New Japanese restaurant opens + festivals, fairs and family fun
It’s the June 2025 issue of The Lewes List
Food & Drink
News: Haru Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant, has opened at 14 Station Street, the former site of Fork. The menu is said to celebrate casual Japanese dining at its best, “from smoky yakitori skewers to fresh, vibrant sushi, crispy tempura and rich yakisoba.” More here.
News: Caccia & Tails is opening a new location on 176 High Street - formerly the home of the Little Lewes play café. You can see the premises licence here.
Reminder: Dalliance at Depot continues throughout June, with food from 5pm, music from 6pm. On 7 June, Lost Organ Unit plays rare groove and soul jazz, with food from Tiny Thai, a mother–daughter duo serving fresh Thai cuisine. On 21 June, Fruitful Sounds (DJ Nick Carling) mixes film scores, Brazilian and Balearic beats, with Dirty Mac serving mac’n’cheese and loaded hot dogs. On 28 June, DJ Southpaw plays 50s and 60s rock’n’roll, R&B and soul with Happy Go Souvlaki offering classic Greek street food. There’s no event on 14 June. More here.
20-21 June: Sip your way through the South Downs Beer & Cider Festival at Lewes Town Hall, a CAMRA event with live music and over 50 brews. More here.
22-29 June: Showcasing the quality of Sussex and the wider South East’s wines, Winelands will mark English Wine Week with a series of pop-up wine events, tastings and vineyard tours across the region. Many of our favourite venues, shops and producers are taking part. There’s more here.
9-10 August: These Hills Beer Festival, Beak Brewery’s international beer event with live music, food and camping, returns for 2025 – now at Glynde Place. More here.
Culture
6-8 June: Lewes Music Festival is three days of music, stalls, food, camping and glamping down at Lewes Rugby Club. Musicians include The Sugarhill Gang and the Artful Dodger. More here.
7 June: Lewes Record Fair is back at The Con Club, 10am-3pm, with free entry. More on Facebook here.
14-22 June: Sussex Craft Week is a new festival celebrating Sussex’s creative talent, organised by ROSA Magazine in partnership with West Dean College. The event features exhibitions, courses, demonstrations, talks, and tours at major Sussex arts venues, including Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft and Towner Eastbourne. More here.
20 June: Daughter of folk legends Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy MBE is heading to Lewes Con Club. She’s supported by Jennifer Reid, who performs “19th-century Lancashire dialect work songs, Manchester broadside ballads and clog steps”. The promoters helpfully add: “think rousing songs and passionate oratory”. More here.
21 June: Morning, Noon and Night is the theme for this year’s Paddock Singers summer concert at St John’s Sub Castro at 6.30pm. £15 for adults, £5 for children under 12. Canapés included and bar available. More here.
27 June: A triple header of local Lewes bands – Wild Pansies, Oort, Skyscrapers – will perform at The Con Club. More here.
27 June: The next Cellar Vie Club night takes place downstairs at Café du Jardin from 7-11pm. Expect music, dancing, a bar and good company. Tickets are £10 in advance here or on the door.
4-6 July: Love Supreme Festival is back at Glynde Place, with Jacob Collier, Maxwell, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and The Roots among the 2025 line-up. More here.
11-12 July: FirleFest 2025, Firle Bonfire Society’s summer celebration, returns with bands, food and camping. More here.
17-19 July: The sixth Lewes Baroquefest celebrates the town's rich vocal and instrumental traditions with live performances from international musicians. A Bach & Handel concert is set to take place at Lewes Town Hall, featuring three masterpieces, closing this year’s festival. More here.
17-20 July: Festival of the Garden returns to Charleston at Firle in July, with big ideas in ecology, design, growing and landscape with guest speakers including Alice Vincent, Alys Fowler and John Little. More here.
Sport & Community
News: Studio Shy (35 High Street) has a range of activities this month, including a design and create your own press-on nails workshop, a guest tattoo artist and a make-up masterclass. More here and here.
3 June: Grown in Lewes is a Lewes History Group talk by Ruth Thomson. She’ll expand on two topics from Grown in Lewes: the history of Elphick’s – a family-run seed merchant and garden shop on Cliffe High Street – and the rise and fall of the early 19th-century Leighside estate. Another LGH talk – The Piltdown Men, by Anthony Dicks – will take place on 9 June. Both talks will be held at Kings Church on Brooks Road. Non-members admission £4.00; more here.
15 June: Explore the native and exotic trees of Lewes at the Tree Festival walk in Southover Grange Gardens (2:30-4pm). More here.
5 July: There’s a variety of quality stalls at the Lewes Craft and Gift Market in Lewes Town Hall. More here.
News: Southdown Sports Club in Lewes is offering beginners and ‘back to tennis’ courses starting 7 June. Professional coaching each Saturday for 6 weeks, with temporary club membership, is £75 per person, limited to 12 spaces per course. Call Southdown reception on 01273 480 630 or email to book.
6-8 June: As part of the Lewes Music Festival, a Rugby 7s tournament will be held on Saturday morning at Lewes Rugby Club. More here.
Family
The summer holidays are nearly upon us, so looking ahead:
14 July -2 September: Nature Kids Holiday Club offers indoor and outdoor activities for children aged 6-12 in central Lewes. Sessions run from 9.30am-3.30pm. More here.
17 July-28 August: The Outdoors Project runs holiday clubs in The Paddock, Lewes, for children in Years 1 to 6. Activities include bushcraft, games, and creative projects. Sessions run from 9am-3pm. More here.
23–25 July, 28–30 July & 11–13 August: Lewes Athletic Club hosts three-day athletic camps for children in school years 3-6. Activities include running, jumping, and throwing events. Sessions run from 10am-3pm at Lewes Athletic Track. More here.
28–31 July & 4–7 August: Railway Land Wildlife Trust offers outdoor adventure clubs for children aged 6–12 at the Railway Land Nature Reserve in Lewes. Activities include den building, pond dipping, and wildlife exploration. Sessions run from 9am-3pm. More here.
23 July-29 August: East Sussex Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) provides free holiday clubs with meals for eligible children across East Sussex, including Lewes. Activities vary by location. More here.