The well known local brewery also sits next to the river in the heart of the town and fills the air with hoppy goodness.

And for those wanting to venture outside the town, just a stone’s throw from Lewes you will find Monks House, where Virginia and Leonard Woolf lived, Glyndebourne, and Charleston Farmhouse, where the Bloomsbury group resided. The delights never seem to end in Lewes; it is a bewitching town and one that casts its spell on visitors and residents alike. l

Welcome to The Seasons Lewes

Housed in the renovated 18th-century Star Brewery building, this delightful visual arts exhibition space was first established as the Star Gallery in the late 1980s and was later known as the Hop Gallery. It was renamed as the Star Brewery Gallery by the artist Neeta Pedersen who took over the space in February 2020. The gallery has a history of hosting exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists and showcasing both established and up-and-coming talented artists. This multi-functional space is ideal for displaying not only traditional and contemporary art and sculpture but also installations and craftwork of various kinds. Admission: Free, Opening times: Check the website for details www.starbrewerygallery.com Star Brewery Gallery, Castle Ditch Lane, Lewes, BN7 1YJ 07932 500 952

You’ll find us on the eclectic Cliffe High Street in the heart of Lewes, right next door to the Trading Post Café. We’re a family-run business with our main branch in Forest Row, alongside our new organic café. From the beginning, our Lewes branch was always going to be a little different, with over 190 refill dispensers and most items being either plastic free or locally produced. We have refill stations for dried goods, including tea, coffee, herbs and spices. As well as cleaning products, laundry liquids, shampoos and conditioners. Our main focus now is to encourage people to not use a paper bag but to bring their own containers when refilling. There’s a bonus to using the refill option, you could A gorgeous independent children’s bookshop based in Lewes with booksellers who love talking about books, books and more BOOKS! We feel passionately about helping children to find great quality books that will inspire them to become readers for life. We seek out those really great children’s books that we know kids (and parents!) will love… We know that sharing books with children is a wonderful and important thing to do and if you can’t visit our bookshop then we hope our website is the next best thing. Storytime is every Monday and other bookish events can be found on the website. bags-of-books.co.uk 1 South Street, Lewes, BN7 2BT 01273 479320

save between 10% to 30% compared to buying the same product in a plastic bag!

Offering an extensive range of fresh Organic and Biodynamic fruit and vegetables, freshly baked artisan bread, organic make-up and skincare. Try something new at our tasting events which are held most Fridays. Our weekly home delivery service is proving very popular, check your postcode on our website to see if you qualify. We’ve also launched a loyalty card scheme, which gives points, special offers and discounts, please ask in store for details. 16-17 Cliffe High St, Lewes, BN7 2AH www.seasonswholefoods.co.uk 01273 359200

Local autumnal produce and a place to relax at Riverside in Lewes. A host of places to enjoy a coffee, or a bite to eat at Riverside Brasserie, Riverside Café and Bubble & Bao. For seasonal farm shop goodies pop into Nose2Tail or treat yourself to daily caught fresh fish and shellfish at The Fish at Riverside. Indulge in chocolate delights from Poppy’s and a wealth of craft kits from the-stitchery. If you have time you can even get freshened up with a new look from The Barber Shop or visit ESPY Tattoo Studio for cool clothing, artwork and of course permanent inkings! www.riverside-lewes.co.uk Cliffe High Street, Lewes BN7 2RE

The Grain Store is a luxury holiday home in Lewes, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and big skies. A haven for day dreamers, adventure seekers and those looking to unleash their creativity. This beautiful, light-filled, 3 bedroom holiday home is ideal for weekend breaks, family holidays, celebrations, team meetings and away-days. Chalk Gallery is situated in an elegant 19th century town house not far from the High Street in Lewes. Established as an artist-run gallery in 2005, it is now a well-loved destination for art lovers. You will receive a warm welcome from the artist on duty, and the chance to peruse paintings, prints, ceramics and glassware in a range of styles and subjects. Exhibitions are carefully curated to a high standard, with a completely new display of work every nine weeks. This, plus regular guest artists and special events, means there is always a new reason to visit this inspiring gallery. Chalk Gallery, open 11-4pm, Thursday - Sunday 4 North Street, Lewes, BN7 2PA www.chalkgallerylewes.co.uk 01273 474477

We’re also an established creative shoot location – providing the perfect setting to bring your vision to life. As an eco-conversion, we’re proud of our heritage, philosophy and design principles of Simple, Functional & Beautiful. Our location on the edge of the South Downs National Park, provides you with direct access to the iconic South Downs Way. Simply step out and savour your surroundings, whatever the weather, or time of year. We’re also just a 15 minute drive from the historic market town of Lewes, which is known for its rich creative heritage and cultural significance in the South East. Sign up to our newsletter on the website for offers and late availability and follow us on instagram to keep up to date on all our news! www.thegrainstorelewes.com @thegrainstorelewes 01273 713 339

The Grain Store Lewes

The tiny shop front in Forest Row belies the tardis-like interior of The Dandelion Clock. This antiques centre offers antiques and collectables, old pine furniture, vintage furniture, lace, vintage fashion and much more. Established in 1995, the centre has 12 experienced dealers spread over two floors with an ever-changing stock, from chess sets to chests of drawers there is something for all tastes and pockets. Each of our experts has a different area of expertise, so they will be able to offer advice on anything you may require. Mon - Sat. 10 - 5pm 01342 822335 The Dandelion Clock, Lewes Road, Forest Row RH18 5ES www.dandelionantiques.co.uk

We are a thriving independent health food shop in the vibrant village of Forest Row. We not only offer an extensive range of high-quality Organic and Biodynamic foods, but since we opened back in 1971, we have become the centre and social hub of the local community.

Our product range includes local eggs, dairy, freshly baked sourdough bread and Organic and Biodynamic fruit and vegetables. We specialise in vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free products and offer a healthy range of snacks. Upstairs you can find a fabulous collection of Organic cosmetics and refill stations for dried goods, zero waste and eco-friendly cleaning products. My name is Gill Bustamante and I am an artist who paints large semi abstract landscapes that are inspired by the Sussex area. My painting style fuses magical, colourful and ethereal elements along with Impressionist, semi-abstract, Art Nouveau and something I term ‘Memory Impressionism’. This is where I go walking somewhere rural, look at and absorb the things I see and experience, then come home and try to capture an ‘echo’ of the place from memory, including any wildlife I may have seen. My paintings reflect the spiritual echoes of beautiful places such as the Sussex countryside and it always fascinates me what emerges on to a canvas from a simple memory. www.gillbustamante.com artist@gillbustamante.com Instagram: gill.bustamante.artist Facebook: GillBustamanteArtist

Welcome to the Seasons Whole Foods and Kitchen

In 2021 we opened The Seasons Kitchen, our beautiful Vegetarian Café which is located on Hartfield Road. We serve breakfast, lunch, cakes, hot drinks and delicious fresh juices. The shop and the café work in synergy to create their seasonal menus and our team lovingly prepare everything from scratch. Our new Café Manager, Zach, is there to provide a warm welcome as we head into the festive season. The Seasons Kitchen, 10/11 Hartfield Road, Forest Row RH18 5DN seasons-kitchen.co.uk 01342 601010 Seasons Whole Foods, 1/2 Medway House, Lower Rd, Forest Row RH18 5HE seasonswholefood.co.uk 01342 824673