Burning Sky Brewery

The smell hits you first when you walk into Burning Sky - that unmistakable blend of hops, grain, and proper craft beer in the making. Located just outside Newhaven, this independent Sussex brewery has carved out a loyal following among serious drinkers and casual curious types alike.

You can tour the working brewery floor and watch the team actually making beer, which is far more interesting than you might think. The on-site taproom serves their full range, from sessionable pale ales to bigger, bolder imperial stouts. Most of their beers are only available here, so if you're remotely interested in what you're drinking, it's worth the trip.

Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a full tour and a pint or two. The space feels genuinely lived-in rather than designed for Instagram - concrete floors, industrial kit, none of that contrived brewery-chic nonsense. It's proper working atmosphere.

For families, honestly, kids will find it dull after twenty minutes. But for anyone staying at Three Ponds Holiday Park or Golden Cross nearby, and you fancy escaping the caravan for an afternoon, this beats most tourist traps. The brewery team know their stuff and aren't pretentious about it, which you don't always get. Worth ringing ahead to check tour times and whether they're open the day you're planning to visit - independent breweries can be a bit unpredictable with their hours.