Summer Morris Dancing – Saturday 19 July, 11am

As we say, Morris dancing is taken seriously in Lewes and in the rest of Sussex. The Dorset is pleased to welcome the Leeds Morris group from West Yorkshire who will be dancing from 11am to 12 noon.

This Morris team, which specialises in the Cotswold style of dancing, is on a working tour of East Sussex and will have guests including Oakworth Village Morris Men.

Draught ale of the month: Tom Paine (July)

Why has an English brewery named a beer in honour of one of the founding fathers of American independence? Why is one of the B&B rooms at The Dorset also named after him?

Because the radical Thomas Paine lived and worked in Lewes! Although he originally hailed from Thetford, Paine moved to Lewes in 1768 and worked as an excise officer as well as serving on the town council and establishing a debating society. It was during his time in Lewes (he left in 1774 and travelled to America shortly after) that Paine formulated his ideas that would have a major impact on America and France. His influential pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ (1776) argued for American independence; and his political rights book ‘The Rights of Man’ (1791) was banned by the British government, causing him to flee to France. While in prison in France (for upsetting the revolutionaries) he wrote ‘The Age of Reason’ which questioned religion and Christianity in particular. Having upset a large number of people with his writings, Thomas Paine eventually returned to America and lived there for the rest of his life.

Released each year on 4 July in recognition of American Independence Day, Tom Paine, a premium dry hopped bitter, strong pale ale was awarded silver medal at the BBI Awards in 1993.

Look out for our new menu

The regular menu, served either in the bar every lunchtime and evening, or in the restaurant every lunchtime and Monday to Thursday evenings (Fine Dining menu, Friday & Saturday evening), is changing. Look out for tempting new dishes with our usual emphasis on local and fresh.

Come and play the Sussex pub game of ‘Toad in the Hole’ at the Dorset. A toad table has been installed in the snug bar – it’s free to play, just ask any member of staff for a set of toads. The rules are shown on the wall for those unfamiliar with this traditional game of a little bit of skill and a lot of luck. Briefly, players take it in turn to throw 4 brass discs (toads) into a hole in the middle of a small lead lined slanting table – points are awarded for a ‘toad in the hole’ or a ‘toad on the table’. Why not pop along and try for yourself?