Pebbles on the Port, Brighton

Yachts in front of Pebbles' Pub & Restaurant, Southwick. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Yachts in front of Pebbles' Pub & Restaurant, Southwick. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Pebbles on the Port is not a nifty kind of drink, it’s a brilliant little pub and restaurant in Southwick – nearer Hove than Brighton – that I discovered today after a long dental treatment

Pebbles on the Port - pub & restaurant, Lady Bee Marina, Southwick. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Pebbles on the Port - pub & restaurant, Lady Bee Marina, Southwick. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

They have been there for two years – smack on the edge of the Southwick Yachting Marina. It’s a very active boating community apparently, and they enjoy Pebbles’ musical nights.

Swiftly, I found myself with a glass of French chardonnay (Reserve St Roche) in hand, food at my finger tips, and the water at my feet.

When a swan curled its head up to view the watchers in the pub, I thought it might be a good time to move a little further back.  It was just a tad too breezy for my taste, anyhow.

To vary the scenery, which included a wide variety of yachts and occasional motor launches, there was a slightly rumpled looking musician clambering off an old-fashioned, wooden yacht clutching his guitar and amplifier.

Musician from the little wooden boat gets ready to go. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Musician from the little wooden boat gets ready to go. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

It must be tough having to deal with an audience as soon as you put your head out of the galley.

I like trying out simple things when I first discover a new eating place.

Garlic Mushrooms, Pebbles. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Garlic Mushrooms, Pebbles. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

My starter for lunch was garlic mushrooms, which came hot and with plenty of greenery.  The garlic mayonnaise was robustly good.

Fish &Chips, Pebbles. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Fish &Chips, Pebbles. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2011

Excellent fish and big chunky chips complete with peas and more greenery followed the entree.  All that for £15.40, plus a smiling waitress!

Later, I asked what the fish was.  It turned out to be Pang, a Vietnamese river fish, so you’re not going to be eating fish from the harbour. That might be a good thing; I wouldn’t go swimming in there.

Better still, Pebbles must be one of the few places in Brighton where you can actually park free.  Keep a sharp look out on the left after passing Hove Lagoon, driving through Portslade on the A259 towards Shoreham.

Pebbles on the Port
Lady Bee Marina,
Southwick, Brighton BN42 4EG
Tel: 01273 257042

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Seaford of Sussex – September Hits

Seaford Head, looking back over the town to Newhaven harbour. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Head, looking back over the town to Newhaven harbour. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Live! The 2010 festival runs from September 3- 12

FREE entry to many events

For the third year running, the old Cinque Port of Seaford comes alive for a week of entertainment, music and arts events. Get details here.

Across the town, pubs, cafes, bars and theatres are joining the festival with music ranging from Rock, Indie, Blues, Jazz and Swing to Folk & Jam Sessions, Choirs, and Dancing.

As well as entertainment and events, here are a handful of my favourite places to visit in Seaford. Most visited is the Health Shop, owned and managed by David and Helen Pollard for the last 19 years.

They sell fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, a gluten-free range of products, and more grains, seeds and nuts than you could consume in a lifetime.

Additionally, they also sell an excellent range of organic wines and beers. Quickvit is the Seaford Health Shop’s online website. You can visit it here.

Seaford Head towards Cuckmere Valley & Seven Sisters. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Head towards Cuckmere Valley & Seven Sisters. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2010

The Seaford Health Shop also sells the entire range of Pukka’s wonderful organic tea range, including the Ayurvedic trio: Relax, Refresh and Revitalise.

At the moment – and I’m sure it will be fixed soon – you can’t order Pukka online at the Seaford Health Shop so click here for the Pukka link if you want to buy tea directly from the manufacturer.

Moving up the highway towards Eastbourne, Sebucy Framing Gallery is a new family run picture framing business.You’ll find them close to Seaford Library at 13 Sutton Park Road on the main road to Eastbourne.

As well as framing anything you can think of, Sebucy shows Sussex artists, like Margaret Turton, who has painted the scenery around her for over 25 years.

Margaret’s favoured media is gouache (watercolour) paints, and she enjoys choosing familiar places but from a different angle, and subtle light conditions often add intrigue to her compositions. You can see Margaret Turton’s website here.

Insecticide-free tomatoes at Dymocks Farm Shop. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Insecticide-free tomatoes at Dymocks Farm Shop. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Another place I visit a lot is Dymocks Farm for fresh vegetables. Click here to find out more.

The last place on my list definitely requires booking (especially Friday and Saturday), but is well worth the wait: Ollivers Restaurant.

Ollivers is run by Juliet and Steve Anderson, and I can vouch for Chef, Juliet’s expertise in the kitchen. All the food is made on the premises, and much of their food is sourced locally.

Not only do Ollivers have wine specials each month, you can print off a special coupon worth £5 per person off their five course menu (print off ten if you have ten guests).

See Ollivers’ menu’s online here.