The Sussex Ox is a country pub with its own organic farm, tucked into the South Downs National Park near Alfriston and Wilmington. It's family and dog friendly, and built around local, ethical and sustainably sourced produce: the beef comes from the pub's own herd of cattle, and the lamb from its own flock of sheep.
The kitchen serves homemade bar snacks such as scotch eggs and pork pies alongside a full à la carte and grill menu, with rich pies, slow-reared Sussex beef, steaks, chops, locally caught fish and seasonal specials. The wine list is eclectic and reasonably priced, drawing on terroirs from around the world, with many bottles organic or bio-dynamic.
Inside, the pub has three interconnecting rooms. The Old Bar is a cosy beamed snug with a brick floor and an open fire. The Garden Room is light and airy, with panoramic views over the Cuckmere Valley and, on clear evenings, the sun setting over Firle Beacon. The Front Room seats over forty and looks out over the gardens and across the rolling downland towards Lullington.
Outside, a sun-trap terrace offers views to the south, west and north, while tables scattered through the spacious garden make for relaxed al fresco dining. Heaters under a sheltered flint wall extend the outdoor experience into cooler evenings.
The pub sits at the heart of the South Downs, making it a natural starting point for walking routes right from the doorstep, including trails to the historic Long Man of Wilmington, the village of Alfriston, and the vineyards of Rathfinny. Cuckmere Haven and the dramatic chalk cliffs of Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters are both a short drive away.