The Smokehouse, Uckfield

Known as Just So Café Bar pre 2010 the Maiden’s Head changed its name to the Smokehouse earlier this year. This establishment is now primarily a Tex-Mex restaurant, but a bar has been retained and there is absolutely no problem in visiting just for a drink. This bar, located to the left of the entrance, supports Carling, Blue Moon, Coors light, Sharp’s Pilsner, Sharp’s Orchard Cider and Guinness alongside a cask ale offering of Robinson’s Robohop. All of the tables, apart from a single low one by the bar, were set for dining. Each table came complete with a typical American diner red and white checked table cloth made of plastic for easy removal of BBQ sauce. The American theme is continued with the addition of Blues Bros paraphernalia including life size models and musical instruments. I’m pretty sure I also saw a large Oliver Hardy figure that had been thrown in the mix, which was no doubt spotted at a car boot. During my visit on a recent Saturday afternoon there were two groups of diners eating whilst trooping the colour was being aired on the plasma screen. This was muted in favour of some background music. I found the barman to be polite, but if I was to return it would probably be to eat rather than drink.