Mothering Sunday is obviously not a time to pfaff people about. One of our fellow diners, who had booked this culinary liason, had previously booked another table but cancelled in favour of The Kings Head, due he said to the foul temperament of the proprietor and drab interior - or was that the other way around? Anyhow, it seems it was a canny decision.

There are three pubs, at least three tearooms, a restaurant and a brasserie in Alfriston, a pretty village in the Downs just north of Seaford.

Another jaunt into the villages of the High Weald to see what interesting food fare on offer took us to the Gun and Spitroast in Horsmonden just a short walk away across the green from the Sky Sports banner adorned The Highwayman.

I'm not sure why the Kings Arms has slipped through Spy's fingers over the many years we've done the site, but it has. Perhaps its because we've always tended to settle over a fine pint of beer in the back garden, which has some fine views over the fields behind it and when anybody fancied a bit of nosh we, for one reason or another, declined.

We went for a drive down the A227 after reading that it had been awarded Kent's Best Gastro Pub. We wondered what it had over The Sporstman or Mulberry Tree that normally gobble up any gongs going.

My wife and I went to The Barn recently for a celebratory birthday dinner. I must say that we were more than a little disappointed. The starters were fine, you cannot really go too wrong with deep fried brie. Both main courses were more than a little disappointing.

Deep in the heart of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, the Hatch Inn ticks all the boxes you would expect of a quaint English country pub.

The Royal Stag has had a bit of a mauling over the years for various reasons, but we are pleased to say that the pub came up trumps on our recent visit.

The last time we visited - some seven years ago, we had a very pleasant, undemanding meal sitting outside looking out over the wonderful views from the beer garden.

Many years ago when we started Spy, the Old Vine was one of our favourite places to go. It had a heyday around 2002-2004 (?) when you walked in, were surrounded by blackboards of bar snacks, main meals, sandwiches, whatever and were delighted and surprised by the quality of nosh and the charming, effortless service.