EXCLUSIVE: The city provides a terrific number of unbiased retailers in addition to its personal brewery.
I visited Lewes in November and may’t wait to return (Picture: Laura Zilincanova)
When folks ask me which UK city I might return to in a heartbeat, one place at all times involves thoughts: Lewes. Nestled within the South Downs Nationwide Park and nearly an hour from London by practice, this East Sussex city seems like a world aside from the capital. It blends countryside calm with a buzzing unbiased excessive avenue, giving it a allure that feels nearly continental.
Driving in from close by Eastbourne, I genuinely felt as if I had stumbled right into a hidden French or Italian city. With its hilly streets lined with historic buildings and unbiased retailers spilling onto each nook, Lewes has an environment that immediately slows you down. Regardless of having solely round 20,000 residents, it stays remarkably vibrant due to its unbiased and “barely irreverent” character, as one native instructed me.
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Lovely finish of the day in Lewes (Picture: Laura Zilincanova)
I visited in November, when the colder climate meant fewer vacationers, however the city nonetheless felt alive. Even exterior peak season, the excessive avenue was busy with folks transferring between unbiased shops – a mixture of bookshops, delis, classic boutiques and artisan merchants that give Lewes its fame as considered one of Britain’s greatest procuring cities.
It’s usually mentioned that the city has round 200 unbiased retailers, and strolling by way of it, that feels completely plausible. One of many highlights of my go to was the antiques scene, which is among the many strongest I’ve seen anyplace within the UK.
I hung out within the well-known Lewes Flea Market, an antiques retailer full of classic furnishings, collectables, jewelry and curios unfold throughout a number of flooring. It’s the sort of place the place you may simply lose an hour with out realising it. I spoke to its supervisor David Skeet, who’s assured that classic retail will not be solely surviving however thriving.
Requested whether or not on-line procuring poses a risk, he was clear: “No – absolutely the reverse. I believe the excessive avenue will ultimately disappear eternally, besides there will be charity retailers, espresso retailers and Amazon assortment factors,” he mentioned. “This sort of procuring is extra enjoyable, and everybody, together with me, buys the boring stuff on-line.”
Elsewhere on the town, locations like Cliffe Antiques Centre proceed that custom, providing the whole lot from vintage silver and ceramics to ornamental furnishings. There may be additionally the specialist clock vendor W.F. Bruce Antiques, which displays simply how area of interest and educated a few of Lewes’s unbiased merchants are.
Harvey’s Brewery – the image of Lewes’ independence (Picture: Laura Zilincanova)
I additionally visited Closet & Botts, a boutique based by old fashioned mates who left their jobs, travelled round Europe in a van, and later channelled that have into opening their store on Lewes Excessive Road. They instructed me that though the character of the commerce has shifted, with fewer worldwide sellers attending native vintage festivals, they nonetheless consider Lewes has “the most effective excessive avenue” due to its native spirit that they love.
My final cease was Harvey’s Brewery, which has been brewing on its present website since 1838. The historic place stays proudly rooted in Sussex, sourcing regionally and retaining distribution near dwelling. Head brewer Miles Jenner instructed me Lewes “applauds individuality”, a philosophy mirrored within the brewery’s refusal to turn into a nationwide model.
Lewes is known for its Bonfire Night time (Picture: Getty)
However Lewes’ enchantment would not cease at procuring. The city is thought for its hyperlinks to witchcraft and native folklore, in addition to the well-known Lewes Bonfire – considered one of Britain’s largest and most dramatic Bonfire Night time celebrations.
There may be loads of historical past too, with Lewes Fort providing sweeping views over the South Downs, whereas Anne of Cleves Home offers a glimpse into the city’s Tudor previous.
With countryside walks on its doorstep as properly, there’s lots to do past looking the excessive avenue, and I am unable to wait to return there in hotter climate.
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