BRAVO award winners 2026
Best Sussex Pub
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Best Pubs East and West Sussex: 2026 BRAVO Award Winners
Nothing beats a Sussex pub done properly. Voted for by you, this category honours the loveliest pubs in East Sussex – from fireside pints and cosy corners to sunny beer gardens, great food and real hospitality. Congratulations to this year’s BRAVO winner, The Eight Bells, Jevington. See you down the local.
First place - Best Sussex Country Pub
This outstanding free house boasts stunning landscaped gardens and ‘the best views around’. A well-stocked bar, delicious menu of local seasonal food and summer barbecues make it easy to see why it tops this year’s Best Sussex Pub list. With some of the county’s most beautiful spots nearby – Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven – you’ll definitely want to make a day of it.
Second place - Best Sussex Country Pub
A gorgeous Grade II listed, family-run pub in the charming village of Waldron. Serving pints of local bitters and ales – Gun, Harvey’s and Long Man – alongside a comforting menu of pub classics made with local produce, this place has been part of the fabric of village life for centuries. Regular tapas, curry and Italian nights keep things fun.
Third place
Known for its cracking Sunday roast, The Thatched Inn in Hassocks is a welcoming Sussex country pub with generous spaces for big family get-togethers. Plenty of thought goes into the classic pub menu, with indulgent desserts helping to seal the deal. Anyone and everyone will feel welcome here.
fourth place - Best Sussex Country Pub
Deep in the South Downs National Park near Alfriston, you’ll find this very special Sussex gastro-pub surrounded by a sunny terrace and expansive country garden. The pub comes complete with a 100-acre farm, home to pedigree Sussex cattle and sheep, orchards and a kitchen garden. A commitment to sustainability and regenerative practice runs through everything it does.
fifth place
Order a pint of Harvey’s Best at the oak bar or choose from a list of bespoke cocktails made with fine local ingredients before exploring the refined pub menu at The Hurstwood. Beamed ceilings and cosy corners, an open fireplace and a beer garden make this a welcoming stop for walkers and dog lovers right in the heart of Ashdown Forest.
Take a look at your other BRAVO winners
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The following East Sussex pubs were voted for in the BRAVO Awards. they are the public voted for best pubs in Sussex. The winner is The Eight Bells Jevington.
There are plenty of Sussex country pubs close to Brighton. The Eight Bells in Jevington is located just 35 minutes from Brighton and they are voted the best Sussex pub in 2026. 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.
