I ate at the best pub in Sussex – and the food blew me away

But step through the door of this small but mighty pub in East Sussex and you’re in for an absolute treat.

I was invited to have a meal at the Jevington-based institution following its win in the category of Best Sussex Pub at the annual BRAVO (Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online) 2026 Awards and its two AA Rosette accreditation in May.

Located just 15 minutes from Eastbourne, my husband and I arrived for a late lunch on Saturday and it was very busy – always a good sign if even in the more ‘off’ hours a pub is bustling.

We were seated by a cosy fire (sadly not on due to the warmer weather we had been having) and were quickly talked through the menu by our lovely waitress.

Everything is home-cooked, offering a superb range of elevated pub classics and traditional dishes to choose from.

For starters, we opted for a braised Sussex pork cheek, with celeriac purée, pickled apple, crispy sage, and a pork reduction (£14) and a Jerusalem artichoke and local pear salad, with pickled & candied walnut, whipped Sussex goat's curd and burnt Jevington honey dressing (£12).

But before they arrived, the chef sent us some bread, pickled vegetables and puffed pork crackling, which were delicious to enjoy with our drinks – a nice glass of a subtle pinot grigot and a pint of Longman lager.

When they came, the starters were thoroughly delicious and, like every dish at The Eight Bells, beautifully presented.

For our main courses, it was tough to pick, but in the end I plumped for the Sussex smokie pie, with locally smoked haddock, soft boiled egg, charred greens and sourdough (£24). There was an incredible amount of fish in this dish, and the flavour was super intense.

My husband – who it’s fair to say is a lover of meat – declared his bavette steak, which came with fries, bone marrow butter and gherkin gravy (£26) ‘delicious’ and ‘cooked to perfection'.

We could have stopped there, but where would the fun be in that?

So, after a little break we ordered some puddings. And thank goodness we did, because oh my goodness they were good.

My dark chocolate and cherry torte, with Kirsch cherries, tonka bean, and chocolate soil (£12) was as deep and rich as I’d hoped. As a lover of anything that comes with a ‘black forest’ label, it was my perfect dessert.

A take on ‘banoffee’ was my husband’s choice. Billed as the pub’s own take on the Jevington-born classic with pastry lattice, oat crumb and banoffee ice cream (£11). As expected, it was amazing.

It’s easy to see why The Eight Bells won the coveted BRAVO Award, and not just once – it also took the Best Sussex Pub crown in 2024.

They’ve got the balance just right. Top-notch food worthy of a place in any fancy restaurant, but served in a relaxed setting where tired dogs back from a long plod with their walking boot-clad owners lollop on the floor and locals hang out in comfy chairs by the bar with a pint.

If this is fine pub dining then I am absolutely here for it.

For more information, or to book a table, see https://eightbellsjevington.com/