Black Horse, Lewes

Early 19th century house which became a hotel. There are still fittings to see from a total refitting of c.1930 but a refurbishment in 2012 reduced them and also saw the removal of the lobby between the bar and the lounge creating a widish gap between them so this pub only warrants a ‘try also’ mention now. The front entrance lobby is large and long and would normally have been expected to give access to separate spaces on either side but this does not seem to have been the case (i.e. no doors left and right). The public bar retains its highly attractive wall seating in the bay windows, 1930s dado panelling but new panels have been added above, on the right is an intact 1930s tiled and wood surround fireplace but the left hand side one retains its wood surround and has a modern brick interior and a stove in front of it. The bar counter front is from the 1930s and maybe the lower bar back shelves could be 1930s work but the upper part is new. The lounge bar counter and bar back are new. All the toilets have been modernised.

Note Toad in the Hole is played here – this Lewes area pub game can be played on tables with a flat top or with a sloping top. The Lewes and District Toad in the Hole league has 2 divisions with 10 teams in each - pubs participating in 2012 are Elephant & Castle, Lewes (2 teams); Laughing Fish, Isfield (3 teams); Abergavenny Arms, Rodmell; Volunteer, Lewes; Roebuck, Laughton; Snowdrop, Lewes; Brewers Arms, Lewes; Chalk Pit Inn, Lewes; Junction Tavern, Polgate; Horns Lodge Inn, South Chailey; Ram Inn, Firle; Lewes Conservative Club; Trevor Arms, Glynde; Ye Old Smugglers Inn, Alfriston; Red Lion, Willingdon; Stand Up Inn, Lindfield; Hailsham Memorial Institute. Recently a number of new teams have replaced others – this is probably as a result of a local carpenter offering to build Toad in the Hole games for pubs (at a price!).