We send anonymous members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an honest reviews. These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the food and drink!
WE headed west this time for our next gourmet adventure — off to the charming Long Man Inn at Wilmington.
Newly renovated and rebranded as The Long Man Inn, this establishment has always been a hotspot for diners. Formerly known as The Giant’s Rest, the inn has a rich history dating back to its construction in 1908. There’s a post on their Facebook page which addresses the names it’s had over the years since it was first built.
The Long Man Inn, just a quick stroll from the iconic Long Man of Wilmington, is now sporting its more recognisable and befitting name. It’s no wonder, as this famous pub perfectly captures the essence of its surrounding landscape and pays homage to the much-loved major human hill figure — one of only two in all of England (the other being in Dorchester).
This rural gem is worth the six-mile drive from Eastbourne and as the sun shines down and the swallows start to return, the surrounding fields come alive with vibrant wildflowers and wildlife. It’s the perfect time to visit and indulge in a mouth-watering meal.
Plenty of outside parking makes the pub easy to access and you can really enjoy the fresh new look. The logo blends perfectly with the natural surroundings, giving it a timeless charm. On entering the pub, it’s now spacious and clean, uncluttered and inviting.
As soon as you step inside, you’ll notice the abundance of art adorning the walls. It showcases the various interpretations of the Long Man from different artists throughout the years, ranging from vintage black and white photographs to modern, vibrant abstract pieces.
Even though the pub has been refurbished, the building still retains most of its character, from the intricate decor to the ornamental table decorations, it just feels as though everything has been very carefully thought out.
The menu is varied and exciting and bursting with excitement! Brimming with locally-sourced ingredients, every dish is a celebration of freshness and sustainability with minimal food miles. Whether you have dietary restrictions or not, there’s something for everyone — from mouth-watering vegan and vegetarian options to gluten-free choices. You won’t be disappointed!
Looking through the menu, the gourmet burgers further celebrate the Long Man with different takes on the fillings and accompaniments, The Flying Man, Half Man, Long Man and Full Man, again, all contain locally-sourced ingredients. The vegetarian/vegan option is the Halloumi burger.
We started with a few of the Light Bites: Marinated Olives and Homemade Hummus & Pitta. The pitta bread was really hot and went really well with the hummus which had a light drizzle of olive oil over it. We did find that the two pieces of pitta bread wasn’t enough to scoop up the very generous helping of the hummus, but that was soon rectified by scooping it up with the olives instead!
For mains, we selected the Long Man’s Sausage which came with mustard mash and caramelised baby onion sauce as well as The Long Man — smoked bacon & Sussex Charmer with secret sauce.
The generous sausage dish came with three sausages, which we later learned are sourced by Sussex Larder in St Mary’s Walk, Hailsham are really tasty, packed with flavourful herbs and pepper. The creamy mashed potatoes are elevated by the subtle crunch of mustard seeds, while the sweet baby onions in the sauce add a delightful contrast to every bite.
The Long Man burger was probably one of the best restaurant burgers we’ve had. It was a challenge to simply pick up it due to the sheer height of it — but when you had it firmly in your grip it was perfectly cooked and had a generous serving of the ‘secret sauce’ which complimented the burger and salad excellently.
There’s also a great selection of children’s choices at very reasonable prices, including all the kids’ favourites from macaroni cheese, sausage, fish fingers, burgers and pizzas — there’s bound to be something your children will enjoy.
The dessert menu featured all of my favourites such as sticky toffee pudding, cheesecake, brownie, ice cream, and a Sussex cheese board. Unfortunately, I was too full to indulge, but it was probably for the best as I wouldn’t have been able to decide which one to choose anyway!
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a separate Sunday menu for those of you who like to go out and have your Sunday roast cooked by someone else!
The waiting staff were really happy to help with all our questions and requirements — we even found the waiter going the extra mile, as he sported a tattoo on his forearm of The Long Man! He explained it was a tribute to the local landscape he had grown up in. It was evident that his love for the local area extended to his work as well, as he went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was exceptional.
After our meal and a bit of a nose about, we also found a bookshelf containing an array of books all dedicated to the famous Long Man — a literary feast for the mind.
The meal cost just £66.00 which included two rounds of drinks, which of course you can choose from the wide range of fantastic beers from the local Long Man Brewery!