Last Orders at the Lewes Arms

Forget the Phoenix Quarter, forget Tesco - Lewes and its way of life are in crisis. Conservation is about preserving what we value but making way for positive change when it's appropriate. It's not always about buildings and town planning but about the community and what it holds dear. There is no clearer an example of this than the recent demise of the historic atmosphere of the Lewes Arms. Loved by many, it’s of great sadness to see my drinking pals turn their backs on the place. Conviviality is now replaced by corporate guidelines; regulars by customers; landlady by House Manager - it's all change in one of Lewes' finest drinking holes. Change is good for anywhere when handled sympathetically. The problem here is that the wonderful dynamic of the place has gone. It's not just the hideous proliferation of blackboards or the heavy handed enforcement of closing time but the stuff that’s hard to put into words - the banter; the familiarity of the locals and conversations with the bar staff that I'm genuinely pleased to see and I hope are pleased to see me.

The Lewes Arms is as much a cornerstone of Lewes as the Castle (and probably enjoyed by more). Like the beer it sells, it has a unique Lewes flavour that needs careful attention, preferably from someone who wants to be or is part of the Lewes spirit. Please Greene King, listen to the voice of Lewes.

Disenchanted of Lewes (Arms)