East Sussex Restaurant Guide

There’s “clear blue water between Patty & Bun and other wannabe mass burger offerings” – the only drawback is “you have to queue all the time”. Having started out as a pop-up, the small chain has grown to eight branches and two spin-offs: Smash Patty and Jefferies, a chicken specialist. The core of the offer is “burgers dripping in all the good stuff, loud tunes, friendly vibes and lots of napkins”. Top Tip – the “legendary lamb burger always makes me smile”.

“Irreverent pop-art-meets-punk surrounds” are the hallmark of this cult chain, home of the ‘Dead Hippie’ burger, washed down with ‘Grog’ (“powerful rum cocktails”), showcased by a new West End flagship just off Oxford Circus. “I thought I might be bored with yet another dirty burger-style place, but these are so good” for “when you need a ‘filthy’ treat” that’s “tasty as hell” (and, moreover, “much better than GBK, Byron and so on”).

Now ten years old, Russell Norman and Richard Beatty’s Venetian/Mediterranean chain faces the well-publicised challenge of a March CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement), amidst a drip-feed of branch closures. Fans do still applaud its “very convivial and fun” formula, but even they often feel it’s “somewhat lost its way”, with staff who can seem “overwhelmed” and serving Venetian small plates that are often “no better than fine”, and at worst “uncared for” or “very mediocre”.

Since the day it opened its doors, the Mirabelle Restaurant in Eastbourne has celebrated numerous awards, accolades and critical notices from the UK's top food writers. As well as being considered one of the finest restaurants in Eastbourne, The Independent voted the Mirabelle in the top 50 best restaurants in the UK. The Mirabelle serves a modern European menu of seasonal specialities that play creatively with flavours and textures, and which are complemented by an extremely well-chosen wine list. Just as impressive is the elegant splendour of the beautifully furnished dining room itself, which you can enter either directly from the hotel or via its own discreet side entrance, and is a quiet haven that attracts romantic couples, small business groups and devotees of gourmet dining.

...