Things to do/places to eat in Lewes/Brighton with teenager and dog

[spiderlight]

It's my annual help-me-plan-our-holiday thread. We'll be staying in Firle, near Lewes, for five days the week after next with DS (16) and our oldish dog, who loves a potter or a paddle but can't do massive long walks any more. We want to do Brighton itself one day, I want to go to Ashdown Forest, and DS wants to go karting (we can't go anywhere without DS wanting to go karting), but we don't know the area at all, so other recommendations would be very welcome. DS loves motorsport and aviation and is a keen photographer, and DH and I are just happy with a nice quiet wood/beach. In particular, we're after good dog-friendly vegetarian places to eat. Hive mind, over to you!

Hopeful bump...

Best karting place is TeamSport in Lancing (they call it Brighton branch but it's not in Brighton). Maybe take him for lunch at Shoreham airport and he can take his camera. I took my boys on a helicopter ride from there too, which is fun. Travels down the Brighton coastline.

We booked our helicopter flights with HeliFly.

You can take alpacas for a walk near Uckfield (Spring Farm).

Thank you, @TeeBee

Racking brains for dog friendly veggy restos in that area... Would recommend going to Crowborough and picking up a picnic for Ashdown Forest. Friends Clump is a lovely spot. There is time to get there before a tub of icecream melts, if you dont hang about....

I love these places
https://thelounges.co.uk/fuego/

Garden centre at Kingston, has a nice cafe, I think they allow dog, just check before you go, just outside Lewes.

You’re not far at all from Beaulieu which is great for vehicle enthusiasts, and Arlington Stadium motorsports centre- so both are worth checking out!

Boat trip either on the River Ouse from Lewes or from Newhaven for an hour or two.

Beaulieu is a hell of a long way probably 2 and a half hours or more each way.

Arundel is pretty and the castle is very impressive - it also has a wetlands centre.

Go to the Anchor pub in Barcombe, and rent a paddle boat to paddle on the River Ouse. Not sure how long your dog will walk, but there is a beautiful walk along the river from a parking area in Barcombe Mills.

At Cuckmere Haven you can walk along the river to the coast, it is level, and Beautiful.

Birling Gap has a beautiful lighthouse, and a National Trust tea room. You can walk down a set of stairs on to the beach, or walk up the hills. There is also a pub on top of Beachy Head nearby.

There's a lovely dog friendly tea room in Abbots Wood near to Arlington Reservoir.

I'll try to think of more!

In Brighton - I think Shelter Hall allows dogs. That’s a kind of food market set up on the seafront. Make sure you take a wander around the North Laine - that has the real Brighton vibe and you can easily miss it if you just go for the beach and the more touristy lanes. There’s a zip line on the sea front.
There are a number of good small breweries in Sussex that have street food vans and outside space at weekends if that takes your fancy.
For seafront walks you could park at Shoreham wild water lagoon car park and have a nice walk along the seafront (there’s a path not pebbles) up to Lancing. The Perch there is good for a coffee. Or for a longer walk continue on to Worthing for lunch.
Walking in the South Downs is nice - the pub in Firle itself is good (don’t know about dogs) then you can do a loop up Firle Beacon.

Devil's Dyke I think would be a lovely place for DDog to run about.

Sorry, ignore about the long walks, just realised you have an older dog! Oops.

Brilliant - thanks, guys. Keep 'em coming!!

PP who mentioned Beaulieu may have been thinking of Bentley https://www.transportmuseum.co.uk/bentley-wildfowl-and-motor-museum.html

The Chelwood Vachery walk is my favourite in Ashdown Forest c.4k https://ashdownforest.org/product/walk3-chelwood-vachery-download/
Bit longer version here (with illustrative dog)https://www.pupandaway.co.uk/west-sussex-dog-walks/chelwood-vachery

Middle Farm has excellent vegetarian pasties in the tea room (and lots of delicious food in the shop) https://middlefarm.com/our-restaurant/

We recently discovered Farleys House, really lovely vibe (and near enough to Middle Farm for lunch) https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/

Firle itself - can walk along the flat for as long/short as you wish or go up the steep hill. Then The Ram, lots outside space to eat and veggie Sunday roast https://raminn.co.uk/

Second Middle Farm, they do a lovely ploughmans, very close to Firle

Brighton City Airport (Shoreham) is a good call. The Hummingbird Cafe is lovely and you can watch all the small planes taking off and landing. From there you can walk towards Shoreham, the old part of town where there is an are with cafes and restaurants that have outdoor seating. If DDog is up to it walking along Shoreham beach boardwalk and back down the other side is nice.

Yes to Middle Farm.

Goring (Sea Lane Cafe has outdoor seating) to Worthing along the promenade. Loads of restaurant, cafe choices when you get there.

Bentley is no longer there unfortunately, but the miniature railway still runs on a weekend!

Dog friendly, great food, proper hospitality if you’re heading Worthing way.

https://theblackhorsefindon.co.uk

Lots of country walks from Findon.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/cissbury-ring

Thank you so much, guys! Loads to add to our list 😊

Close to Firle, a bit East along the Downs/coast, take a look at the Long Man of Wilmington (mysterious chalk figure on the side of a hill), then v close to there in the pretty village of Littlington is the Littlington Tea Garden - will be dog-friendly as it's a large garden, friendly place with good cakes (and light lunch) - you can continue south from there to Cuckmere Haven mentioned by a pp (flat walk along a river to the beach) and the Seven Sisters cliffs (not so flat!) which is beautiful and peaceful.

If you fancy an amazing meal in Brighton then go to Burnt Orange, you will need to book. Seriously good food, as many veggie options as meat/fish. Go for the veggie tasting option and be amazed at the flavours, decent portions, and the dishes keep coming! Personally I wouldn’t take DDog to Brighton.

Try to get to Alfriston, very pretty village near Seaford. Go early or you won’t get parked.
Lewes itself is quirky. Lovely, small castle, arty vibe, the original Bill’s restaurant. Loads of antique shops and v expensive shops full of things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them so beautifully displayed.
Forest Row is v alternative village on the Ashdown Forest, Steiner School, biodynamic/organic shops and cafes, worth a lunch stop. Try to get in more than one Ashdown Forest walk as there is great variation from one part to another. Hartfield is a pretty place with a walk that includes the Pooh Sticks Bridge and close to The Hatch Inn, great pub.
Can you tell I used to work for the tourist board? 😄

Pooh Corner is a nice cafe in Hartfield close to Pooh Bridge which has outdoor seating for dogs.

If you're driving to Ashdown Woods, Coolings Nursery at Wych Cross has a dog friendly cafe and is a stone's throw from Forest Row and Hartfield.

You're close to the Bluebell Steam Railway too which runs from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead - always a good day out.

There is a fabulously quirky Thai cafe with a dog friendly garden called Pestle & Mortar in Lewes which I always stop at when I'm there. The burnt cheesecake is divine! It's on way to station so just outside the main hub of antique stores.

Would second not taking dog to Brighton and recommend parking up by station and working your way down to the beach through North Laine and the amazing shops on the way. There's tons of places to eat but O'Shio (Japanese, need to book table) and Pho81 (Vietnamese) are our favourites.

Brighton's Sea Life Aquarium is one of the most beautiful aquariums I have ever been in. It's stunning.

Thank you all so much!