For every table
Plant-based, omnivore and gluten-free choices are clearly marked, helping mixed groups decide before they arrive.
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A Lewes original with centuries of character
Historic bones.
Restless spirit.
A centuries-old Lewes pub, a flavour-led kitchen and an obsession with good local suppliers.
One identity. One pub.
The Pelham Arms.
Lewes through and through.
Historic pub character, a flavour-led kitchen and a bold identity rooted in Lewes. From tacos and smash burgers to Sunday roasts, everything now sits proudly under The Pelham Arms name.
Nearly four centuries of Lewes history
A pub with
real character.
The Pelham Arms has stood at the top of Lewes High Street for generations. The building is Grade II listed and the pub is traditionally dated to around 1640. Its timber, fireplaces and familiar corners give it the atmosphere of a place that has grown with the town rather than been recreated later.
By 1823 the Pelham Arms was already recorded among the inns of Lewes. Across the centuries the building has changed and evolved, but it has remained part of the social fabric of the town.
The Pelham Arms by John R. Elvin, 1949This signed and dated painting captures the pub on Lewes High Street in the middle of the 20th century. John R. Elvin was a Lewes resident, recorded at 40 The Avenue, and is also known to have painted local wartime life in 1944. The painting provides a wonderful documented view of a recognisable Pelham Arms on a much quieter High Street.
Historical information: Lewes History Group. Image originally shared by Steve George via Lewes Past.
Historical information: Lewes History Group. Image originally shared by Steve George via Lewes Past.
Today that history sits comfortably alongside the contemporary The Pelham Arms kitchen: a proper Lewes pub with food that keeps moving forward.
The kitchen
The Pelham Arms,
born from flavour.
Loaded West Coast burgers meet vibrant Baja tacos and reimagined bistro-pub classics—shaped by years of craft, fire, smoke and the urge to keep pushing.
Local suppliers
Named suppliers include Chef’s Farms, Court Garden, Downsview Farmhouse, FISH, Infinity Foods, Latchetts Farm, Bodiam Meats, Plumpton Estate, The Cheeseman, Tigermoth Coffee and Trenchmore Farm.
No generic menu language
Smoke, spice, pickles, salsa, chimichurri, local meats and seasonal vegetables give the offer a recognisable voice.
“New menu. New vibe. Same spirit at The Pelham Arms.”