To move from Brighton to Ringmer (Lewes)?

[Bigbluebeyond]

I'm hoping someone here can help me to make a decision!! We live in Brighton which we absolutely love but we are really outdoorsy and would love a massive garden and space (for us and our dog etc). Does anyone live in or near Ringmer? There are some fab houses and we are really tempted! We can't afford anything spacious or with really decent garden in Brighton. We have reception aged children and plan to have more. Anyone made a similar move? I don't want to end up hating it! Thanks v much.

You'll do well to find a decent garden in Lewes, in the 'naice' bits anyway. Or parking. God knows I've been looking for long enough and I do have Lewes connections.

You get a lot more for your money in Seaford.

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou, there are some privately-owned houses in Glynde, mostly along Ranscombe Lane. Firle has a few non-estate houses too.

A few years ago, I'd have said put your name down for an estate tenancy and buy a BTL. Estate tenancies on both estates were secure and fairly low rents, but the new Lords Hampden and Gage have both adopted much more commercial attitudes and charge closer to market rents now, and Glynde estate tenancies are shorthold tenancies.

Glynde estate tenancies are managed by Philip Mann, in Seaford, now, if you fancy renting.

I've always fancied the gamekeeper's cottage at Glyndebourne: high on the top of the downs between Ringmer and the A27, and you can scarcely see another building from there. It's got 360 degree views, for miles.

I know of a few who have moved out of Brighton and one who moved and then moved back!

What's wrong with Peacehaven? If I was in England, I would be along the coast outside Brighton and this www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73705813.html looks fabulous. It just needs a clean up and it might never be built out because it might back onto the Tye.

And it's just 15 minutes on the bus and you are in town.

Portslade is up and coming.

Portslade up and coming?! It’s got a long way up to go...

Peacehaven is actually nice but it has a reputation of being crap and boring. But you do get more for your money there. Also, not sure when Peacehaven was established but the houses there are all kinds of styles - quite mismatched

I lived in Chelwood Gate a few years ago - deadly dull, but I always liked Forest Row, more things going on.
Stayed down there last year, and still felt the same.

I also like St Leonards and Bexhill on Sea.

Hi @Bigbluebeyond.

That house is in Ringmer parish but not really the village. It's on a dead end road which is behind the A26. It does look nice. There might be traffic noise in the garden. You would have to drive to get more or less anywhere useful including into Ringmer village. There are nice bits close by including Barcombe Mills which you could probably walk to.

You are close to Barcombe village which has some lovely walks around it. This is better than being on the other side of Ringmer because then you would be close to the Glyndebourne Estate which is pretty restricted for walking and full of pheasants which some people like to shoot.

You aren't really in a village there so I don't know if you would have a problem of people knowing your business or not. It's a drive into Lewes which could be annoying depending on the time of day (A26 into Lewes gets clogged up at rush hour).

Lewes is OK but quite dull compared to Brighton.

Lewes is OK but quite dull compared to Brighton.

Lewes is anything but dull! There's always festivities, things going on, markets, groups, not to mention the obvious - bonfire.
It's the opposite of dull.

Yes but Lewes compared to Brighton? there's no contest. I walked down Lewes high street recently and there's not really much else there- mainly pubs, couple of clothes shops (v old fashioned) and the courts.

You cant really compare Lewes to Brighton because it IS dull compared to the hundreds of things to do in Brighton.

(this isn't a bash on Lewes btw)

So because Brighton is vibrant, everywhere is dull in comparison?

It isn't. And Lewes is one of the least dull places out there. I could understand if you said it about Ringmer, but not Lewes.

I hated Uckfield with a passion, it felt like a massive council estate where the people didn't realise they were council estate. I say that as someone who grew up in poverty and has no issue with council estates!

Battle is a nice place but always strikes me as being full of people who hate living there.

Lewes looks fantastic, but again every conversation I've had about the town with a resident has been full of complaints about it!

@Fr0g Your post made me feel all warm and fuzzy I spent my teens in Bexhill, I'd forgotten it existed.

But there isn't anything in Lewes- there's like one tiny high street

And a Prison! Fair few pubs though. I've never had a dull time in Lewes but folks there moan a lot.

edenhills Portslade is most definitely not up and coming!!

Sorry meant @edenhills

But there isn't anything in Lewes- there's like one tiny high street

Tiny high street? It runs from the bottom of town all the way to the top of Lewes. You do know it does all the way to the top of the hill?
It also has a river with a stunning walk, it has the Downs on its door step.
It has a castle for goodness sake! And the history is amazing, the Priory ruins? Anne of Cleaves House? The pub that was built on top of the only avalanche that occurred in England? The cliffs?

But it's dull, nothing there! 😂

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou I’ve lived in both and yes Lewes is dull compared to Brighton. I do like Lewes and agree that for a town it’s size it has a relatively large amount of stuff going on so for a market town it is less dull than the average. But it still doesn’t comparé objectively and most of the things you have mentioned won’t change that on a day to day basis. Ok it has some great ruins, an insane sectarian rooted street party once a year, a psychedelic festival, and a good live music scene (for a small market town), but no it still doesn’t compare to Brighton in the liveliness and essentially interesting and socially, artistically stimulating place to live stakes.

And yes it’s a long high street but only really worth walking the length of if you are a more than averagely wealthy middle aged woman with a taste for “that” style

I really dont mean to diss Lewes! I know its an amazing historical town and there is a lot of interesting things connected with Lewes.

But yes, there is only one high street and the shops on that street are pretty, shall we say, "conservative". What I love about Brighton is that you can get pretty much anything you desire and there are so many different parts of Brighton, each with their own character.

Lewes castle is cool but once youve been around it, thats it. Brighton also has downs and walks. The only thing Brighton doesnt have (as it also has lots of its own history) is a castle and be honest- you aren't going to be going round a castle every weekend!

No castle but does have the glorious Pavillion. Having the sea one end and the Downs the other and loads of parks makes Brighton a great place to live.

Getting a massive garden is an issue, I think you can only get that at the outskirts of the city : Westdene, Withdean, Patcham however, many aren't that useful (for balls games, running around) as they are quite stepped uphill. I've seen a few 90ft flat gardens in Surrenden Crescent but a house would be outside your budget there.

Lewes castle is more of a former castle. The last time Lewes was really happening was around about the time it was a proper castle.

Lewes is okay, it appeals to me more now that I’m middle aged. There’s a lot of outdoors stuff to do there - I do quite a few walks round there. I don’t think it’s a whole lot cheaper than Brighton though, which seems to be what the OP wants.