BRAVO award winners 2025
Best Sussex Pub
Best East Sussex PUBs in 2025 – Top Twenty Winners
Nothing beats a country pub, and we think East Sussex pubs are second to none. Whether it’s a fireside pint in winter or a sun-soaked beer garden in summer, the county is packed with perfect spots to eat, drink, and unwind.
With top-notch local ales, seasonal menus, and warm hospitality, our BRAVO Best Sussex Pub Top 20 truly have it all.
Congratulations to this year’s BRAVO winner – The Jolly Sportsman – and to all the lovely locals shortlisted in 2025. Cheers everyone – see you down the pub!
First place - Best Sussex Country Pub
Find BRAVOS’ #1 Sussex Pub, The Jolly Sportsman, and never look back! Nestled in East Chiltington at the foot of the South Downs, its country-cottage charm and stunning garden create the perfect retreat. The seasonal menu showcases local produce and fresh fish from the Sussex Coast. Plus, there’s an excellent selection of Sussex wines and cask bitters. Legendary roasts, community events, a roaring fire, and a friendly team make it Sussex pub perfection.
The Jolly Sportsman also won #7 Best Roast #12 Best Wine List
Second place - Best Sussex Country Pub
Just beyond the beacon lies the pretty village of Ditchling, and right at its heart, The Bull. This historic pub has welcomed travellers and locals since the 16th century, offering a warm place to rest and relax. With an elevated take on a traditional Sussex pub menu – including a cracking roast – a well-stocked bar, cosy rooms, and a lovely garden, days at The Bull are always days well spent.
The Bull also won #20 Best Sunday Roast
Third place
The Fountain Inn is so quintessentially picture-perfect it featured in a Paul McCartney’s 1979 video for ‘Wonderful Christmastime’! Think wooden beams, a huge open fireplace, cosy seating, and a pond – with real-life ducks! The menu showcases fresh Sussex produce, using fermentation, pickling, and aging to create incredible depth of flavour. With a champagne and oyster bar in the gorgeous garden during the good weather, this Sussex pub gives everything you could want and more.
fourth place - Best Sussex Country Pub
The Dorset Lewes
The 300-year-old Dorset pub in Lewes is steeped in the history and culture of the area. One of Harvey & Son’s oldest pubs, it was built on the site of an illegal workhouse just below the famous Bridge Wharf brewery. Headquarters of the legendary Cliffe Bonfire Society, The Dorset remains at the heart of this community with a selection of Harvey’s finest on tap and a classic pub menu that hits all the right spots.
fifth place
Barley Mow Selmston
The quintessential Sussex country pub reimagined! Nestled in the stunning Sussex countryside, this beloved, centuries-old public house has recently undergone a gorgeous renovation, bringing it bang up to date. The fresh, seasonal menu is paired with an excellent range of drinks. Outside, the pub garden has been redesigned to provide an enchanting space for families with kids and a separate, elegant, adult-focused area. Now everybody’s happy!
The Barley Mow in Selmeston finished #19 in the Best Sunday Roast Category.
Take a look at your other BRAVO winners
Q
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The following East Sussex pubs were voted for in the 2025 BRAVO Awards. they are the public voted for best pubs in Sussex. the winner in 2025 is The Jolly Sportsman in East Chiltington near Plumpton.
There are plenty of Sussex country pubs close to Brighton. The Jolly Sportsman is located just 20 minutes from Brighton and they are voted the best Sussex pub in 2025. You may find the following information pages useful.
There’s no shortage of charming Sussex country pubs with beer gardens, and the Top 20 voted Best Sussex Country Pubs in the BRAVO 2025 Awards is the perfect place to start your search. Whether you’re after a sun-soaked garden, a cosy rural setting, or a perfect pint with a view, this list is packed with great spots to explore. Voted best Sussex country pub is The Jolly Sportsman in East Chiltington.
The following may be useful if you are in search of pubs and bars.
