The Griffin Inn

This was just the perfect location as we were visiting the Bluebell Railway, to see the Flying Scotsman, over the weekend. All the staff were wonderful, especially Spencer. The food was very good in the restaurant both for Breakfast and Evening meals. Venturing in the garden was the highlight of our stay! You walk from the hotel through a paved area and then onto lawn and WOW the view was just stunning! You overlook a field of cows and beyond that is the rolling Sussex Countryside. I was in Heaven! We could have stayed there much longer, it was glorious.

Unfortunately, the walls of the part we stayed in (an annex), were very thin and when a very annoying drunk woman and her family stood outside, trying to get her upstairs, it woke us up. Not much fun at almost 02:00. This was not the fault of the hotel though! The shower we had was over an old style antique bath and very difficult to use, as you could not stand up in the bath as the shower water would have gone all over the walls and floor. Okay for a quick shower, not so good to wash your hair though.

The pub has been bought by Young's after 44 years in private ownership. The old previous owners were fabulous. But under new management things have changed. Happily there is a great deal of ambition to continue to do things "The Griffin Way". We wish the new team all best wishes and good fortune. The present economic conditions are tough but we hope they can retain as much of the character of this beautiful place when it was a Free House. From our experience this past few days we are sure that they have all the right ingredients to manage the transition: a great front of house team, a fab crew in the kitchen and a really positive "can do" attitude.

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The staff made accusations that I had left the hotel without paying my bar bill, as I would be leaving early I made a point of paying the bill that night. A very rude and abrupt lady called me and Insisted I sent a photograph of the card payment by 3pm, I had to stop work get all the details of the payment and send them to her. It was the hotels fault they mislaid the copy, rather than carry out the relevant checks to find the payment the relentless pursued me.

Lovely historic pub that served amazing food. Beautiful terraced garden at the rear with a spectacular view. The breakfast was excellent. The room was definitely 16th century with sloping floors and non square door frames. Amazing history. Car parking was good. The village is very nice and we wandered up to the village recreation space to watch cricket being played. Lovely church and buildings in the High Street. A must see place.

The room was a little tight and there was no shower but it did have a big bath. Not much storage space but it is 16th building and I don't suppose you can expect to get all the usual facilities installed.

The room wasn't big but was cosy and the bed was very comfy - just what we needed. It was lovely to have the robes provided and the shower pressure was fantastic. We absolutely loved the beer garden at the back and spent a couple of hours in the sun before dinner. The food was exceptional, a fantastic variety and really high quality at both dinner and breakfast. The staff were brilliant, very accommodating and friendly, especially Molly who was great on front of house. Our expectations were exceeded and we will definitely be back.

The food. The breakfast was excellent and had great choice. Dinner off of the restaurant menu was very very good, sea bass 10 out of 10. We did not try the bar menu. Staff very friendly and offer good service. The bed was really comfortable.

Difficult to fault. However not the Griffins problem, but approach the Inn from the main road, after Piltdown village. Sat nav took us around miles of lanes some single track and most with massive potholes! A real problem if you are not on pothole alert.

The Griffin Inn is a lovely old pub. All the staff were lovely and friendly. Both the breakfast and all our evening meals were delicious. The seating area inside and out is lovely. There is an outside covered area and then masses of space with benches over looking amazing scenery. The outside lighting at night, gives it a nice feel.

The letdown was the bedroom. We were in Bluebell. It is an old pub, so we were expecting quirky. Ceiling is very low. The main concern was there was no shower, just a roll-top bath, with a handheld shower attachment. Although it all looks nice, it's really not practical. The room would be no good for anyone with mobility issues. Feel it's overpriced for what you are getting.

Beautiful location, quiet and very quaint. The food is outstanding

The rooms were too small and very dark. The water in the coach house is not drinkable. The washing facilities - baths with showers but no shower curtain so had to sit in the bath, other room had shower where you couldn’t adjust height so for a woman not ideal at all. Smell of smoke in the room downstairs - think perhaps staff smoking near the washroom?

The driving force was the need to be in the area for an event early on Saturday. We were so pleased we decided to stay on Friday, what lovely, friendly, helpful staff. From the start until we left we were made to feel valued customers. The weather was great so we drank and ate in the garden, and what a view from the garden west into the setting sun. Dinner and breakfast were delicious with a good choice of dishes, a huge, and mainly expensive wine list but there were good wines in the more affordable range. We had the Bluebell room which was very compact in the oldest part of the wonderful building. It was decorated with steam train artefacts, the bathroom cabinet was made to look like the steam valve of an engine. The shower was integral with the bath taps and could only be hand held, chips in the enamel of the bath indicated the heavy head had been dropped a number of times! A hook on the wall would have been handy, as would a mirror in the bedroom, my partners offering to this review! We would not hesitate to stay again but if for more than one night we would request a larger room. Great centre to visit the wonderful gardens of East Sussex and the Blue bell line.

Pub-stay can't get any better! The village, the pub, the garden, the food, the staff, the views from the garden, the room; it all comes together in a great way! The room was comfortable and stylish. The breakfast was of high quality and cooked fresh with great ingredients. As a foreigner I do not fancy so much an English breakfast, but the right ingredients freshly prepared makes a huge difference. The staff was very accommodating. We arrived early as we had to change our attire for Glyndebourne and the staff made it easily happen.

Nothing. Really....!