Is there anything better than an afternoon spent sipping rose in a country pub garden come summer or in front of a roaring fire when the leaves start to fall?

The good thing about living in Brighton is how close the seaside city is to some of England’s best countryside, which happens to be scattered with great country pubs perfect for both these occasions.

So, when the temperature rises or the nights start drawing in, I turn to my trusty list of hidden Sussex country pubs near Brighton with epic gardens and cosy interiors and make for the hills.

Hidden Country Pubs near Brighton

They’re all lovely to discover, too, tucked up lost lanes and some within the folds of the South Downs National Park, and an excuse to visit a new part of the county. The  hidden Sussex country pubs near Brighton on this list are ones I’ve visited time and again that never fail to disappoint – all serving incredible food, from good-value homespun dishes to gastro quality plate.

Note from Ellie: This post was originally written in May 2021 but has been since revamped and updated to keep it fresh!

1 The Jolly Sportsman, Chiltington, East Sussex

This unpretentious gastro pub within the South Downs National Park has an epic garden with a weeping willow tree and beautiful views over to Ditchling Beacon. I often hike here for lunch whenever I’m camping at this secret Sussex meadow. (There are comfy rooms above the pub if you don’t like camping and want to make a weekend of it.)

They’re known for their exceptional food and are always designing new menus to keep things exciting, like the 25 Mile Menu featuring dishes made with ingredients sourced with 25 miles of the pub I got to try recently (see here) and highly recommend.

What’s also really nice about The Jolly Sportsman is, despite the high calibre of food, how relaxed it is. The staff are low key and super friendly, and there’s a cosy bar area complete with games and roaring fire for autumn and winter and a low-lit plant-filled restaurant. There’s also an outside bar and vine-clad terrace the restaurant opens onto come summer.

Sussex wine is a mainstay of the list, with eight and counting sparklings to choose from last time I visited (many of the vineyards are within walking distance of the pub like this one), a few fragrant whites and several juicy reds. They also do cocktails, and the Sunday roasts are incredible. I highly recommend a trip to The Jolly Sportsman.

Find The Jolly Sportsman at Chapel Lane, Lewes BN7 3BA

2 Swan Inn, Lewes, East Sussex

You’ll find The Swan Inn on the fringes of the sophisticated historic, unsung market town of Lewes just eight miles out of Brighton. It’s home to several authentic local pubs and great places for lunch including this French café in an antiques shop.

For years I dismissed The Swan Inn as dodgy looking due to the bland, unkempt exterior, that was until a local friend put me right. Inside, it’s inviting and laid-back, with a big selection of games, a roaring fire for cosy winter evenings, a quiet, and a chocolate-box cottage garden for summer pub lunches.

The food is simple, filling, delicious and well-priced – think mackerel salad for £12 (see above), and Sunday roasts for £14, alongside local beers and wines. They also do a few cocktails including the Paloma (vodka, grapefruit and soda) for a refreshing kick.

Find The Swan Inn at 30A Southover Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1HU

3 The Ginger Fox, Hassocks, East Sussex

This is my favourite country pub for a splurgy meal. It’s located on the fringes of the South Downs National Park seven miles north-west of Brighton. I’d say The Ginger Fox is the closest hidden Sussex country gastro pub to the city.

It’s set in a lovely, thatched building – note the fox on the top – which you can gaze at from your table in the secluded garden overlooking the distant Newtimber Hill, with an English mojito made with Pinkster Gin and raspberries, in hand.

Food is beautifully presented and seasonal, made with ingredients either grown on site or sourced locally. Think stream trout with watercress, candied hazelnuts, celeriac remoulade and pickled apple. It’s also renowned for its Sunday roasts, which start at £16.50.

The drinks menu includes Sussex wines by Ridgeview and Albourne, and beers by local breweries, Bedlam and Longman. There’s a small children’s play area at the end of the garden, and cycle racks out front.

Find The Ginger Fox at Muddleswood, Road, Hassocks BN6 9EA

4 The Cricketers Arms, Berwick, East Sussex

Hidden in the tiny village of Berwick, nine miles from Lewes, is this small historic pub, set in two 17th-century brick and flint cottages, with the prettiest front garden, inviting in spring when it’s in full bloom. There are South Downs views and benches in sunny and shady spots to choose.

Foodwise, there’s a small menu of homemade pub dishes, like local ham, egg and chips and Ploughman’s lunches. I’ve stopped here on country walks a few times, took my Dad here for his birthday and it’s always a hit with friends from London needing to dust off the city work-week cobwebs.

Find The Cricketers at The Village, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6SP 

5 The Eight Bells, Jevington, East Sussex

Sometimes it takes a lot for me to stop talking, but (lucky for Dan) I sat in stunned silence, pretty much the whole time it took me to drink this red wine, captivated by this view from a terraced garden, overlooking a valley and up to Folkington Hill.

On the menu, alongside substantial dishes like beef bourguignon puff pie with creamed potatoes, Jevington wild garlic risotto and Sunday roasts, are bar snacks – like bacon, leek and cider Scotch eggs. Holy Cow ice-cream made locally in nearby Seaford is also available here.

Find The Eight Bells at Jevington Road, Jevington, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5QB

6 The Royal Oak, Hooksway, West Sussex

This is a secret pub. It’s set at the bottom of a steep and narrow dead-end country lane, which means most won’t come across it. Unless you spot the sign for it up on the main road in time to make a quick turn, know about it or are here to walk the South Downs Way.

It has a pastel-pink facade, a large sloping lawned front garden, dotted with plenty of benches, some with umbrellas. The homemade food is simple, unpretentious – think jacket potatoes heaped with cheese and light puff-pastry pies!

Find The Royal Oak at B2141, Hooksway, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9JZ  

7 The Three Horseshoes, Elsted, West Sussex

Views over the South Downs landscape don’t get much better than from the spectacular wide-open, sloping lawned garden of this 16th-century inn. It’s a memorable spot for a light-summer lunch – smoked salmon, prawn and avocado salad, perhaps, and a glass of red wine, natch – while you gaze east across fields towards Midhurst and contemplate a hike up to Harting Down.

Find The Three Horseshoes at Elsted, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0JY

8  The Three Moles, Selham, West Sussex

This tiny, down-to-earth red-brick pub has the prettiest setting hidden along a leafy lane. Apparently it’s a regular hang out for polo players, patrons and grooms – seeing as this is polo country.

It has a magical landscaped three-tier beer garden, and you can play games like cards, Jenga and dominoes. In summer, the owners organise beer walks to pop-up bars set up along the route through the nearby woodland.

Find The Three Moles at Selham, Petworth GU28 0PN

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