1 / 8The Jolly Sportsman
Lewes, East Sussex
Yes. Dogs can stay overnight.
A gastropub with four bedrooms at East Chiltington near Lewes, with a doggy box of towels and bowls in the corridor for dogs.
The Jolly Sportsman is a gastro pub at East Chiltington, at the foot of the South Downs National Park near Lewes, with four bedrooms and vineyards and countryside walks all round it. Call it a dog friendly inn for wine drinkers: the list runs past fifty bottles from the old world, the new and the English vineyards nearby, and well behaved, quiet dogs are welcome in the pub while you work through it.
Dogs here are looked after practically rather than merely allowed. A doggy box lives in the corridor with towels, shampoo, a blanket and a bowl, and an individual goody bag appears for the pups if the inn knows in advance that they are coming. The bedrooms are reached by an external wooden staircase from the garden, and come with super king beds, Egyptian cotton linen and a booklet of local walks left in the room.
Cooking pairs classical techniques with live fire: fish landed off the Sussex coast daily, meat from farms within a 20-mile radius, bread baked in house and Sunday roasts with the trimmings. Well behaved, quiet dogs can come into the pub and out into the garden, which has an outside bar of its own; the hotel doesn't mention a dog at the dinner table, so that is worth a call.
Breakfast is local produce in the snug, and the inn is handy for Glyndebourne and Plumpton Racecourse. We map Ditchling Beacon 2 miles from the inn, and Brighton Beach, the closest sand for dogs we list, 8.1 miles off.
Facts checked October 2026 from the hotel's own website. Details can change, so please confirm anything important, especially the dog rules, with the hotel before you book.
At a Glance: Dogs
- Rooms for dogs
- The hotel doesn't say
- Dogs per room
- The hotel doesn't say
- Size or breed limits
- The hotel doesn't say
- Dog fee
- There is a charge; the hotel doesn't say how much
- Left alone in the room
- The hotel doesn't say
- In the bar
- Welcome
- In the lounge
- The hotel doesn't say
- Eating with your dog
- The hotel doesn't say
- In the grounds
- Welcome
- Dog extras
- Towels, bowls and a welcome pack
- Walks from the door
- Yes
- Nearest dog friendly beach
- Brighton Beach, 8.1 miles
Where the hotel doesn't say, check with the hotel when you book.
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For You
- Eating and drinking
- Gastropub food
- Rooms
- Suites
- Parking
- Free parking
- Children
- Children welcome
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Jolly Sportsman dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs can stay overnight. This comes from The Jolly Sportsman's own website. Details can change, so check with the hotel when you book.
How many dogs can I bring to The Jolly Sportsman?
The hotel doesn't say how many dogs you can bring, so check with the hotel when you book.
Is there a charge for dogs at The Jolly Sportsman?
There is a charge; the hotel doesn't say how much.
Can I eat with my dog at The Jolly Sportsman?
The hotel doesn't say where you can eat with your dog, so check with the hotel when you book. Dogs are welcome in the bar.
Can I leave my dog in the room at The Jolly Sportsman?
The hotel doesn't say whether dogs can be left alone in the room, so check with the hotel when you book.
Are there dog walks near The Jolly Sportsman?
The hotel says there are walks straight from the door. Dog friendly walks on Wildpack within 5 miles include Ditchling Beacon (2.0 miles), Ditchling Beacon and the South Downs Ridge East (2.0 miles) and Lewes to Southease (3.9 miles).
Is there a dog friendly beach near The Jolly Sportsman?
The nearest dog friendly beach on Wildpack is Brighton Beach, 8.1 miles away. Check its page for any seasonal dog restrictions before you go.
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Book now with Booking.comWhat’s Nearby?
Walk2 mi awayDitchling Beacon
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The highest point in East Sussex with sweeping views across the Weald, a steady climb through chalk grassland where sheep graze freely.
Ditchling Beacon and the South Downs Ridge East
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East Sussex's highest point extended east along the open South Downs ridge to Plumpton — 10.8 km of chalk grassland walking with wildflowers, big Weald views, and no shelter from the wind.
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A South Downs crossing mixing riverside paths with big chalk downland views, with a train ride back from Southease to keep it linear.
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Walk6.5 mi awayDevil’s Dyke
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Brighton's famous V-shaped valley with dramatic views north across the Weald, easy to reach and well-served with a cafe at the top.
Beach8.1 mi awayBrighton Beach
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The iconic shingle beach below Britain's most vibrant seaside city, year-round access in many areas with dog-friendly stretches to the east of the pier.
Dog Friendly Hotels Nearby
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