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The Jolly Sportsman, Lewes, East Sussex

The Jolly Sportsman

4.5 (18)
£26 to £40
Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Chapel Ln, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3BA

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
NEW MENU COMING SOON!

Winner of Restaurants Brighton BRAVO Awards, Best Sussex Pub 2025.

Nestled in the picturesque heart of East Chiltington, Lewes, Sussex,
The Jolly Sportsman is a true hidden gem. This charming pub, bed &
breakfast welcomes you with beautifully appointed rooms and a warm,
inviting atmosphere. Indulge in the finest local flavors, with exquisite
produce and wine sourced from the very best of our stunning region.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Contemporary British, Country kitchen
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Sat 8:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 8:30 am–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    01273 890400
  • Website
    http://www.thejollysportsman.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Bethan Birch
  • Catering
    There are many catering options to suit your celebration, whether it's formal dining or buffet style, we can work closely with you to create bespoke options.
  • Private party facilities
    We have many options available for private events, from Weddings to Christenings. Please email Chrissie@thejollypubgroup.com for more information.
  • Location
    Chapel Ln, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3BA
  • Neighborhood
    Lewes
  • Cross street
    Rural, residential road
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Buses and trains to Plumpton, 1.4 miles away.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 18 people are saying

The Jolly Sportsman reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Jolly Sportsman delights with "really nice" sharing plates and "fantastic" meals from their new Spring menu, offering quality ingredients "superbly cooked." Guests appreciate the "lovely staff" and "beautiful setting," making it perfect for country pub experiences. Some diners noted that the menu can be "somewhat confusing," yet the venue's charm remains inviting.
18 Reviews

  1. Andrew

    Brighton1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and great service as always. One of my go to restaurants

    Is this helpful?

  2. Mark

    Norway29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent evening, with drinks in the garden followed by a delightful dinner in the glasshouse section of the restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Linda

    Jersey/Channel Islands1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a fabulous meal outside and the staff were extremely accommodating and professional. Best roast potatoes I've ever had in a pub or restaurant!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Louisa

    London1 review

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food and service just a little expensive for a Sunday lunch

    Is this helpful?

  5. Danielle

    London4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a mix of sharing plates all of which were really nice. Fun drinks. Lovely service.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Alison

    Warwickshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everyone enjoyed their lunch. The soup and pavlova were delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Anthony

    London3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A really excellent meal, quality ingredients superbly cooked. Thanks - we'll be back.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Karen

    Brighton3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Had a lovely early dinner at the Jolly, always great food, good choice and lovely staff

    Is this helpful?

  9. Cliff

    Brighton1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely morning and breakfast, returning to the venue of our wedding reception to celebrate our anniversary. The food was delicious, the welcome couldn’t have been any better. We love it here.

    Is this helpful?

  10. liz

    London6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    It has been a while since I have been to this pub to eat, but after its recent reviews I thought as a special occasion I would go for a birthday celebration. Sadly we were all very disappointed with the food. The mussels came tepid and without much flavour, the chicken Caesar was too mayonannaise-y, and the small plate risotto was swimming in butter that no other tastes were available to savour! really poor! Maybe if we had a shed load of alcohol our taste buds would not have been so acute however none of us had any alcohol and we were all disappointed. No we didn't complain at the time as it was very busy and the young girls serving were over stretched! we were considering the under qualified staff !

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Jolly Sportsman is rated 4.5 stars by 18 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Brighton
  4. Brighton
  5. Lewes

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Google Map for The Jolly Sportsman

Chapel Ln, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3BA

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Rural, residential road
  • Neighborhood
    Lewes
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Sat 8:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 8:30 am–9:30 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Contemporary British, Country kitchen
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Buses and trains to Plumpton, 1.4 miles away.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Bethan Birch
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.thejollysportsman.com/
  • Phone number
    01273 890400
  • Catering
    There are many catering options to suit your celebration, whether it's formal dining or buffet style, we can work closely with you to create bespoke options.
  • Private party facilities
    We have many options available for private events, from Weddings to Christenings. Please email Chrissie@thejollypubgroup.com for more information.
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