Location: The Green, East Dean, Nr Eastbourne, BN20 0DA
Summary: “Although the food at the Tiger Inn sounds exciting on paper, poor execution and a lack of flavour throughout means that in reality its average at best. However, with a great selection of ales and a stunning location it’s still worth a visit when you’re out adventuring this way... just stick to the sandwiches.”
Situated only a stones throw from Beachy Head in the idyllic village of East Dean is the Tiger Inn; a quintessentially quaint and historic English pub sat proudly on the village green in a scene which simply begs for a display of cavorting Morris Men.
Inside the Tiger finds low hung ceiling beams, an open fire place and one serious collection of horse brass and horse art, but despite the buildings age the interior is surprisingly modern (in a village pub kind of way). The Tiger isn’t the biggest pub in Sussex by a long chalk but ample seating out on the green means that, in clement weather at least, there’s likely to be enough to go round.
Various CAMRA plaques adorn the walls, earned from the hosting numerous beer festivals and stocking a solid selection of draft ales, many from the pubs affiliated ‘BEACHYHEAD – brewery tap’ such as the Legless Rambler at a dangerous 5.4%.
We arrived for a mid-week lunch and were surprised by how popular the place was; meaning that queuing to order a drink, setting up a tab, then getting back to the bar to place my order wasted the best part of 25 minutes.
Although the specials board had nothing on it, the menu featured a fairly decent choice of light lunches, sandwiches and pub staples such as burgers and sausage and mash. With main courses topping out at £12.95 the food isn’t cheap, but certainly not the most expensive either.
To start I ordered the King Prawn César Salad (£6.50) – a reasonably sized serving of prawns on a big lettuce leaf, parmesan shavings, very crunchy croutons and an indistinguishable dressing which was pleasant if rather dull.
Onwards to the Seared Duck with Spring Onion and Cucumber Salad with Sesame and Plum Dressing (£11.95) for main course. It took a while to arrive and when it did the duck was clearly overdone and tasting it confirmed what I already knew – dry, bland, ruined duck. The salad itself was a massive chore, containing a mountain of cucumber slithers and a tumbleweed sized piece of stalky and bitter curly endive lettuce, neither of which seemed to be dressed in anything more interesting than olive oil.
To be honest, I’d struggle to eat that salad if my diet depended on it, let alone when treating myself to a country pub lunch. The sesame and plum sauce failed to add any excitement to this bore-fest of a dish and should the advertised spring onions have been present I’m certain they would have struggled to transform this dish.
On the strength of the first two courses I decided against dessert.
The kitchen at the Tiger is on the right track, yet a lack of finesse, flavour and excitement in everything we ordered today means my visit was ultimately disappointing.
Simple mistakes, like overdoing both my partner’s salmon and my duck breast, show a lack of experience in the kitchen, which is a real shame considering the absolutely stunning location of this Sussex gem of pub.
And it’s on the strength of its location and the delightfully quaint ambiance of the place means that, despite being underwhelmed by the food, I’m likely to return to the Tiger Inn; only next time I’ll keep it simple and order a sandwich or a burger.
Food aside, there’s no escaping The Tiger Inn’s charm, so if you’re in this part of Sussex and in need of refreshment then it’s still worth a visit.
The Tiger Inn is open from 10.30am to 11.30pm every day. Lunch is served from 12 noon to 3pm and dinner from 6pm to 9pm, other bar snacks and food available at other times. Call 01323 423209 or email tiger@beachyhead.org.uk
What a load of rubbish. We travel an hour to be here and have a been few times. Read this en route only to check postcode. Just had a wonderful pate with a divine chutney, followed by a superbly cooked duck. A quaffable Shiraz and very friendly service as completed a fabulous lunch and we are fussy! Don't have to wait for desert , as always I am sure it will be sublime.
