West Hill Whistle
In which Gilly Smith makes the ultimate sacrifice and goes to the best places in town as recommended in our Feedback column . This issue : The Ram Inn , Firle
You have to go a long way to eat by the light of a roaring fire on a winter ’ s evening these days , but find it we did at Brighton ’ s favourite out of town pub half an hour down the A27 , The Ram Inn at Firle .
For the walkers heading back down the Beacon , there ’ s no need to wait for nightfall for the fires to be lit and the pints to be poured in this quaint old country pub . Dusk falls early here as locals join walkers in a Covid ? WhatCovid ? huddle around the proper old bar , and fires are set in all three dining areas . No wonder The Ram is pulling in more than 300 covers a day at the weekends . No mean feat as the pandemic has paralysed so many of its competitors .
Everything is quaint in Firle ; the 11th century village dates back to Edward the Confessor , and backs into the Beacon itself , stalling any possibility of through traffic and
herding cars into the central car park to give its single road over to the walkers . Owned by Lord Gage and his ancestors since the 15th century , the village and everything in it is picture book pretty and packed with artists and writers whose rent lines his pockets in a feudal system that hasn ’ t noticed the passing of time .
No matter for the hordes of visitors who can ’ t quite believe that a place like this still exists . Suspending reality , as the village itself seems to have done , is rather a pleasant pastime , it seems .
Happily , the menu has managed to straddle Firle ’ s old-fashioned values and Instagram ’ s core requirements with beautiful dishes sourced locally and seasonally from some of the best farms in Sussex . The pan roast venison loin from nearby Heathfield is just about the most sustainable of meats you can eat – unless you fancy squirrel – and perched on dauphinoise potato with braised red cabbage and a red wine jus is a wintery dish just made to be snapped in Portrait mode by a roaring fire . The twice cooked confit duck leg with smoked pancetta , braised puy lentils and red wine jus or the grilled cod fillet with celeriac puree , roast hispi cabbage , caper , lemon and parsley oil are a picture of country gastro pub 2022 . But it ’ s the Stout Cake , deep , dark malt and chocolatey with a rich Guinness sauce that brings Old England to the table in this timeless hostelry .
Prices are unsurprisingly modern , and with a good wine list , it ’ s an easy £ 100 for two . But if you gaze long enough into the flames licking the ancient chimney as you sip your digestif , you might just see the ghosts of former villagers Virginia Woolf , John Maynard Keynes and Katherine Mansfield who were known to pen a few lines over a half on a winter ’ s night . Priceless .
FEEDBACK
Coffee , take-away , curry and , er , salads ... In each issue , we ask the good people of West Hill and Seven Dials for their shout outs for the finest finds in town . And they ’ re a discerning lot ; check out their haul at https :// westhillwhistler . com / feedback , and have your say on the Facebook West Hill Whistler page .
The long nights are almost over and Lockdown will soon be a distant memory . But for the millions of born-again hobbyists who used the time to learn new skills , to make do and mend , to find a whole new part of themselves , life may never be the same again . We asked the good folk of West Hill and Seven Dials what treasures they ’ ve found in Hobbyville .
Clare recommends a spot of floristry at The Sussex Flower School in Uckfield which is one of a handful of professional flower schools outside London . www . thesussexflowerschool . co . uk
Amanda suggests ‘ mindful making ’ at Crafternoon Hove ( See Facebook ) which is offering Valentine wreath classes as we go to press .
Richard says ‘ Atelier by the Sea has several courses available ’. Tucked in Kings Road Arches near Shelter Hall , there ’ s a host of courses to choose , from cordage to hybrid printmaking , mixed media making and jewellery and just about anything you ’ ve always wanted to learn to make .’ Sewing and mending drop ins with 12 domestic sewing machines are on every last Sunday of the month . https :// atelierbrighton . co . uk
Jenny says ‘ The Low Waste Parenting Group powered by Bella Kennard of @ zerowastebrighton on Instagram will be happening every month at the play cafe @ wrapspace 8 Frederick Place - starting on 4th Feb . Connect with other like-minded parents and learn about local low-waste solutions - it ’ s free , informative and fun ’
But our very own West Hill Hall Lou is the Hobby Queen and admits to having ‘ workshops coming out of my pores ’. Here ’ s her pick of the best : ‘ Brighton and