Cuckmere Inn in Down

SJ and Alice were lovely and provided great customer service with great views and a lovely atmosphere

My server today was Shannon vessey she done a amazing job maxing sure I had a great experience at your establishment I had the buttermilk chicken burger it was extremely delicious and tasted well prepared and fresh

Staff are amazing Dk and Alice were very lovely 😊

Had 3 courses here and all of the food was delicious and came quite quickly despite being busy. The views out the windows are lovely and our server Dylan was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The toilets were clean and when people left around us the tables were cleaned straight away. Only negative I could think is the starters were a bit on the small side but very good experience overall

Great day out with family, served by a really friendly face called Dylan, who was very helpful and polite. Would definitely come again!

The food was amazing and our server Dylan was very helpful and friendly. Would highly recommend eating here.

A Perfect place for resting, dining and scenary.

Had a great meal an a good evening, enjoyed so much go there a fair bit ,the food was good an the staff are all very friendly an a good laugh ,I would certainly recommend a great place to go .

Very friendly staff, food was excellent

A bit disappointed, had a table booked for 18 people for a 60th birthday party. A few things seemed to go awry. We asked for the kids meals to come first and after a very long wait they came alone with the adult main courses which was frustrating. A few of the main courses were cold and one dessert was rock hard and inedible which was returned. Upon arriving we mentioned we’d be using £10 off vouchers per family and nothing was said but being given the bill for almost £500- we were told it was one voucher per bill and not for use on a Saturdays. The terms said it was eligible for Mon-Sun and expires in April. We asked to split the bill up (surely they didn’t expect one payment for a table of 18!?) and the server got visibly exasperated with us and was incredibly rude to us. She then walked away from us mid conversation trying to work out why we’d been charged for 2 extra desserts we didn’t have. I can appreciate its tough to serve and feed a large table but we were made to feel like an annoyance rather than a valued customer and in the end we paid the bill and left to sort it out elsewhere. This means we ended up not using our £60 off worth of vouchers and paying for food we didn’t even have. We understand mistakes happen but the way were ignored and there were visible eye rolls from our server it’s safe to say that all 18 of us will not be attending this restaurant again.

Perfect lunch place after our walk!

Good food, friendly service and dog friendly too. Varied menu. There was quite a queue for the bar, but we had table service so didn’t affect us!

08/03/2025 update Had the same curry again and it was served barely warm with old rice. ------------ Have been here three times and all after a big walk from Eastbourne. It is a nice treat to have at the end of the hike. Price: quite dear comparing to other similar pubs but I guess a lot of other pubs don't have the views over cuckmere river. Food: First time here, thought the food was just average. Second time here, thought the food was decent. Now the third time, I have the Penang curry and that was delicious!!! The service: The first two times, I thought the service was really not up to my expectations but today, we had two amazing waiting staff.

Not necessarily a review,but big thanks to the staff here, who let me use their toilet back in September when I had a very bad stomach ache when i was out walking! Your kindness to people makes a huge difference. 🥰

Had been for a lovely walk at Seven Sisters. So had worked up an appetite. I chose the lamb skewers with triple cooked chips. Was really yummy and really enjoyed it. Would defo order it again. Sat outside in the garden with the warm spring sunshine. Was a lovely afternoon and would highly Recommend.

Beautiful setting and our waitress was lovely but the food was a huge let down. The roasts took about an hour to arrive and were stone cold, and there was a hair in the cauliflower cheese. The waitress was apologetic and took the food back, and returned 5 minutes later with ‘fresh’ food but this was just the same food that had been reheated in the microwave. The cauliflower cheese still had the hair in it and the cold roast dinners were now warm but completely soggy/stale. We knew they weren’t fresh meals as one of us took a bite out of a roast potato and this was still on the plate when it returned. Overall very let down as this was a birthday lunch and we ended up not eating any of it!

Such a gorgeous pub and the food is great

Great experience ! Perfect spot to have lunch after or in-between walks with great views and great food ! Will definitely come back

Visited for lunch today. Very tasty food and friendly service. Great cosy atmosphere inside with open fires on.

This pub is an absolute gem! With its beautifully designed interior, it offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed meal or a drink with friends. The lovely garden is a fantastic spot to enjoy a pint on a sunny day, surrounded by greenery and charm. The food is consistently good, with a great selection of hearty dishes. And the Guinness? Absolutely top-notch—smooth, rich, and perfectly poured. Add to that an outstanding location, making it a must-visit whether you’re a local or just passing through. Highly recommended!

A great place for a birthday lunch. Great menu choices and very friendly staff

Lovely pub in a great location. It was Saturday I visited and it was rammed with people eating and drinking. Pizza was very good, which is what I had. Cudos to staff who, even though they looked short-staffed, managed everything really quick. Recommended!

Expensive food but decently priced beer, and nice relaxed atomsphete

Lovely food and nice atmosphere. Thank you Sarah for 5 star service!

Fantastic pub with great food, service from Chloe was excellent, dog and kid friendly too! Looking forward to going back already, highly recommend.

Brilliant place, food cooked to perfection & atmosphere of venue excellent 👌

Came on a Sunday with my daughter, service was fantastic from Dylan and Sarah; the Sunday beef was second to none, would definitely recommend! Will be coming back!

Lovely pub, great food and service. Staff members- especially Dylan very helpful, providing all local transport tips and recommendations. Great stop during Seven Sisters hike.

All good except food was a little slow but I don’t mind that if it is well cooked and tasty. It was pretty good but a tad expensive for pub food.

Lovely place to sit and take in the local surroundings. Worth a visit for lunch followed by a lovely walk along the seven sisters.

Amazing chilled atmosphere plenty of space around the tables so you don't feel closed in and can have a private conversation at your table, lots of stunning views across the valley. The service and quality of food is what you'd expect from a 5 star restaurant.

Visited for lunch, warm atmosphere with a very friendly welcome. Food was sensational. Service from Alex was exceptional, tended to our every need. Would highly recommend

Lovely pub, food is not complicated and well prepared. Loved the cosy fireplace. Service made it an excellent experience, thanks Sarah for looking after us.

Fantastic staff, very welcoming. Hosted our bike group of 60,for a proposal celebration. Loads of parking.

The Cuckmere Inn enjoys a truly stunning setting, with picturesque views that make it an ideal spot for a post-hike meal or drink. We appreciated that they were happy to accept muddy boots, a welcome touch given the number of walkers passing through. On arrival, we were seated quickly, and our first drinks order was taken and served efficiently, which set high expectations for the rest of our visit. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. The service was poor, with a moody and short-tempered waitress who didn’t seem to grasp even the basics of hospitality. This attitude wasn’t an isolated incident—it seemed to extend across the team. At one point, I went to the bar to chase a drink that hadn't arrived, only to be dismissed by the bartender, who told me the waitress would "get to it" in her own time. When the drinks finally arrived, we found them double-charged on the bill, adding further frustration. The food took an age to arrive, with staff blaming a backed-up kitchen due to everyone arriving at once. Given that we had booked in advance, it raises the question of whether a better system should prioritise bookings over walk-ins—something the wider hospitality industry might want to consider. That said, the food itself was excellent. We ordered the skewers, which were flavourful, well-cooked, and came with a good range of sides. It’s a shame the experience leading up to it didn’t match the quality of the food. Would we return? Probably not. On our next hike in the area, we’ve already agreed to bring a packed lunch rather than risk another frustrating visit. A real shame, given the fantastic location.

Service was amazing I was served by Alex and she was lovely and polite

Everything was amazing from the moment we came in. Alice and Dylan were great, the food was lovely and we were very glad the menu included vegan options which were also lovely. The place is beautiful and very cozy, I can not praise it enough!

Great food, great service! Dylan was very helpful and accomodating to my allergies which is usually quite difficult to get from other places!

Delan amazing 👏 🤩 keep the good service coming. Definitely worth a come back

Dylan was pleasant and polite and most accommodating during our visit. Food was good and atmosphere relaxing. The open fire was a real treat too.

Food was greats atmosphere was lovely. Dillon who served us couldn’t have beeen more helpful.

Great atmosphere Dylan was really helpful nothing was to much trouble He even put an log in the fire 🔥🔥🔥 THANK YOU!

Absolutely amazing lovely family pub food is brilliant and service is absolutely amazing always go above and beyond. Highly recommend! Lovely friendly staff.

Their calamari is hands down the best I've had, and service is grand and our server Dylan was brilliant xx definitely a great place to go for a meal

Excellent food and great service, especially Dylan 👌

Amazing food, great service. Dylan the waiter was very attentive and really helpful. Will be coming back for sure!

The Food is amazing lovely family pub. Staff are friendly and helpful best pub I’ve been too.

Prompt service, friendly helpful staff and delicious food, particularly the steak! Dylan our server was so helpful and couldn't have done more for us.

The food was overcooked, shame really as a lovely place

Made very welcome by all staff, Dylan, Sarah and Shannon. Food was excellent served in a good atmosphere. We had our dog with us who was made welcome just as we were

Absolutely amazing food, Dylan's service was second to none, very attentive but not annoying, so friendly.

Took my other half for a meal. We were served by Thomas all evening, he was polite and ensured we got everything we needed. My steak was slightly undercooked but Thomas didn’t hesitate to send it back to the kitchen. Once it was cooked to my liking the food was lovely and nice atmosphere around the place. He recommended ketchup for the steak which I thought was odd but he was just being nice. Looking forward to coming back and I will ask for Thomas to serve us again!!

Went for a lovely meal today, got sat in a lovely section with a great view, was served by Toby, he was very attentive and welcoming, catered to my every needs, I had the beef roast which was a lovely size portion and cooked by Sophie, would definitely recommend, will be returning!

Absolutely lovely place, food was lovely and Chloe our waitress was first class will definitely return

We came in as a large group and welcomed with a smile 😊 Chips were lovely and drinks cold 👌🏼

Incredibly good crispy chicken burger!!! would absolutely eat there again. friendly service

Lovely service by SJ, thank you very much

Amazing service and a great pint guiness. Food people scenery great and the most best part is the plesent smile of sarah jane !

A lovely Thankyou to the team SJ, Chloe, Sarah, Liv and Shannon for welcoming us after a long walk. Lovely pub atmosphere and clean environment despite us muddy walkers😁 definitely recommend

Tucked away but stumbled across it and lovely little find

Great place to stop for a lovely meal. Have been couple of times now and the food has always been great. Staff are always friendly

The food and service are always good here 👍 Shannon today did great serving our table and gave my dog Lili a bowl of water!

Great food, nice people, thank you Sharron

Discovered this gem place on a trekking journey from Seaford to Eastbourne and highly recommend it to anyone whether you’re walking in the area or passing it by car. Fantastic service and very cozy atmosphere. Special thanks to Alex 🥂 ps. Managed to finish the trail without a fall 😎 Tequila Girls xx

Good pub food and atmosphere. Excellent service by Alex.

Friendly warm service. Unfussy cosy atmosphere.. This would be a decent level of food for michelin star restaurant.

Great tasty food, good portion size and friendly and efficient service by Alex. Good show!

Lovely time at the cuckmere! Had the pork belly which was delicious!

Wonderful friendly atmosphere and Alex is superb. Great selection of starters to have after a long walk

A really great meal for 6 after our long dog walk by the beach. Sarah was a fantastic waitress for us, accommodating to every need including the roaring fire next to us! Food was top quality, I would really recommend a visit here but make sure to book a table if in the busy times.

Shannon She was lovely, made us feel very welcome and very attentive to all tables around us as well as us. My wife is celiac and milk intolerant and they were so helpful to what she could have. A breath of fresh air 10/10

Sarah was so warming and attentive to us! We had a lovely little lunch with nibbles and a sandwich that was delicious! Thank you for making our afternoon so lovely.

Great location, food was really yummy. Sarah looked after us very well. :)

We have been to the Cuckmere many times and every time it’s lovely. We have had Shannon as our server several times and she has always been incredibly kind, friendly and helpful. Anything we ask for is never a problem and if anything needs sorting she does it straight away. We have a little girl who can be a bit of a terror and we are never made to feel unwelcome or too much trouble. She also remembered us even though she must see so many people everyday, which was very sweet of her!

We enjoyed a light lunch by the fire. Alex was excellent and looked after us well. The bar snack offer was excellent value for money and wine delicious. Views are beautiful and we will definitely be making a visit again soon.

Good food, friendly staff and a nice atmosphere. Somewhere we happily go on a regular basis, either for food, or just for drinks.

Alex our server was lovely! The fire burning was the nicest touch whilst having our family dinner. Lovely staff and lovely food. Had the dogs are welcome!!

Absolutely brilliant meal. From the moment we walked in we were greeted with nothing but smiles and warmth. I had the Pork roast - it's a Sunday menu today. And when I say it was some of the best pork I've had.. I really mean it. The accoutrement was good, not incredible. Lovely staff including SJ and a lovely environment. The Perfect Sunday afternoon spot after a cold blustery walk.

Very nice lunch and good service from Dylan

The inn is lovely, comfortable and cozy. Our server Sara was great! Good drinks and good food.

Excellent skewers, very relaxed and quiet in the evening. Attentive service.

Went for a meal on NYE and was 10/10. Food, service, atmos! Had the steak and it was cooked to perfection! Special mention to SJ (the landlady).. we will be back!

Wonderful place to come and eat and drink, came in earlier today and was served by Tommy. Great service from him and lovely food with a perfect atmosphere! Would definitely come back. 5*

Been twice recently, lovely atmosphere, great friendly staff and good food.

What a lovely pub.. so friendly and dog friendly for all the walks around the area. Roast was superb. Alex who served us was brilliant. A really good Sunday roast, after a really good Sunday walk.. great pub, great location, great people thank you

Lovely food, service from Sarah and atmosphere

Went Christmas eve for dinner with six of us. Steaks were not available, they'd been popular but my pork belly was delicious , staff really welcoming and Christmas decorations looked lovely. Ambience not quite there yet but definitely a massive improvement since my last visit. Thank you so much.

Nice clean place .food is OK but was Luke warm .Not impressed

Thank you to Shannon for all of your hard work today - it looked like you were single handedly looking after everyone in the restaurant today! Shannon was very attentive and checked in on us several times. Unfortunately the food was very slow to come out of the kitchen - we had to chase up desserts twice - which is no reflection on the front of house staff. The food itself was absolutely delicious, once it arrived.

Came here on Christmas Eve with a large group and enjoyed it immensely!! Manger was very friendly and helpful xx Would highly recommend coming here especially over the Christmas period as it looks amazing to xx

My family and I came here today for our Christmas meal and we all really enjoyed it. The portions were generous, service was great and my son - who can sometimes be a picky eater - was really happy. Thank you!

Lovely environment, attentive staff, delicious food.

Had a decent lunch today and the Cuckmere Inn - food was OK and whilst obviously short staffed our waitress Alex was excellent catering to our many questions. Thank you!

Really lovely food and very cosy little pub! 100% recommend🤩

Lovely Sunday roast dinner served by Alex, who was fantastic. She was attentive, and friendly. The service really made our dining experience special. Thank you

Lovely atmosphere and great setting. Friendly staff. Food could have been better.

Great service staff all very friendly, personable and on hand to help with any requests. We came for dinner and a quiz run by the fabulous Thomas sage who made a fantastic quiz master starting about making sure everything ran perfectly. Food was just right on all levels.

Nice meal , friendly welcome , lovely staff , great decor. Veggies cold and undercooked which was a real shame as other than that it was perfect

Came with our dog on Saturday, Alice and the other members of staff were 1st class! friendly , helpful and accommodating. We had chicken skewers and halloumi skewers which were nice. Open fire and Xmas decor. They even have a dog station with water and treats. Well done to you and your colleagues Alice

All a pleasant experience lovely atmosphere and friendly efficient staff. Just take kids for bruch with santa they loved it nice way to start a Sunday xxx