Quid Pro Quo For The Lewes Arms

A pub that was the centre of a major row last year has been bought by Fuller's -- with a promise to continue to sell a popular local beer. The Lewes Arms in Lewes, East Sussex, was boycotted by regulars last year when owners Greene King removed Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter from the bar. The beer is brewed in Lewes.

The extent of the boycott forced Greene King to re-think its policy and Harvey's beer was put back on the bar. Now Fuller's of Chiswick has bought the pub from Greene King and has promised to keep Harvey's Sussex available. In return, Harvey's will stock one Fuller's cask beer at its sole London pub, the Royal Oak in Borough, near London Bridge.

The Lewes Arms is a leased pub that will be run by Peter Dowd, who also manages the popular Basketmakers Arms in Brighton, a major outlet for cask beer in the area.