Sussex

While there’s plenty to keep you busy in Brighton, why not extend your stay and explore a little further into Sussex? We promise you’ll discover even more fantastic and exciting places to wine, dine and shop!

The picturesque market town of Lewes, just a 17 minute train journey from Brighton, has a bustling centre full of boutiques, antique shops, bookshops and gift shops – not to mention some fantastic pubs, cafés, bakeries and restaurants, including the original Bill’s.

Rye is a pretty harbour town in East Sussex with a hilly high street lined with interesting places to eat, drink and shop. Nearby Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards are also well worth visiting for their edgy art scene, eclectic shops and a great selection of highly rated eateries. Over in Eastbourne, on certain dates each month, you can find a bustling seafront market selling everything from crêpes to paella and much more besides that your tastebuds will thank you for. There’s more to discover in town, including tea rooms, bistros and a vintage ice cream parlour, plus plenty of shops, including a fabulous gift shop at the Towner Eastbourne art gallery.

Meanwhile, over in West Sussex, Worthing boasts some popular and much-loved local restaurants along its seafront, which have been attracting those in the know from further afield. While inland, in the scenic market town of Arundel, you can find great cafés, pubs and plenty of retail therapy in its historic town centre. However, if you’re looking for a busier city vibe, then Chichester’s pedestrianised town centre has all the shops, restaurants and watering holes you could possibly need.

Idyllic villages abound throughout East and West Sussex and, if you know where to go, you’ll find wonderful English pubs offering fantastic food, often in stunning country locations. Villages with popular pubs include Poynings, Firle, Polegate and East Dean to name just a few. For small towns and villages with great pubs, restaurants and some lovely shops, try Alfriston, Hurstpierpoint or Steyning.

If you’re eager to get off the beaten track then why not visit a Sussex vineyard? There are over 40 vineyards in Sussex, many of which offer seasonal tours, wine-tasting and dining – not to mention the opportunity to purchase a bottle of top quality locally produced sparkling wine straight from the maker! Alternatively, enticing farm shops are in plentiful supply across the region, selling locally sourced meats, cheeses, fruit, veg, conserves and more. Just don’t forget to bring your shopping bags with you, as it’s unlikely you’ll be leaving without a basket full of edible goodies!

Start exploring

Sussex!

Inspiration

Slake Spirits

Slake Spirits is an award winning, independent artisan distillery based in Sussex. We seek out the very best ingredients to create contemporary gins that surprise and delight, whilst respecting their traditional roots. Our in-house method has been thoughtfully designed to produce gins that can be sipped neat, which are complex, distinctive and showcase our locally grown and gathered botanicals. We hand produce a range of gins including our Sussex Dry Gin and Hedgerow Gin, both winners of the Great Taste Awards and some of our most popular spirits.
The Sloop Inn

The Sloop Inn is an idyllic cosy country pub nestled deep in the Ouse Valley near The Bluebell Railway.
The Jolly Sportsman

Nestled at the foot of the South Downs National Park, The Jolly Sportsman has been serving some of the best food and wine in Sussex for more than 20 years
Albourne

We are a boutique producer of exciting and distinctive single estate English white and sparkling wines, located on the edge of the South Downs near Brighton. Already highly regarded, our debut range of white wines has won multiple awards.
Ridgeview Vineyard

Nestled at the foot of the picturesque South Downs in Ditchling, just a 20-minute drive from Brighton, Ridgeview are a second-generation family company dedicated to the production of the highest quality English sparkling wine.
1. 1 Jan 202231 Dec 2022