Wheelers Oyster Bar

What is it?

A small oyster bar, painted pink and blue, on the High Street, opened in 1856 by an oyster fisherman called Richard Wheeler. It outlived the London Wheelers chain, which took its name and disappeared. It is run by the same family, with Mark in charge of the kitchen: they make the bread and the ice cream, have their own vegetable garden and buy directly from local fishermen, with no middlemen.

What is there to eat?

Their own native oysters in season, from September to April, and rock oysters the rest of the year; local lobster, scallops from Rye Bay, crab, sea bass, cockles and winkles. On Friday and Saturday evenings there is only an eight-course tasting menu. It has no alcohol licence: bring your own wine and you pay a small corkage charge per table.

How to book

By phone only, never by email, with a £10 per person deposit that is not refunded if you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice. There are lunchtime and evening sittings in two dining rooms. It is closed on Wednesdays. If you cannot get a table, the bar at the front sells takeaway.