Snowdrop Inn, Lewes

[jevs]

Sorry about another beer/pub thread but anyone who has drunk in Lewes will surely know the Snowdrop. Well after a few disasterous years when the old owners really let it go down hill, it's re-opening next monday as a free house. Here's some info.

The Snowdrop Inn on South St, Lewes, has been purchased by local publicans, Dominic McCartan and Tony Leonard, from Punch Taverns. The purchase has been partially financed by RBS in a deal brokered by AFC Finance Ltd through the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The couple currently run The Hop Poles and The Eagle in Brighton but The Snowdrop is their first freehouse.

The Snowdrop Inn has an important place in Lewes history. It was built in 1840, on the site of the worst ever avalanche in British history and named, not after the flower, but to commemorate the tragedy which flattened seven cottages and claimed eight lives at Christmas 1836. Fifteen people in all, were buried alive but seven of them, including a two-year-old girl, were rescued by the brave and determined efforts of their neighbours.

The pub, once regarded as one of the best in Lewes, has had a chequered history in recent years. Through the nineties and early noughties, The Snowdrop was famous, thanks to the efforts of then owners, Sue and Tim May, as an award-winning freehouse, known locally and further afield for its innovative food, live music, bohemian attitude and ever-changing eclectic decor. After it was purchased by Punch Taverns in 2003, much of what made The Snowdrop so unique was jettisoned and the pubs reputation spiralled downwards as a succession of licensees and temporary managers were unable to halt the decline.

Chef, Dominic McCartan trained under Darina and Rachel Allen at Ballymalloe Cookery School in Ireland where he learned the importance of good quality seasonal ingredients. Hes also added butchery skills to his repertoire at Netherfield Centre for Sustainable Food & Farming, which enables him to buy whole carcasses from local farmers and make full use of every bit of the animal (although he stresses that as a former vegetarian himself, he has some wonderful meat-free dishes as well).

Tony Leonard will be responsible for the bar side of the operation. The couple are both strongly committed to sourcing the best local and seasonal food and drink in the region; together they published the popular local food magazine, Eat Sussex, until earlier this year. Suppliers already lined up include Harveys (of course), Dark Star and Meantime Brewery for beer, Middle Farm for cider, Plantation Pigs and South Downs lamb, Brookland White free-range chickens, Holmansbridge Farm eggs and sausages, Downsview ice cream, milk and cream, High Weald Dairy for award-winning Sussex cheeses, vegetables and sustainably caught fish from Fin and Farm and artisan bread and pastries from Lighthouse Bakery. They also plan to buy surplus produce from neighbourhood allotmenteers and gardeners with local currency, the Lewes Pound.

Dominic McCartan said: Despite all the lows, people in Lewes have a great affection for The Snowdrop and really want to see her succeed again. Since we first looked into it and started asking peoples opinions, what really stood out is the huge well of goodwill there still is towards the place. She had an important role in the community here and people do miss her and genuinely seem to want her back."

Tony Leonard said: Lewes is home to some wonderful pubs; some of the very best in the South East. Were going to do everything we possibly can to put The Snowdrop back where she belongs, up there amongst them.
The pub is currently closed for much needed kitchen and cellar work and will reopen at 7pm Monday September 28th September.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Good luck to them.

I just hope it doesn't return to the state it was in a few years ago, when the seventeen year old regulars started whinging about the number of fifteen year olds who were being served at the bar.

 

[Gordon the Gopher]

I hope they keep the bar billiards table...(fat chance!)

 

[Notters]

Pretty sure the hope poles is a Greene king pub?

 

[Gwylan]

That explains a lot. I used to like going to the Snowdrop but in 2005 when I went there for the first time for a few years, it was a god-awful place with poor beer, awful food and a mass of teenagers hanging around the bar, and I vowed never to go back. This sounds really promising.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

I hope they keep the bar billiards table...(fat chance!)

The new landlord at my local (The Crown, Alfold) has just installed one.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Good luck to them.

I just hope it doesn't return to the state it was in a few years ago, when the seventeen year old regulars started whinging about the number of fifteen year olds who were being served at the bar.

hardly supprising due to its location, by the way, has the Rainbow re-opened??

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

may storm the place on the 10th of october

 

[jevs]

hardly supprising due to its location, by the way, has the Rainbow re-opened??

Apparently has either re-opened or is about to re-open as "Lincolns"

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Apparently has either re-opened or is about to re-open as "Lincolns"

how terribly Lewes.

 

[Two Professors]

Can't remember which pub it was,probably The Rainbow,in the 70's.We were into White Shield Worthington,bottle brewed,in pint glasses-the barmaid insisted we couldn't pour it ourselves.Sent back 3 pints before the landlord threw us out>beer was even cloudier than barmaids brain!

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Can't remember which pub it was,probably The Rainbow,in the 70's.We were into White Shield Worthington,bottle brewed,in pint glasses-the barmaid insisted we couldn't pour it ourselves.Sent back 3 pints before the landlord threw us out>beer was even cloudier than barmaids brain!

that's nothing on the volunteer where you could pour your own pints because the bar staff were too pissed to notice

 

[Lord Bracknell]

how terribly Lewes.

I'm hopeful that the Rainbow's ambitions to be something the town doesn't need will be thwarted by its proximity to the 'bab shop over the road.

Or have Priory School's finest gone all quiet, now that they've got their nice new school uniform, with blazers and ties and everything?

 

[stu7878]

Lincolns opening soon, looks like quite a bit of work still to be done when i walked past earlier (complete re-fit inside)

Been a regular at the 'snowy' since I myself was one of those 15yr olds many moons ago, its not been the same for 7-8 years now. Drug taking lanlords etc, lets hope it can be bought back to its old ways

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

Apparently a new bar has been opened by the owners of the Spice Merchant restaurant. They are calling it Buddha Lounge (?!) or something. Just behind ASK Pizza restaurant. Anyone been there yet and is it any good?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Apparently a new bar has been opened by the owners of the Spice Merchant restaurant. They are calling it Buddha Lounge (?!) or something. Just behind ASK Pizza restaurant. Anyone been there yet and is it any good?

Well, if it's half as well run as Spice Merchant then it'll be great... superb restaurant.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I'm hopeful that the Rainbow's ambitions to be something the town doesn't need will be thwarted by its proximity to the 'bab shop over the road.

Or have Priory School's finest gone all quiet, now that they've got their nice new school uniform, with blazers and ties and everything?

what type of punter are lincolns targetting, i thought the kebab shop was the sustitute night club that Lewes never had apart from the one downstairs near the Brewers many years ago.

 

[Biffer]

Came across some great news on Saturday. Stumbled (Literally) into the Hare & Hounds and it was a massive Albion pub.
It looks to have had a big makeover too which is great.

 

[keaton]

I used to love the Snowdrop, the relaunch sounds pretty good

 

[David Goldsmith]

It's excellent to know that the Snowdrop is enjoying some new TLC!

Anyone who'd like to know more about the Lewes Avalanche on 27 December 1836 - the most deadly snow avalanche ever to occur in Great Britain, resulting from one of the most extraordinary snowstorms in English history - is welcome to join me tomorrow at one of three anniversary talks about the disaster.

Snowdrop Inn, 119 South Street, Lewes, BN7 2BU
Slide-illustrated talks at 10am (the avalanche occurred at approximately 10.15am), 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Free entry. Collection in aid of Shelter.

A bit of background information on the research I've conducted into this disaster, since 2006:

David Goldsmith, snow writer City Narratives