Bell in Ticehurst, Ticehurst

The original part of this 16th century coaching inn on the London to Hastings route dates from 1540 and underwent a major extension and restoration in 2011, all carried out by local craftsmen, with plans for more to come. The history of the pub is represented by contemporary posters and general history is illustrated by an eclectic range of artefacts, such as a wooden back carved tollgate notice, a portrait by the Victorian artist Margaret Carpenter, the first ever female RA exhibitor and a bell dating from 1790, cast in the Whitechapel foundry. Kipling wrote poetry here. There are Graham Sutherland prints throughout the pub, which consists of a main bar including a restaurant area, the assembly room snug upstairs and the old stable converted into a function room, (see attached picture). Outside there is seating on the front terrace ,a rear patio area and garden designed by a Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist. The guest bedrooms are inspired by the derivation of the village's name which means "wooden hill where goats graze" and so each has a silver birch trunk featuring in the decoration. The pub has been developed in an idiosyncratic style to which it is difficult to do justice in words; if you are in the area it is well worth visiting for that reason, in addition to enjoying its beer and ambience.

Breakfast is served 7.30-9.30 weekdays, 8-10 at weekends.