Star Brewery

The Star Brewery in Lewes is a working gallery space housed in what was once an actual brewery - the building's industrial bones are still very much on display. You'll find contemporary art exhibitions rotating through the converted spaces, with that wonderful raw aesthetic that only proper old factories can pull off. Exposed brick, high ceilings, original fixtures left standing - it's the kind of place where the venue itself is half the appeal.

It's best suited to art enthusiasts and anyone with a taste for independent galleries rather than the polished museum circuit. The intimate scale means you won't spend hours here - reckon on 45 minutes to an hour depending on what's on - but that's rather the point. The work tends toward the genuinely interesting end of the spectrum rather than the crowd-pleasing.

Lewes itself is a proper little town, all steep high street and independent spirit, so you can easily couple a gallery visit with lunch or a potter round the local shops. The nearby holiday parks - The Secret Campsite, Three Ponds, and Blackberry Wood are all within five miles, making this a sensible stop if you're camping in the area rather than a reason to plan your whole trip around.

Do check opening hours before you head over, as independent galleries can be a bit fluid with their schedules. Admission details aren't widely published online, so a quick call ahead saves disappointment. Worth the detour if you're in Lewes anyway, less so if you're making a special journey.