The Beer Stalker - Episode 2 Broomfield Park, East Hoathly

Interestingly, we pass our pub destination on the way to our Caravan Club site this time. We are in East Hoathly in the glorious county of East Sussex and we are camping the Club's Broomfield Farm site which is off the very aptly named, Stalkers Lane!

Stalkers Lane and the delightful Broomfield Farm Caravan Club site are well hidden down a warren of short country lanes. However, so long as you follow the Club's approach directions from the handbook you will find Broomfield Farm Site without difficulty.

The first thing you will notice as you enter the site is the large, spacious lawned area. It has an authentic village green appearance. It would be easy to visualise a game of county cricket taking place as you relax with a pint or two in a deckchair outside your caravan.

Imaginatively, the Club have resisted the commercial temptation to crowd pitches onto this picturesque greensward area. Instead, there are generous and well-spaced hard standings on the outer edge of the service road that surrounds the green and just 3 pitches on the green itself. It is a glorious act of self-restraint by the Club!

Another part of the site offers pitches in a wooded area which offers peace and privacy. This in turn leads onto a shaded gladed area. There is a lot of choice at Broomfield Farm and you can choose your pitch according to your mood.

To find my "Beer Stalker's" recommendation you need to retrace your steps back to the sleepy village of East Hoathly. Simply turn left outside of the site gates and follow the white signposts to East Hoathly. A mere 5 minutes drive finds you outside of number 1 High Street and the handsome premises of The King's Head, a traditional village local which dates back to the 17th century.

The King's Head boasts a spacious, comfortable bar and a separate restaurant. The food, which is good and fairly priced, can be eaten in either. The service is efficient and very friendly. 

All this would make the King's Head a pretty good place to be but what makes this hostelry special and worthy of a "Beer Stalker" recommendation is the pub's Old Stables Brewery located next door to the pub. The brewery is well established and is home to 1648 Beers which are produced by brewer Dave Seabrook in his 4 1/4  barrel brewery (that's 1,224 delicious pints per brew!).

The 1648 Beers derive their name from the year that King Charles 1 was deposed. As Dave, who will happily give you a free tour of his brewery, will tell you, he brews well executed ales!

The brewery  has been satisfying thirsts in East Hoathly since 2003. The regular beers are, Triple Champion (4% ABV) a dark, chestnut brown English ale which is very full-bodied and moreish and, Signature (4.4% ABV) a very pale and fruity bitter with a distinctive hoppy aftertaste. Seasonal and special brews, often to celebrate local events, are often brewed. I sadly just missed, Bee-Head (4.6 ABV) which is brewed using Sussex honey. It sounded delicious!

I hope to have another "Beer Stalker" beery adventure for you soon ....................