Five Bells, Chaileyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
'Pompous prat of a manager' (see last review from 2012) has now been replaced by a very pleasant couple of new tenants (without Porsche), one of whom is the chef and the food is now excellent.
Good beer, food, atmosphere, service, and well worth a visit.
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What can I say? We arrived and it wasn't particularly busy, but it was 20 minutes before the larger than life pompous prat of a manager even acknowledged us. We were informed that most of the menu was sold out, so we had all of about 3 mains to choose from.
I had a steak, my wife had fish and chips. The chef has clearly got no idea on how to cook a steak medium rare as mine had been taken far beyond well done and had no pink left. When I informed the landlord he laughed at me, took it back to the kitchen and brought it straight back out saying the chef thinks it's fine. My wife's fish and chips was clearly cooked in oil that wasn't hot enough as the fish was far overcooked (and FULL of bones) in a pathetically soggy anemic batter. The Harveys was cloudy, but we were told that it was fine (it wasn't). We couldnt help but overhear a torrent of foul language from the kitchen, with a complete disregard for the customers sitting 5 feet from the door. Eventually the landlord wandered out of the pub and drove off in his porsche cayenne (I guess that's where all the money in this pub is going) to do some shopping while a sour faced lady who I can only assume was his wife informed us that a badly cooked crap cut of steak, out of condition harveys and awful fish and chips should still be charged at full price. We informed her that such an attitude would make us seriously consider returning, and she said "Good, we don't need whinging ****s like you in here anyway".
I should also add that I suffered a terrible upset stomach as soon as I got home. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to this pub.
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Stopped on way to Shefield Park as I used to a few years ago. Dont bother, food really not good and service awful. The place looks like it is falling down. I will be going to Newick next time.
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Quite often stop off here for some sustenance when on the way to Eastbourne, as the beer garden looks so inviting.
Apparently a bar billiards table has just been installed, so even more reason to visit.
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After a hiatus of 33 years 5 months, and now of an age where I am more qualified to pass judgement on its wares, I finally paid a proper visit to the Five Bells. I was pleasantly surprised on initial inspection as the place hasn't altered much - I have family album photos to prove it - and the charming internal and external character of the place has been maintained, with its spacious alcoves, bar area and various rooms to the rear. It is set back from the road with an appealing weather-boarded exterior and well-proportioned frontage. There is a sizeable beer garden to the right-hand-side of the building.
I was met by the new licensee, who incidentally took over on the 33rd anniversary of my last visit - 11 June - and he seemed a perfectly affable chap, who appeared to know which direction the pub was going and, ostensibly at least, seemed to have finally got his act together, having admitted some teeting troubles in the early phase. According to him, there is an assortment of various groups who are gradually latching on to the pub, from an exclusive car club to wedding parties; diners to fans of live music, which apparently features most weeks.
Food was not yet being served and I didn't have need of it, but I can only trust that the most recent review is more accurate than the preceding few. Ale-wise, it was uninspiring, with only Harvey's Best and Sharp's Doom Bar featuring at present. I took a half of the latter, and it was acceptable, though not the best. If the 5 Bells is to match the achievements cask-wise of its nearby neighbour the Horns Lodge, it has some way to go, in terms of both quality and range. Nevertheless, the licensee was not averse to expanding the ale variety should there be a clear demand; in that case he must ensure the quality of what he serves now is consistently good.
This really is a pub that is laden with latent potential to excel in a variety of ways. As yet it remains to be seen whether the new incumbents can truly realise this. The signals appeared to be positive, but I suppose the regular visitors will be the judges of their efforts, provided they at least give it a chance. At the moment, a tentative 6/10, but with some hope of improvement in the coming months. I will be back to find out at some point; I shan't be leaving it over 3 decades this time.
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Very warm welcome on a frosty evening. The table was laid out beautifully for our party of 12 (something that other pubs we have met in don't seem to bother with).
Between our party we sampled a variety of dishes including starters, mains and deserts, all of which were well presented, home cooked and piping hot with ample portions. The prices were very competetive for both the food and drinks. A very enjoyable evening was had by all and we even had the added bonus of a band playing in the bar area.
We will definately go back again.
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My husband and i have been coming to this pub for the last 10 years and i really felt i needed to say this. We visited recently. The food here is a complete disaster, this place has been renowned for its great "fish and chips" and great food for years, but all i can say about their offering was a soggy, tiny and not great tasting piece of fish. My husbands food was very bland and his chips were cold. When we comented about this to the older waitress she just looked at us, muttered something and then walked off?? The entire service was equally appalling, no one had any idea about the menu or the food on offer, it appears one of the over aged barman also doubles as the cook. As usual a really nice pub has been sold onto people who dont have a clue, I always used to recommend this place to my friends............... but now all i would say is "go elsewhere"!! I totally agree with previous comment below. how sad.
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Where are Phil and Julie !!!!!! We went to The Five Bells last week only to find it had been sold onto new owners, we always give people a chance, but my godness what a shambles, they had apparently been there a month and quite frankly not one of them had a clue!!! The food was really awful, tasteless and cheaply produced (who puts a rabbit burger on!!!!!!) and the service was like a Little Chef, we are residents of the area and since visiting we have heard not great reports from friends. we would suggest new chefs and new waiting staff. Customers vote with their feet as we have ............very very disappointed.
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Nothing really relevant to say here, other than this was the first pub I ever went in to, at the tender age of 9 days! Even I wasn't quite on the ale at that early stage so couldn't comment on it then any more than I can now. But I daresay Slerpy was probably at the bar, enjoying some Charrington IPA....
A shame it now seems to be something of a tired hostelry judging by earlier comments; I have a small but worthy affection for the pub and I only hope it learns how to prosper in future years. The building certainly suggests potential.
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Stopped for lunch on Sunday & had an average lunch. The portions are generous enough but the food was poor. My roast was tasteless, especially for the prices they are charging. I guess they see themselves as a restaurant more than a pub but its more pub food so a little confusing.
The staff were friendly & helpful although they looked a bit bored as it was pretty quiet.
Such a beautiful building but seriously in need of a make over. The garden & building look tired.
Perhaps in a few years it will have found its direction. I'll keep my fingers crossed for then & pay it another visit.
J.Dav - 10 May 2009 10:27 |
One of the fiorst pubs that i ever drank in ! fremlins I believe. T'was a Charrington house.
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This pub used to be rubbish, so I stayed away for a number of years but decided to give it another try and see if things had changed.
They have, in a big way.
It is predominantly restaurant, but there is a small bar area. The ales on offer are Harveys Sussex and Youngs Special, both of which will keep me happy for a while and both were well kept.
Unfortunately we were too late for lunch on Saturday, which stops at 14:30 but e had a look at the menu and thought it worth a visit on Sunday, when food stops at 15:00. The food was plentiful and good, not particularly cheap but worth it.
They also have a live music and seem to have a preference for jazz.
Well worth a visit.
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Have always been passed, today we decided to stop for lunch, wow what a find, when we walked in the service from the staff was so welcoming, they talked us through the menu and suggested a lovely table by their fire place, We dont think we have ever had such a welcome in a pub before!! My Husband had a steak and kidney pudding which he said was better than his mother made ( which was saying something) I had the Haddock and chips which quite frankly was Moby Dick on a plate!! It tasted amazing. We will definately be bringing the family here.
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Stopped here for lunch a couple of Sundays ago and wished we hadn't! The food was not good at all. We eat out a lot & the roast wasn't nice. The potatoes were under cooked and the meat tasted like last weeks, I sent my meal back and they duly replaced it but it wasn't much improvement, just a larger portion! My wife only had a starter which she said was okay but i think she was being polite so that I wouldn't complain. This is not the standard you expect from an establishment that claims to offer premium ingredients locally sourced. The previous reviewer must have eaten there on a good day because "awesome" is along way off my description. In their defence the wine & beer selection was jolly good. I think we will just stop for drinks next time. Stick to the Griffin or Jolly Sportsman, they may be more expensive but they have years experience & 9 times out of 10, they get it right.
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My first impression of the Five Bells was that the pub was homely, warm and inviting � we were proved right, when greeted by friendly staff.
From the moment we stepped foot in the pub, the service was friendly and attentive, without being intrusive, they have got the balance right between being a pub, yet providing restaurant standard service.
Unlike most venues, in my opinion, you can choose the type of experience you have. Either enjoy a relaxed meal in the bar areas (and enjoy the open fire as we did) or you can take yourself into the slightly more formal, restaurant area. Whichever area you choose, there is an excellent choice of food and drink, once again, there is an �option�, order a fantastic three course meal or take a more relaxed approach and enjoy some of the �pub classics� that you would expect from such a traditional venue.
In terms of quality, I can only describe the food as �Awesome�, on this my first, but buy no means last visit, I had the lamb and it was as good as I have tasted, really tender and melted like butter.
I understand that the current owners are fairly new to the pub, but what a start, they are clearly passionate about food and have a keen eye for the way a restaurant should be run, even if from the outside, it looks like a pub. I think it�s for this reason that I love the place.
Sure, we have lots of country pubs serving restaurant style food, but I challenge you to find one better than this, I haven�t.
I look forward to returning again soon, very soon. One not to be missed!!
anonymous - 29 Nov 2007 09:41 |
Rubbish!
anonymous - 25 Nov 2007 23:42 |
What has happened?? I tried 3 times a few weeks ago to have lunch but they were closed each time, I was told they had changed hands. Boo Hoo.
I shall reserve final judgement until the new people have been there longer but the service was very disorganised last week, when I finaly got my expensive lunch! I only hope they dont ruin what was a lovely pub with fab food, it has been back to its former glory for years now. Please be gentle with the pub & fingers crossed you can continue the good things from the last couple.
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Just by chance a drive by visit after a sweaty day day on the beach, I hadn't been into the pub since the mid 70s, found a terrific, friendly, good food, good drinks, good people experience. My Lady and I wished we'd had more time to eat more, food was super. Thanks to the owners a little bit of Northern France has landed in one of the nicest bits of the UK. The mix of the two works so, so well.
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only ever visited this pub a few times during my stay in chailey.. evening's mainly & always found it to have a good atmosphere, & good food!
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Not sure what Badgers' review meant about changing management since the couple running it have been there at least five years. Excellent value for money food, homemade in house with top notch ingedients. Delighful relaxed atmosphere in both the pub and the restaurant.15c pub with modern European food.. and helpful, pleasant staff. Great place to take Gran kids and dogs for lunch.
anonymous - 27 Dec 2006 23:59 |
I'm heartened to hear this pub is well-respected by BITE users. It was the first pub I ever darkened the doorstep of, but I can't comment on it in any detail, as I was only a week old at the time! Being something of a pub obsessive, this early visit rather redicted the way I was destined to be in later years.
I'd love to get back here; drove past it the other day but didn't have time to stop off. Oh well, I've waited over 29 years, I can probably wait a bit longer...
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Love it! Been 10 times in 3 months! Interesting menus, scrummy food & friendly staff. I'm always the driver so its nice to see loads of different non-alcoholic drinks. The same young couple have been there years so not sure what earlier reviewer meant?! Good value compared to so many other "foodie" pubs.
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Nice pub , good food and happy staff
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Quite a foody pub this one but seems to be okay. Surroundings are nice and they have a good beer garden.
The only teeny issue seems to have been the frequently changing management.
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Excellent food and well kept beer in comfortable and friendly surroundings. A little pricier than others round here but not enough to put you off. Not an extensive menu but I always regard this as a good sign - better to do a few things well. Lack of a chicken dish on the day of my visit was a surprise to me and a disappointment to my wife and the candles would be better suited to the evening rather than Saturday lunchtime but overall a pleasureable experience.
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lovely old 15th centry pub serving modern european food by a half asian and french chef open log fires fine dining restaraunt and bar large garden
luke harden - 11 Feb 2005 09:42 |
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