The Smugglers Rest — Restaurant in Lewes

Over the years me and my mum have gone to the smugglers rest and have always had hit or miss experiences.

Today was a miss.

I had booked a table for 2:30 as on a Sunday it is always busy.

We sat down and got our server Lily, she asked if we were ready to order within the first 5 mins of us sitting down which was good. She told us there was an hour wait on food, I asked if this was the same for starters and she said she thinks so, my mum was feeling a little iffy with it being an hour wait but we decided to stay. We ordered a Pepsi max, passionfruit cooler, fish and chips, hunters chicken shnizle a side of onion rings and hulluomi fries and she asked if there was any chance we could get the sticky chicken if it comes quickly.

Both me and my mum have worked in the catering world and know that sometimes it can’t come quickly and lily said no but my mum was feeling a little sick and just needed something to peck on before we got our food. I know that customers asking for food quickly can be frustrating but the staff should always remain polite and respectful. Our server got a bit annoyed at my mum and she snapped and I told my mum don’t worry about it and instead my mum ordered bread and butter. At this point we did debate going home and getting a takeaway. We stayed anyway.

The bread came and we nibbled on it then waited for our food. Mum had her passion fruit cooler that was too sweet for her and asked them to take it away and get an ice cold glass of water.

After an hour a lovely waitress came out and me and my mum looked at our food and it was over cooked, my chicken shnizle was a dark colour with black round the edges, and my mums fish and chips weren’t right either. The lady happily took them back saying she had told Lily that they weren’t up to standard and will take them away and put a priority on our meal. Within 5 mins we were presented with fresh and nicer dishes which we were grateful for. However the side order of onion rings never came.

We could hear Lily going round to the other tables asking for reviews but we felt a hostile tension after her being annoyed at my mum earlier for asking for chicken if it came quickly.

We finished our food and asked for 2 slices of cheese cake to take away and the bill.

The bill came quickly and Lily explained how someone had messed up and another table paid for ours and we got their bill with reductions so it matched what we were ment to pay. I said does that bill have my onion rings on it as they never came. She said oh, most likely. I asked for the original bill that had been paid, receipt to see if it all adds up as we just had a bill of £66 infront of us.

She came back after a while, they remade the bill and removed the onion rings and one drink that my mum didn’t drink. Leaving our bill at £55. My mum thanked Lily for removing the drink as she didn’t have to and gave her a £5 tip.

We paid the bill and waited a further 10 mins for our cheese cake to come out boxed up.

Not pleased with our experience today. We understand it was busy with the airshow and Sunday roast but that’s not an excuse.

Please feed your staff so they don’t have to go round table to table begging for reviews to win a...

The formerly Badgers Watch, remodelled as the Smuggler's Rest, rests snugly atop Telscombe Cliffs and looks to all intents and purposes like a little fortress overlooking the surrounding area squidged comfortably in between the south coast road and the cliffs edge. Warm, welcoming wood everywhere and the appearance of a central wraparound bar. Much as the building itself outside, the bar area overlooks everything inside. Some smaller nooks for a quiet comfortable drink, some bigger variously sized areas with varously sized tables and chairs variously surrounded by some interesting features and artwork. Visiting on a Friday lunchtime and being virgin smugglers we were unaware that the lunch menu is only available Monday to Thursday so we opted for an outside table and a look at the menu that was. The outside area, like inside, has several levels - I'm suspecting geographical inclinations (hehe) - with amazing views right over the chalk cliff top and out to sea and awesome landscapes both east and west. There are some shed-like booths at either end that act cunningly as windbreaks and I imagine with a few ropes of twinkly fairy lights and some outside heaters, this stepped terrace would have a great vibrant atmosphere with a group of friends watching the sun set over the twinkling sea as the surf crashes below. The menu covers all the expected offerings in a well presented manner. Burgers, pizzas, pie lids on pots, puddings, blah di blah di blah. We both went for a mash-up I've not seen before with the Hunter's Chicken Schnitzel which came with some fat chips in a pot and an undressed salad garnish. I'd have preferred a few more chips but after eating everything that was a case of greedy me with eyes bigger than my belly, which itself is already quite vast. A pint of Thatchers cider and some tap water rounded off the table for an unexpectedly excellent lunchtime experience. A quick walk through the inside of the pub revealed a large area with a single group of easily 15, perhaps 20 diners, a couple of whom had been parking as I was arriving too. For a venue to knock out everything we had seen on the outside terrace and the punters inside as well takes effort, experience and professionalism not just floppy hair and hairy legs - that takes passion and dedication too. there was definitely space to pack more punters in, I'd say this was a comfortable busy, not an up to the rafters, crazy busy. Saturday night, birthday party or Christmas, for example, these guys know what they're doing and they'd be all over it without a doubt. AND still be smiling, and not in that fake Disney 'eff you' dead eyed smiley way. A great venue with great food and great staff, a great choice. Don't rest on your laurels, because they're not. Start Smuggling today - who knows how long that cliff...

I’m a local and like to meet my friends here after a walk with our dogs. I’m not sure what’s going on with the pub but after it being pretty terrible for years, friends and I have returned in the last year or so because it’s became really nice and welcoming. The management were friendly and the young cohort of staff were pretty polite too. I visited on a Saturday at 6:30pm, so the pub was busy and this was hopefully one off…although I won’t be returning. This atmosphere was completely toxic with two people who I are presume managers, who could be overheard talking about the customer’s various complaints. I had a big family next to me complaining about their food. The young bar staff looked absolutely miserable, there was literally zero energy or enough enthusiasm for them to even smile. As usual, I visited with friends and we had a couple of dogs, There was only a small table to sit at so we squished around it. At first the management were politely aggravated about us because they had to walk around a dog and I was asked to move my dog which is absolutely fine but there was hardly any room and nowhere else to sit. The second time I had just taken drink from the bar to the table was my leading my dog back to sit down and again was told can you keep your dog out of the way? I hadn’t even been given the chance to sit down before I was told off. I have an elderly dog who likes to come to the bar with me and back again and would appreciate a few seconds to get from the bar to my table without being told off. In hospitality, a little bit of patience goes along way. I think the management were just frustrated and having a bad evening. Unfortunately, other people are also having a bad time, so maybe don’t work in hospitality if you get so worked up about the public. Maybe it would have been nice to help us to find somewhere more suitable to sit instead of stomping past us and getting annoyed? This probably sounds like a review written by an entitled dog owner but it’s a Saturday evening and I just wanted to spend an hour or so with friends talk things through. I sat in the designated dog area too, so maybe change where you seat us? This industry needs to realise that people are out spending the little money they have to escape the house and try to relax. The atmosphere in this pub was horrible and intense. Just like the old days. The Smugglers just feel’s like any other chain...