Name: Ye Olde Smugglers Inne
Address: Waterloo Square Alfriston BN26 5UE,Waterloo Square, Polegate, Polegate, Polegate, BN26 5UE, United Kingdom
Rating: 7

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Smoke-free property

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St Andrew Church

Clergy House

The English Wine Centre

Airport Brighton

London Gatwick Airport

Ye Olde Smugglers Inne

Polegate

Hospitality could be better. After booking us in and taking our money up front (!), we were shown our en suite room and that was the last we saw of our hosts.
We had an ensuite room which was 'adequate'.  Using the basin was  a challenge.
The room was situated over the bar and conversations below could be clearly heard.  It's an old building and may have little opportunity for sound deadening.
Breakfast is a non event, as can be seen from so many other reviews dating back years, yet they persist with their same  tired formula despite the adverse comments.
And the attitude to breakfast more or less sums it up.  No-one to see you off, "How was your stay?  Have a nice day!". Nothing!
All in all, a bit soulless and little warmth.


Room for improvement 

Having walked 15k in the South Downs Ye Olde Smugglers was the first pub I managed to come across.

Impatiently stood at the bay while a young couple ordered their drinks.They asked for a menu but were refused as “we have stopped serving” (7:30 on a Saturday evening )???? Good Grief!!

The young couple moved to the side so I could be served.

No acknowledgment from this young  lady serving. 

“I’ll have a red bull please”

Girl “we don’t sell it The George does” points out of the window across the road 

“Oh”‘I exclaimed..
“Can I….. girl turns her back to me
“ I have something else”
Girl ignores me and turns her back…

The young couple whom she served earlier were as aghast by this as was I amd chuckled….

Oh I said this is awkward…are you not serving me?

No response she disappeared out the back.

Clearly she did not want motel need my custom….

I was totally embarrassed and humiliated in front of the half dozen or so customer sat I. The raised level near the window, who all look bemused also:.:

I went about my business and indeed visited 3 fine establishments
The George
The Star
The 6 Bells

All three were full to capacity and all had very welcoming staff…

May I digest a change of staff, management and attitude for Olde Smugglers Inne

After many a conversation it seems their is hostility in the village  with the current owners and the locals don’t use the pub (I can understand why)
Maybe time to rethink your careers.

Never again.

Beyond Rude….

Very warm and friendly welcome and service from the landlord.  Attentive but not too much.  Excellent food, very generous portions in a lovely village setting.  Plenty of seating options available inside and out.  Would highly recommend if you are passing through the village.

Lunchtime eatery

This is a really attractive looking inn in the centre of Alfriston and we stayed for one night. Our bedroom was lovely with comfortable bed, timber beamed ceiling and windows facing out onto the main street. Unfortunately it was approached via a small lounge area which resembled a construction site and the en suite shower/toilet room was incredibly small. A tiny rectangular sink next to the toilet and under a sloping ceiling where it was very difficult to even wash hands and brushing teeth would have challenged a world class contortionist to get into a suitable body position! The bar and eating area is brilliant, olde world and with a nice atmosphere. A mixture of residents, diners and locals. The 2 staff members that we encountered (and Barry who checked us in earlier) were excellent, courteous, helpful and chatty and our evening meal was delicious. Breakfast however was a different matter. A fairly basic continental style breakfast. we seemed to be the only guests in attendance. No members of staff anywhere. We had to move the coffee machine and one or two other items on the buffet bar and then sit on the end of it to eat our meal. No cutlery. I managed to find some spoons and knives back in the deserted bar area in baskets intended for bar meals later in the day. Eventually a member of the inn staff did turn up , basically just to aqnswer the front door and then took our keys from us as we departed. In a nutshell, a really nice inn to spend an  evening for drinks and a meal. But as for staying overnight, only book a room here if you are prepared to put up with a very basic standard of hospitality.

A real mixed bag

Spent a night in one of the rooms with my partner. Pleasantly surprised by the room being an old pub. Very quant and lovely atmosphere In the bar area. Really comfortable beds and friendly staff. We love the village and would definitely return .

Lovely as always

Great pub. Great beer and a witty and welcoming landlord. We didn't eat there but just soaked up the atmosphere. Nice beer garden approached through quirky old rooms with a lot of history. Will definitely return for another go.

Smugglers

Arrived at 9.35 pm ( 9.30 latest check in ) to find pub in darkness and the owners waiting for us like two parents awaiting their children to return late. We enquired as to why it was closed on a mid week evening to be told the village is too quiet to stay open !!! We were shown our room which was by far the smallest room we have ever stayed in. Luckily, we went to the pub over the road, where we were greeted with a smile and a friendly conversation. The locals all had a few things to say regarding the Smugglers Inne. It is obvious that the owners should think again about their career. £120 for a tiny room,zero hospitality and a pub with no beer ! Oh and they can't be bothered to offer a cooked breakfast.
Wont be going back.

Never again

An excellent stay as usual.  Congratulations to Lisa and her team for making our annual visit so special.  We will always use this friendly and hospital Inn for any future events.  I would highly recommend to anyone who would be stopping by Alfriston

3 night stay

Such a lovely historic Inn. Dropped in for lunch unplanned but was welcomed and cared for like old friends. Superb service, lovely hot food, reasonably priced. Lots of space to stay socially distanced if wished. Log fire.

Delicious food, fast friendly service

21 Nov 2021.wet rainy Sunday.7 elderly ladies asked for coffee as it was advertised. Told we were taking her valuable time away from serving elsewhere as coffee was to much bother. Food was ordered and few glasses wine. Sour faced lady obvious having bad day .Had several other rude remarks to our group being of a coach trip nuisance. 2 elderly disabled ladies had folded up 2 rollators as small as possible by a door with no fire hazard sign on it .ready willing to move them if required .The door creaked open and as one of our ladies went to move rolators appologising profusely this rude woman pushed hard against door sending rollators in to the other wall .Very cross saying the door was a fire hazard.  We all felt awful .But her rudeness is not acceptable. When we told her she was rude and we wouldn't be coming back she just said good. I suggest she pop into the star in Alfriston run by the lovely Alex Politzi off tv as the hotel inspector, where most of our ladies had wonderful service .

Ye Olde Smugglers Inne

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