The Cuckmere Inn in Lewes

The visit was disappointing. It was a Birthday Celebration and all efforts by my self to make it special failed. The request on arrival for a special dessert with happy Birthday displayed was met with with very little enthusiasm. The service was slow and the wait for 45min just to receive our desserts meant we had to leave without receiving the course meant the whole experience was marred.

Lovely Sunday dinner, quick service, lovely and helpful staff, will definitely come back soon, easy booking service.

Live locally so been here several times. We have had good service and food on each visit. The parking seems to catch a few people out but there are plenty of signs around and screens on the bar and at the door. This is obviously to stop people filling up the car park who go for a walk down the valley.

Had a lovely evening, food was delicious, great atmosphere, was served by Harry he was very knowledgable of the menu and made us feel welcome

I used to quite like the cuckmere but then saw they have employed euro car parks to manage the parking, this company are a total bunch of thieves.....when entering the pub you have to input your reg number otherwise you will get a invoice in the post of probably £60 or £100.....only because I've falling foul to these c### before on another site did I know this, the cuckmere has very little signage spelling this out and I imagine the number of problems this causes to ordinary customers is immense because they simply don't know........I will never use this place again until they kick those parasites out.

Food was lovely, service was good, fires kept me warm and was a very nice atmosphere. I was served by Harry and Toby both was lovely

I visited this pub on a Monday evening a couple of weeks ago and have just had a parking fine through the post!! I would have thought the pub car park would have been free for visiting patrons and saw no signs outlining otherwise or staff members asking for vehicle reg numbers or anything!! I think this is totally outrageous!! Scamming customers who visit in good faith!!

We live in Kent but often take a trip to Seaford and have lunch in the Cuckmere Inn, which, up until now, was always very good. We went yesterday and it was awful. We had seen on their website a fixed price lunch menu so expected to be offered this. The server gave us the normal menu and, on asking about the fixed price menu, she said I don't think we do that. On checking she found they did. We ordered our food. Whilst waiting there were two ladies on another table who had ordered a large pizza to share. When this arrived with only a knife to cut it, they had to ask for plates, which they eventually got. They then had no cutlery or serviettes, fortunately we had some spare on our table which they had. The young server seemed oblivious to this. We had to wait a very long time for our food and watched the young servers. They didn't appear to clear any tables, never asked if more drinks were required. Having worked in the hospitality trade, I always kept an eye on tables and never walked away without clearing empty glasses, plates, etc. Another table near to us with four people had to ask where their food was as they had been waiting well over an hour for it. After another very long wait we were asked if we wanted dessert and asked for mini pud and a coffee, and were told no hot drinks as machine not working! We were given another cold drink and again had another very long wait for the mini pud. I will say the food was ok, but we were in the restaurant for over two and a half hours. There were other people who we heard grumbling about the waiting time. If they are short staffed and having trouble serving the food, then they shouldn't accept customers. Hence it will be a very long time before we visit the Cuckmere Inn again. Will wait to read further reviews.

There are a lot of fake reviews for this pub, it seems, mainly in praise of someone called Harry. The staff seem disengaged. A long queue at the bar, with one person serving and 3 people watching. Food below average. A salad designed by someone who has never eaten salad. The beef brisket sandwich served cold and on some of the worst toasted bread I have ever had. The chips served with it were cold, soggy and a bit nasty Possibly the weirdest thing was the refusal to serve food outside. A nice weekend at end of April with a garden full of people, and yet if you wanted to eat, you had to sit indoors. I suspect nothing will change. Lots of negative comments here, but if you are walking the coastal path, there is nowhere else to go. Personally, I would have preferred a glass of Huel than the meal we got.

I went out for lunch with my relatively large family of 7 in which we enjoyed our food and good service which is why we spent over £200 and yet two weeks later we get two fines for our cars through the door telling us to pay £200 in parking fines (in the pubs designated car park) which any one with half a brain would assume was free for the establishment and yet euro car parks told us we were not allowed to park there. I assume when you want to enjoy a meal you must park your car in the river for free parking. Not one mention form the many members of staff we saw at the front desk and nothing was said over the phone so as far as I am concerned do not go here as you will be scammed out of £200 after your appeal is denied

* understaffed- the staff were pleasant and trying their best but way understaffed for the business expected on a Sunday and the wide diversity of menu choices * white wine luke warm * 45 min ++ wait- all tables were getting annoyed at the wait * I ordered duck salad- what I got was incinerated bacon on top of some leaves with lentils. This was sent back and I was informed that there were duck supply issues… you need to be honest with people, not try and hope they don’t notice and try to charge £17.95 * I was given the option of choosing something else from the menu but declined given the time it took for the food to arrive initially and the likelihood the rest of my family would be finished before I started * children’s menu was very small portion size for the price and although the waitress asked if we wanted any sauces… this never materialised. * very disappointing meal and experience and would not recommend

Had a wonderful meal, there was live music, brilliant service, delicious food and a beautiful view of the Cuckmere river.

The food was good, however we waited over half an hour before the food was served. The server was very good. Thank you Tom. However it is very expensive.

Seriously disappointing food, disaffected and disinterested staff (with a couple of very obvious exceptions) saved only by the beautiful views. ‘Devon’ crab cake (goodness knows why when we have some of the best fish available locally!) was a whole lot of potato, no hint of crab….and the spicy calamari was 90% unpleasant batter. Such a shame that this place has been reduced to this, it could be truly fabulous with locally sourced ingredients, simply served with pride. As it is, it happily exploits the passing (one time only) trade from walkers and tourists and has no need to set high standards of hospitality and food quality. We won’t be back.

We’ve just been served by Elliott who oversees a section of the busy restaurant and deserves every one of our 5 stars. This chap is very professional yet super friendly and clearly enjoys his work. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Great job and hope the management recognise him 😀

A great location but don't let the classy decor and menus deceive you. Service was poor, we had to go to the bar to ask for extra drinks. No- one came to check our food was OK. It was only when the bill came that...

I came here for some lunch with my family and was welcomed and seated instantly by Harry, he was polite and advised us on his favourites from the menu. Food was good and location was lovely. I would recommend to anyone to visit for some...

Really friendly staff, we had Harry serve us. He’s very professional and knowledgeable when asking questions about the menu.

Was served by Harry, perfect service. Felt very welcomed and helped with great knowledge of the menu, food was outstanding. Would definitely come back

I was served by Harry and Levi and it was nothing short of perfect. They were polite from the moment I walked in and always happy to help. My food was 10/10 as well to top it off!

Great food, lovely staff really enjoyed myself at this restaurant. Would definitely come back again cannot fault it at all!

Was served by Harry, great service and very polite while also making our meal more enjoyable, food was exceptional, would definitely come back and recommend to anyone who wants a nice night out for food

Food at the cuckmere is exceptional, i was served by a young lad called harry, very polite lad and his customer service was excellent.

The food was great, one of the best burgers I have ever had . Sarah was lovely who has worked there fro many years. It was a really lovely lunch. I went with my partner and her grandson and his girlfriend.

Great night out a lovely location, food was good. Very warm and welcoming. Added to that we had the fabulous Tom Fitzpatrick to entertain us. As usual he was excellent. Highly recommended.

Alex was great and the food is lovely. Very high standard for pub food. Really enjoyable - would highly recommend it!!!!

Came for a lovely family lunch to celebrate our marriage at the weekend and was treated amazing. Food was incredible! We had the pie and burgers. Alex was our waitress and she was so helpful. She went above and beyond to be a great host!...

The food was really lovely and it was nice and warm inside. Our server Alex was great and very polite and friendly. I would recommend to come here especially with some family members

Alex was very good, she was very good. Good service short wait times and she was very friendly and considerate with us. Would recommend coming here

Extremely busy pub on Easter weekend. We got a mixture of Sunday roasts in our group of 6 and it was really good. Alex served us she was absolutely great, professional, friendly, hard working and made us feel welcome. We were really happy with the...

Alex was wonderful! The essence of calm and control in a really busy service. Her friendly attitude made our Easter! Wonderful trip out.

Absolutely lovely roast, food was great as always and our server alex was wonderful, really friendly and helpful. Great service for an Easter Sunday

We visited on Easter Sunday so the restaurant and garden were understandably busy though the restaurant tables are very well spaced apart and we were VERY WELL SERVED by Maisy. Menu is quite varied with fairly standard pub food choices. Everything we had was OK but lacked much creativity. Great location overlooking the Cuckmere canal and river delta.

Took my parents to this wonderful restaurant. The service from Alex was wonderful, very nice greeting and ensured our stay was pleasant. My parents first time here and they are sure to return. Many thanks.

Excellent food and excellent service by Elliot. We will definitely come again. We all had such a nice time in this pub with such a lovely setting. We had a window overlooking the river and beautiful green hills.

Amie was a lovely waitress, I asked for major changes in my meal and Amie did her best to make the changes happen, the food was delicious, will come again!

A gastro pub rather than a good old fashioned pub! Enjoyable food and drink but generally booking required for this pub near great walks and views. Well worth a visit but no bar stools or areas to sit for a drink, without feeling you need to order food.

It was lovely, we were served by Alex she is 10/10 We had some sides and a desert each and the food was just amazing Can’t wait to come back with my boyfriend

Our server Sarah was excellent and couldn’t have been more helpful- thank you to her. One of us is vegan and the menu and food for this diet is poor. The omni menu is fine, if a little expensive.

Lovely spot with great views. A very nice lunch served by a very friendly Alex. Would higly reccomend to anyone. Will be coming back for sure.

This spot is great for a casual night or day out. Food was good and friendly staff who work very hard. Tom was our server and he was excellent at his job. We will be viisiting again.

Great pub/restaurant. Great food , Good prices & top staff. Always a relaxed atmosphere. The scenery is an added bonus. Would definitely go again

Bought my partner here for his birthday, first time for the both of us, beautiful pub with wonderful views of the river. We both had a tasty Sunday roast served by Alex who was amazing 🤩 will definitely be coming again!

Service was quick despite being a busy Saturday on a glorious Spring day. We all had the brisket sandwiches with beef dripping sauce (delicious!) and there was no quibble about swapping chips for salad or removing the onions on a couple of the orders. Loved...

Really good place for lunch after our walk at Cuckmere. Great food and very good service from the waiter Tom who took the time to make sure we had a relaxed and pleasant meal. Thank you

Perfect service service from loads of friendly staff, came on a lovely sunny day and location was beautiful. will definitely be back

Beautiful food, stunning location and swift service. Amie was our server who was friendly, professional and smiling. NB : She dealt with the complaint (unjustified I may add) with the woman on the next table smoothly and politely. We had absolutely no complaints at all....

Went for dinner with my partner. Food was lovely, service was good, friendly staff, very reasonably priced. Lots of parking. Menu had a fair amount of variety. Our waitress Amie was friendly and very helpful. Will go back and would recommend a visit.

Amazing mother’s day dinner, served by elliot and was perfect! Food was spot on and service was amazing! Service from Elliot was perfect couldn’t ask for more anything better!

10/10 good food and service for Mother’s Day, served by Tom who was great, polite and efficient. Would definitely recommend

Lovely place. great views. brilliant place for families would 100% recommend to anyone and everyone plus pet friendly! thank you Alex!

This pub cashes in on its position on the Sussex Downs and is desperately overpriced. We were charged £7.50 for two cups of barely warm coffee, one supposedly a cappuccino and the other a latte. Both were the same, except that one had a sprinkling...

Perfect! Great fish n chips and friendly service! Good value. Nice views. Lovely fire. Will come again. Alex was great staff member.

Alex was so helpful, went over the menu. Lovely and very chatty! Food was stunning, we will be back! The duck pizza was amazing!

Had a great Sunday dinner, and served by Sarah who was very friendly and attentive. we knew we got here relatively late but the pork belly option was incredibly and all cooked to perfection. service and ambiance spot on. Will come back!!

Love the area, near where we live. Good family meal, great food and fabulous service. The staff were good but Dylan was brilliant! Very attentive service but not intrusive, friendly and happy. What more could you want?!

Lovely food and ambience with the fireplace! Very warm and cosy. Service was ok, there was one waiter who was extremely lovely with great customer service, the rest were a little slow.

Lovely food (we had the pizza and chicken skewer which were both really tasty and good portion sizes) and Elliot, our waiter, was great - very attentive and welcoming. Perfect stop for our walk - thank you!

Elliott was a great host and made sure our lunch was special. And with a smile! The soup was tasty and all our lunches were perfect 👍

Lovely evening in front of the fire. Good food and staff really looked after us especially Amie nothing was too much trouble

Five of us went for lunch. The pub was warm and welcoming. We all enjoyed our food which was served quickly and was nice and hot . Our waitress Sarah was friendly and efficient. Will be back soon.

Friendly welcome, prompt, efficient service with a smile, lovely food. Great location to start a walk on the Downs, but bear in mind you have to register your car inside the pub to avoid a parking fine & it's only fair that you spend some...

My oh my that Elliott is good and that Adam. Adam was charming as ever, Elliott isn’t the sharpest tool but bless him he tries, all jokes aside an amazing service from two great handsome young waiters.

Out for a walk along the Cuckmere river and popped in for a quick bite and a beer on the way home. Excellent service and good food

Amazing food, perfect service, lovely ambiance. Celebrated Valentine’s Day at this wonderful pub, will definitely be back.

We were met and served by Dylan. He greeted us with a smile and we were made to feel welcome from the begining. We were not rushed into selecting our meals and Dylan 'popped over' from time to time to check we were ok. My...

Sarah was our server and was lovely and friendly. Looked after our every need for a great Valentine’s Day meal. Food was yummy and had a great evening.

Love it here, food and service was great, great company. thanks Alex. Beautiful scenery here and helpful to have accessible access

We went for an early valentines meal at 5pm. Food was amazing but husband steak was well done rather than medium but still tasted great. I had the pork belly which was great The severs were all amazing Dylan, elliot and another lady. Really enjoyed...

Visited with my family on the 11th of february to be greeted by a warm welcome and pleasant atmosphere. Had the trio of roast and my parents both had the turkey, all delicious and cooked to perfection. We were served by the lovely sarah and dylan. Would definitely recommend here and will most definitely be coming back!

We often stop here for a bite to eat and a drink if we’re passing and a cold damp February lunchtime was a great reason to stop. Greeted by a blast of warmth and smiling face and given a nice table for two in the window. Maisy was our waitress, again service with a smile. We had a steak sandwich with fries each, a wine and a coffee all of which were perfect. The prefect setting which has lost none of its charm in the numerous years we’ve been visiting. Until the next time, thanks.

Lovely Sunday lunch and wonderful view over Cuckmere National Park. Good ambience and excellent service from Elliot.

A lovely old worldly pub overlooking the beautiful South Downs and Cuckmere river. Our waitress Sarah was very engaging and we were pleased with the quality and quantity of the food we chose. Looking forward to the summer when we can sit out on the extensive decking and enjoy alfresco dining. For those with four legged friends, this pub is dog friendly

Just had a wonderful afternoon/dinner at Cuckmere Inn for our daughter's birthday. Sarah who served our table was brilliant...so friendly & attentive. She even arranged a birthday candle for my daughter's dessert. How really thoughtful & kind 🥰 Food was delicious and the dining area was so cosy, comfortable and warm. Thank you so much. The Wallis's xx

This a Charming Pub / Restaurant situated overlooking the River Cuckmere and the Seven Sisters in the distance, with not one but two open fires. The waitering staff are very attentive & our waiter Alex was very helpful. There was no sence of being hurried...

The Cuckmere Inn is a great place for a family meal, we visit often and the food is always well prepared and served by very professional staff, Dylan has served us on several occasions and is always friendly and welcoming.

Warm and welcoming after a long walk. Staff friendly and attentive. Food and drink are reasonably priced and delicious.

Perfect location and menu options were vast. Mixed reviewed but we ate at this chain in Bournemouth and was just the same. Highly recommend. My only criticism is that while I have no issues with dogs, and it’s clear this restaurant is dog friendly. I’d...

Had lunch here with friends on a Tuesday. The food was OK but not brilliant and expensive. Burger and chips was alright but chips were luke warm. Pie and chips wasn't too bad. Sea bass was only lukewarm . Curry was OK but at nearly...

Lovely venue and staff were very helpful, polite and pleasant. Was particularly impressed by Maisy, our waitress, on checking for any allergies in our group and arranging for one of the salads to be adjusted slightly to accommodate one. Very pleasant, relaxed and tasty lunch;...

Excellent service from a very nice, helpful young lady called Alex. Food was great and it was a first visit for my neighbour, who would like to go again. Log fire made it very cosy.

Went today, quite busy. Husband had steak (£25) I ordered burger & fries (£18) - it was awful. Food luke warm. Burger had some pulled meat mess on top of the cheese which stuck to the bun, couldn’t eat that. The burger was luke warm...

Fantastic meal, and atmosphere as always…. The place was chilled out, welcoming and clean. The staff greeted us with a smile and were polite. Food was very tasty, just wish we had more room for desert. Would recommend to anyone/everyone.

Very cosy and welcoming great service by Alex would recommend food very good and reasonably priced.beautiful log fire and nice ambiance.

The beautiful Alex still managing the helm single handed and never fails to disappoint she is worth more than a min wage and te travel from mid susssx to this fav place !

Have been here many times. Great location and food. Dylan, our waiter was very helpful, friendly and accommodating to our requests. Even got the chef to write down how he makes his crackling so crackly! A great evening and great staff!

The food was lovely we had the seabass main, halloumi side and also a burger main. Drinks were lovely we had a mock tail and also a glass of wine which paired well with the seabass. Ambience was nice, we were seated near the open...

The food was delicious, highly recommend the pork belly which was excellent. Dog friendly which is great for the location! And beautiful views :))

Delightful food. Warm and cosy atmosphere. Alex was a wonderful waitress. She looked after us well. Will def come back - esp for the mango pavlova!!

We visited the Cuckmere Inn for lunch having been here before and to other Vintage Inns. The menu and festive menu were ok and acceptable to us. Hover, as previous visits to this chain of restaurants portions are controlled and food is nothing special and...

We booked a table for our family Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. Food was delicious & service from Ryan & team was great. We will definitely return for more meals out. Thank you!

Had a party of three at Cuckmere Inn on Thursday 14th December.We had a great night,it was warm and friendly,food was very good and the waitress Sarah was amazing.Thanks to all

Free parking. Wide range of food options. Chicken was cooked well and nicely presented. Quick table service: attentive staff. Beautifully decorated for Xmas. My toddler was free to roam around the space.

Lovely friendly atmosphere -helpful staff, and a good variety of menu options Would definitely recommend a visit xxx

Having avoided the Cuckmere Inn for a few years due to it's poor reputation and negative reviews we were invited for dinner by friends and were intrigued as to how good or bad it would be. The restaurant was nicely decorated for Christmas and we...

We had a table near the log fire which was lovely. Service was quick and food was great. Elliott who looked after us was friendly and professional. Will definitely be back..

A great atmosphere, warm, friendly and helpful staff and good food . Our friend is dairy intolerant and our young waiter couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Well done 👍

My family of 15 came here for a Christmas meal. Alex was exceptional in challenging circumstances, a whirlwind of children under 8. Alex was attentive and accommodating, ensuring everyone single was of one has had a great meal.

Lovely meal, in a lovely pub. Service by Tom was brilliant and the food by Luke was perfect ! Could not recommend it more. Thank you !

Amazing food, venue and service - we had such a lovely evening out, thank you! the atmosphere is just right with open fire and cosy decor. food was superb; i had pate for starter, duck for main and cheesecake for desert, all made to perfection!...