About Us

Built in 1545 as a customs house for the harbour, The Bridge Inn is a fine example of Tudor architecture, with low wooden beams, classic black and white 16th Century cladding and large open fireplaces.

Owners Joe and June Beckett have lived in the Bridge Inn for 30 years, and their passion for traditional home cooked food combined with warm hospitality has made the Bridge Inn a firm favourite with visitors both local and otherwise, for many years.

About Winchelsea

Seven centuries ago, the new town of Winchelsea was founded by Edward I to take the place of an older town of the same name, which had been lost to the sea in a series of great storms and now lies beneath the waters of Rye Bay. The new town of Winchelsea assumed Old Winchelsea’s status of Ancient Town and Head Port of the Cinque Port Confederation, the alliance of Kent and Sussex ports that were England's bulwark against invasion in the days before there was a Royal Navy. For over a hundred years, New Winchelsea was one of the major ports of the kingdom.

Today, Winchelsea sits quietly on its hill, gazing across marshland at the now-distant sea: one of Kipling’s ports of stranded pride.

But all around this beautiful village are the evocative remnants of past glory: the Church of St Thomas the Martyr; three medieval gates standing guard against long-departed foes; and, beneath the broad streets, the wine cellars of the old port town. Some in Winchelsea still cling to its ancient status and claim to be the smallest town in England.

Source www.winchelsea.net 2008.

"15 miles from home but worth the trip every time, easily the best in the area." - a recent review posted to beerintheevening.com by a visitor to our pub.