East is east and Grinstead is west

Matthew and I took a drive over to East Grinstead on Friday.  I won’t reveal the reason for our visit at this stage, apart from saying that this pleasant West Sussex town isn't somewhere I go to that often. It’s more a point on the cross-country route from Tonbridge to Gatwick Airport, and more often than that, something of a bottleneck. However, as we discovered, East Grinstead is a town well worth visiting.

Our route into the town avoided the notorious one-way system and instead brought us in at High Street end, an area which is the oldest, and most historic part of East Grinstead. Amongst the wealth of attractive half-timbered buildings, were several good-looking pubs including one belonging to Young’s. Although they are now just a pub company, rather than the staunchly traditional, London brewery that many of us remember them as, Young’s do seem to be widening their net. They have recently acquired the Carpenter’s Arms, at Three Elms Lane, on the outskirts of Tonbridge, and I’m sure they remain on the lookout for other suitable pubs, should the opportunity arise.

Further down, towards the shops along London Road, I noticed at the top of an alleyway, the Engine Room, Brewery Tap and Bar. This is a fairly new cellar bar, specialising in cask ales, ciders, craft beers, and artisan spirits. The bar is located in the basement of the Old Mill building situated just off London Road. There was, until quite recently, a connection between the Engine Room, and the High Weald Brewery, who were based at nearby Forest Row, but I understand High Weald have ceased brewing, for the time being, at least.

We didn't call in at the Engine Room on this occasion, as we’d only paid for a couple of hours parking, any in any case I will save that visit for another time. East Grinstead is easy to reach by bus, from Tunbridge Wells, so when we get back from our forthcoming cruise, I shall use my old gits bus pass to travel over to the town. I will need to pick a Friday though, as the bar doesn’t open until 4pm, during the rest of the week.

By way of compensation, and quite by chance, we found a small and rather quirky independent off licence, called Armstrong's, tucked away at the top of London Road. A really good selection of bottled beers was stocked, as well as a number of the five litre mini casks, which are always popular this time of year. It was in celebration of the forthcoming Festive season that I bought a small selection of appropriately strong beers, in advance of Christmas, that included a Winterbock from north German brewer, Flensburg, plus Noël, a 7.4% Christmas Ale from local brewers, Hepworth’s of Horsham.

According to the shop staff, the latter beer had just come in, and with a BBE of April 2025, plus a "Best After" (that’s a new one on me), of April 2023, I imagine I shall be laying this one down until Noël 2023, at the earliest. I also picked up a couple of Sam Smith’s beers – Imperial Stout (an old favourite), plus the brewer’s Organic Chocolate Stout. This is something of a rarity, and whilst coming in at a modest 5.0% abv, the description on the bottle, stating, “The perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate,” means I certainly won’t be laying this one down!

I’m cursing myself for thinking the 500ml bottle of Sam Smith’s Yorkshire Stingo, was too expensive at £6.75. I’m sure people pay this for an ordinary pint of bitter, in some London pubs, so why did I turn down this classic strong ale, that is aged in oak casks, for at least a year? The brewery claim that the beer picks up fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavours, before being further naturally conditioned in the bottle. It ends up with an abv of 8-9%. Armstrong’s might possibly have some left, by the time I make that bus trip, but if not, I shall have to try buying a few bottles on line.

After grabbing a quick sandwich from Greggs, we decided to head for home, and stick with the A264 as our chosen route. On the drive over, we’d noticed flooded fields at Penshurst, although the medieval stone bridges, and associated causeway, had ensured both the road and the village itself, remained dry. I’d wanted to stop off on the way home at the Fountain in Cowden, for some Harvey’s Old Ale, but checking up on What Pub indicated the pub closes from 3 – 6pm, so instead I thought of that old favourite, the Rock Inn at Chiddingstone Hoath.

We got a bit lost, thanks to Matthew’s sat nav (always be wary of a device that will direct you along roads that are no wider than a cart-track), and ended up in Penshurst, at the Leicester Arms, instead. The only cask ale on was Larkin’s Traditional, although the bar manager did apologise for the lack of choice – down to a late delivery, apparently. The beer was on good form, and there was a nice relaxing atmosphere in the main bar of this 16^th century village inn. The blazing log fire enhanced the cosy feel of this pub which, whilst functioning as a boutique hotel, still offers a warm welcome to villagers, walkers along with customers drawn from further afield. It also provides a handy, occasional overnight stop for one of my colleagues, who lives at the opposite end of the county.

Most of yesterday was spent tidying the garden after the recent high winds and heavy rain, and some of today was dedicated to collating holiday bits and pieces, followed by packing. Tomorrow heralds a busy three-day week at work, and then it’s off to Southampton on Thursday, and that trip across the North Sea.