JD Wetherspoon - The Crowborough Cross — Restaurant in Wealden

My children (18 year old girl and 16 year old boy) and I (50 years old) were stranded in Crowborough after the cab we had booked failed to arrive. We had been dining at Donna Maria and waited 15 minutes in the cold and rain until we decided to look for shelter at Crowborough Cross. We do not drink alcohol (bar a glass of wine at Christmas and Easter or on special occasions - always with food). My children planned to drink J2O fruit blends and I was hoping to have a hot decaf cappuccino or coffee. We were waiting for my husband who was on his way to collect us. I approached the bar and the waitress was busy, so I waited a few minutes until she was ready to take our orders. At that point a young man appeared at the bar and she immediately went towards him until I told her that we'd been waiting a few minutes and that it was our turn. She rolled her eyes at me and sighed, then reluctantly approached us. When my daughter asked for a J2O drink, she demanded to see an ID. She then proceeded to tell us that my children could not stay in the pub as under 18s are not allowed in Crowborough Cross after 10pm. So we were back in the cold and rain. I was shocked by the rude behaviour of this waitress - I looked on the government website and could not see such rule - it may be just a rule that the Crowborough Cross enforces to deter trouble makers. But really, I cannot see how a 50 year old drinking decaf and a 16 and an 18 year old drinking J2O can be a nuisance. So I'm afraid I must give Crowborough Cross 1 star for the rude, unpleasant and crass behaviour we had to endure. And if you'd like to know how this story ends, you'll be happy to know that the restaurant opposite Donna Maria (right next to Alisun) took pity on us, let us sit indoors and gave us free food and drink. They are opening their restaurant in the near future and were celebrating the end of their fast. Now,...

I get the impression this is a very well managed and excellently functioning establishment with a customer focus - perhaps one of the best Weatherspoons I've experienced. This comes from things like observations over two visits re the efficiency and quality of the food service, listening to the nature of the dialogue between staff, and the well kept environment seen; the toilets (always a good check point) were very clean and decorated with style. Our group sampled various dishes. The baked potatoes with fillings were fairly sized and well baked. The fish and chips was very good - full, proper, chunky fillets and superb, thin, non-oily, very crispy batter. The chips were perfectly cooked, hot and chunky - as they should be. There were vegan options - always good to see. The Cross is an interesting building in its own right, operating on three different levels. The pseudo- train 'booths' are really different. The place is very well heated, which is important on a cold February day. It's a hotel too, I believe. The only minor 'bad' thing I witnessed was the temporary and wrong placement of bar stock while restocking - it was slightly in the way of customer access to one of the drink machines. I highly recommend this...

In desperate need of repairs and lying semi-derelict in the middle of the town center the Crowborogh Cross was in a sorry state. So it was with great relief to the majority of Crowborough residents that the pub giant acquired the premises in 2013 and re-opened after extensive refurbishment and extension in the January of 2015.

The extension has added a whole new wing to the former building which forms the kitchen and an open plan dining area. Additional dining space is available is dotted around the pub in a quaint fashion. Split level dining rooms on the side of the building. a series of booths running behind the bar and odd nooks and crannies around the various bay windows. All tastefully decorated and including local art and references.

The long bar serves an extensive range of drinks including several guest ales which should keep if the most discerning drinker happy. There is a wide selection of food, a kids menu, and various specials through the week all at a very reasonable price which makes an affordable night out for a family...