Guest information
The practical stuff, before you book rather than after
This is the guest handbook, minus the key-safe code and the Wi-Fi password, which come in your welcome message. If a question isn't answered here, ask us.
Arrival & check-in
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is by 10:00. Self check-in: the apartment has its own white side door on the High Street, marked "The View @ Hill Lodge", down the alley between numbers 118 and 119. The key-safe code is sent in your pre-arrival message. Two keys are provided; please leave one in the safe throughout your stay in case of emergencies.
Tell us your rough arrival time and we'll greet you if we're around. Milk, a fresh loaf, tea, coffee and Nespresso pods are waiting, along with oil, salt and pepper in the cupboard.
Parking
You have two dedicated spaces in Wellhouse Place, directly opposite the house: the first two bays by the High Street, before you reach the Pelham Arms car park. You may need to move a cone.
A third car at the weekend? County Hall car park, a minute's walk away, opens to the public from Friday at 5pm and is very cheap all day Saturday and Sunday.
The stairs
The apartment is on the top floor, reached by a private staircase, which is steep and narrow in places. There is no lift. If anyone in your party has mobility difficulties, please tell us before you book. We'd rather lose a booking than have someone arrive and find they can't manage.
Inside the apartment
Wi-Fi
Fast Wi-Fi throughout. The network name and password are in your welcome message.
Heating and hot water
Heating is on a Nest thermostat on the wall of bedroom one: the number on the screen is the current temperature, twist the dial to change it, and wave a hand to wake it. Hot water is shared with the main house, is always on, and has no controls in the apartment.
Kitchen
Pans, utensils and crockery, a toaster, air fryer, microwave and Nespresso machine (pods in the drawer below), plus the basics: oil, salt, pepper, tea and coffee.
TV
A Roku TV for streaming. Use your own logins and remember to sign out before you leave.
Laundry, iron, hairdryer
The washing machine is in the second bathroom, next to the sink, with detergent on top. Iron and hairdryer are in the main bathroom cupboard. Beach towels on request: ask in advance and we'll leave them out.
Rubbish and recycling
The kitchen bins (rubbish, recycling, food waste) are plenty for a short stay. If anything overflows, tie the bag, leave it in the kitchen and let us know.
Fire safety
- Escape route: down the main stairs you came up. Never the windows or the roof.
- Assembly point: the Pelham Arms car park across the road.
- Fire extinguisher in the kitchen by the door. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted; the house also has a sprinkler system on the lower floors.
- Please don't block the stairwell with luggage or shoes.
- In an emergency dial 999 first, then let us know once you're safe.
House rules
- No smoking or vaping anywhere on the premises, inside or out.
- No pets. We occasionally make exceptions for longer stays; please ask before booking.
- Quiet hours 10pm – 8am. Hill Lodge is a Grade II listed, timber-framed building and sound carries through the lath-and-plaster walls.
- Up to 8 guests. Please don't bring extra people beyond your booking without checking first.
- If anything breaks, tell us. Honesty is appreciated and we'll sort it.
Getting around
Buses
Brighton & Hove Buses stop right outside (the stop is "The Pelham Arms"). The 28 and 29 run to Brighton every 10–20 minutes during the day; eastbound the 28 goes to Ringmer, Hailsham and Eastbourne and the 29 to Uckfield, Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells. Pay contactless on board. Walkers: the 79 goes up to Ditchling Beacon, from where you can walk back to Lewes along the Downs.
Trains
Lewes station is about ten minutes' walk. Brighton in about 15 minutes (every 15–20 minutes), London Victoria in about an hour (twice hourly), Seaford in 18 minutes for the Seven Sisters, Eastbourne in 20.
Taxis
Lewes Taxis (01273 474444) and A Cab (01273 484484). Pre-book, especially late at night; Uber is patchy here.
On foot
Lewes is compact. The castle, the shops, Harvey's brewery, the pubs and the station are all within about ten minutes. Mount Caburn and the South Downs Way are a longer walk from the door, and the Railway Land nature reserve is a gentle riverside stroll.
Shops and essentials
Waitrose on Eastgate Street is a short walk; Tesco on Brooks Road is larger and open late. There's a farmers' market on Cliffe Precinct on Fridays and Saturdays. St Anne's Pharmacy is on Western Road, Boots on Eastgate Street, and Lewes Victoria Hospital has a minor injuries unit on Nevill Road. For non-urgent medical advice call 111.
Check-out
By 10:00 please. On your last morning:
- Strip the beds and leave the bedding on the bedroom floor.
- Wash up or run the dishwasher; leave the kitchen tidy.
- Put rubbish, recycling and food waste in the outside bins.
- Turn the thermostat down to 18 °C.
- Sign out of streaming services on the TV.
- Leave one key on the kitchen table and return the other to the key safe.
- Close the windows and lock the door behind you.
- Tell us if anything went wrong so we can put it right.
You'll get an email afterwards inviting you to leave a review. We read every one.
Questions answered? Check your dates.
Sleeps 6–8, three bathrooms, private parking. Prices in pounds, no service fees, and cheaper than booking the same dates on Airbnb.