We’re delighted that you’ve chosen to stay in Darwin Cottage and hope that you enjoy your stay with us. We have worked hard creating protocols and following guidelines to ensure you have a comfortable stay.

Please take some time to read through the information provided on this page so that you are familiar with the property and any safety information. You will also find information on what to do locally come rain or shine, and recommendations on where to eat in or takeaway.

Welcome to Darwin Cottage

Should you experience any problems, or find that any of the cottage equipment is missing or damaged, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange for replacements/repairs.

Getting to know your surroundings will help reduce the likelihood of mishaps and accidents.  If something unexpected does happen during your stay, please let us know and we will assist you as best we can.

We are proud to have an excellent feedback score on the Reevoo site, but are aware that it is only as good as the last reviewer!  If you are pleased with everything, please review accordingly.  However, if you are not, please let us know whilst you are here, so that we have the opportunity to put it right or at least make changes for future guests as simple constructive comments can make all the difference.

Property Layout

Soon after you arrive at Darwin Cottage, and definitely before you go to bed, it’s important for you to familiarize yourselves with the layout of the building.  It is quite straightforward.  There is only one main exit, although the Velux windows upstairs open wide enough to exit in an emergency, as does the centre two sections of the downstairs bedroom window.

In the event of a power cut, there are 2 emergency lights that can come on.  There is one on the upstairs landing and the other is in the downstairs lobby.  There is also a torch under the sink in the kitchen should you need it. 

*think about how to leave the cottage in an emergency if it’s dark or if smoke makes visibility poor

*when you go to bed, decide where you will leave the key to the door

*in the unlikely event of a fire, where’s a safe place for everyone to meet outside?

Outside lights: There are some outside lights on the cottage which are just above the large wooden shutters.  The switch for the outside lights is on the wall beside the corner cabinet in the living area.  When the light switch is turned on, the lights will remain on permanently until you turn them off.  For extra visibility in the dark, when guests are staying, we put our outside lights on too if it looks like you might be going out for the evening.  We tend to turn them off around 11pm as we live in a conservation area and don’t want to disturb our guests or our neighbours too much.  If you think you will be out later than this, please take the torch with you – it can be found under the kitchen sink.  Also, leave some lights on in the cottage.  There is also a timer switch that can be used and set to come on for when you get back.

Please remember to turn off the outside lights when you are back home for the night as they do not switch off once activated. The village wildlife thank you for your co-operation!

Fuse box: Is situated in the cupboard under the stairs.  Please be aware that if a lightbulb blows, the fuse will most likely trip the switch on the fuse box and all the lights will go out on the same floor.  The emergency light will come on.  To rectify this, you will need to push the fuse all the way down, before pushing it back up again.

Electrical Appliances

If you are unsure how to use any of the electrical appliances, please ask.  Most things are self-explanatory and we have instructions for using the TV/Sky/DVD player and the washing machine. 

Should you find something that is damaged, or has faulty wiring, please unplug it from the mains and bring it to our attention.  We have an excellent, reliable electrician who can usually come within a day or two to repair anything.  We usually notice things during changeover day, but as we don’t live in the cottage, some things may not be noticeable during the day.

Fire Precautions

House fires are extremely rare and almost always preventable, please check that you know where the fire extinguisher and blanket are.  The extinguisher is situated on the floor beside the kitchen bin and the fire blanket is on the wall behind.

Smoke alarms and CO Detector: The smoke alarms are situated by the emergency lighting in the downstairs lobby and on the upstairs landing.  They are mains connected and interlinked, so if one goes off, they both do and they are very loud!  There is also a Carbon Monoxide detector in the living area too.  These monitors are checked routinely when the cottage is prepared for your arrival as well as the emergency lighting and fire doors which are inspected on a monthly basis.  There is a red log book where this information is recorded.  A fire risk assessment has been carried out and is reviewed annually.  This is available for your information as well should you wish to read it.

Heating

The cottage has central heating throughout.  During the colder months, it is set on a timer.  When you arrive, you will find the heating set to the same times and temperature as we have in our own house.  Should you need to have it on at different times, there are details on how to change the heating on the boiler.  Whilst we want you to be warm, please turn the heating off when you are out.  We have provided fleece blankets for you to snuggle up under as well if you need them.

No Smoking/Vaping

The cottage has a strict no smoking and no vaping/e-cigarettes policy for the comfort of all of our guests and particularly the children who stay here.  This means that standing in the open doorway or leaning out of a window whilst smoking is not acceptable even if it is raining!

Please ensure that you are completely outside of the cottage whilst smoking and that you are at least 5 metres away from any open door or window.  If it is raining, you may shelter underneath the Loggia.  An ashtray is provided, so please dispose of any cigarette ash and butts considerately.

Hot water

The hot water in Darwin Cottage is “on demand”, so you don’t need to wait for a tank to heat up.  Please take a moment to carefully check the temperature of the hot water from the taps in case it is hotter than the water that you are used to at home.  Take care that your children are supervised in the bathroom.

Arrival Information

As you will be aware from your booking information, the cottage will be ready from 5pm due to the additional cleaning measures in place.  Please do not arrive early as we will not be able to accommodate you until then.

Parking and Outside facilities

Please park your car in front of the “Parking for Darwin Cottage” sign facing the same direction as the car port (instead of at a right angle to the car port as that makes it difficult for you to get in and out of the drive). Please leave yourselves enough room to get out of the car on both sides, but also enough room for us to access the garage.  There is enough room on the drive for up to two guest cars. Any additional cars can be parked in the village car park for up to 24 hours at a time and there is also a small lay-by without parking restrictions along the road from the pub.

Unfortunately, due to fire regulations we cannot allow vehicular access to the courtyard. To comply with safety regulations, the cottage has fire resistant insulation in the walls adjacent to the pub car park.  This offers protection to the cottage against a car on fire in the car park.  The cottage does not have the insulation on the courtyard side of the building, so is unprotected from a car being on fire in the courtyard.  Therefore for everyone’s safety, please park in the designated area on the driveway. 

The cottage has patio furniture and BBQ equipment for your enjoyment.  The spot just in front of the cottage is a real sun trap in the early summer evenings, so is just right for sitting out and enjoying the last rays of the day with a book and a cold drink.  If the furniture isn’t there, we have put it under the Loggia because it has been raining!  Please feel free to get it out again if we haven’t! 

Please ensure that all BBQ equipment is cleaned after you have used it and left as you would expect to find it.  The time between guests leaving and our next ones arriving is short and needs to be spent preparing the cottage.  We are grateful for your co-operation in this matter so that we can continue to provide this facility.

Housekeeping

Towels and linen are provided for all adults and children staying in the cottage.  We do not provide bedding for infants in the travel cot.  All beds are made up at all times, although the number of towels provided will depend on the number of guests staying.

As with other self-catering properties, towels are not changed on a daily basis as they might be in a hotel, so please hang them on the rails provided or the radiators in the bathroom to dry between uses.  For guests staying 2 weeks or more, we offer a by request towels and linen change.

For the time being, whilst social distancing and Covid restrictions are in place, should you request fresh bedding and/or towels, we will give you the clean set for you to change yourselves so that we do not need to enter the property whilst you are staying.  We simply ask that you leave what needs to be laundered in the laundry bags provided and place the bags outside the cottage by 10.30am at the end of your first week.

Housekeeping

Towels and linen are provided for all adults and children staying in the cottage.  We do not provide bedding for infants in the travel cot.  All beds are made up at all times, although the number of towels provided will depend on the number of guests staying.

As with other self-catering properties, towels are not changed on a daily basis as they might be in a hotel, so please hang them on the rails provided or the radiators in the bathroom to dry between uses.  For guests staying 2 weeks or more, we offer a by request towels and linen change.

For the time being, should you request fresh bedding and/or towels, we will give you the clean set for you to change yourselves so that we do not need to enter the property whilst you are staying.  We simply ask that you leave what needs to be laundered in the laundry bags provided and place the bags outside the cottage by 10.30am at the end of your first week.

WiFi

After years of waiting, we finally have broadband of a reasonable speed!

If you would like access to the internet to check the weather forecast, look at places to go locally or check the odd email or two, you are welcome to log on to our network. We will provide you with the password details when you arrive. There is an ethernet port in the living area. If you would like to connect to this, please bring an ethernet cable.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

We realize that our Green aspirations are personal, and we have worked hard to achieve our Green award from Wyndham Vacation Property Rentals (Hoseasons/Cottages4U/ Cottages.com).  We hope that you will share our aspirations whilst you are staying in our cottage, even if you don’t have the facilities to do so at home.

We have the facility to recycle a lot of our waste products which is fantastic as our landfill waste is only collected fortnightly.

Please read the information leaflet carefully regarding what can and cannot be recycled.  You will find it above the bin in the kitchen. It is probably similar to your recycling facilities at home.  Over recent years, our recycling has been simplified enormously.  All of our recyclable items go in the green recycling wheelie bin including glass bottles and jars.  Anything that cannot be recycled according to the information needs to go in bin bags into the landfill (grey) wheelie bin.

Washing lines

Whilst we are aware of the “typical British weather”, we are regularly able to dry our own washing outside on the line during the warmer months.  We are grateful to our guests for doing the same.  Although we have provided a tumble dryer for your use when the weather isn’t very nice, please consider the environmental impact of using the dryer unnecessarily and hang the washing outside when you can. 

For this purpose, we have provided two washing lines solely for our guests to use during their stay.  The Brabantia line attached to the side of the cottage and a long line with a prop between the cottage and the Loggia.  Pegs can be found under the sink or near the washing line! 

Public Transport

There is one bus per week from Jevington into Eastbourne (and back).  Don’t miss it!

Eastbourne Terminus Road stop M		1010		1140		1450
Eastbourne, Old Town, opposite Waitrose		—		1143		1453
Wannock, Village Hall		1024		—		—
Jevington, Eight Bells (across the road from car park)		1031		—		—
East Dean, Village Hall Green Lane Car Park		—		1150		1500
Friston, Windmill Lane		1038		1154		1504
Warren Lane, junction The Brow		1040		1156		1506
Hillside, junction Dene Side		1044		1200		1510
Dene Side, junction Peakdean Lane		1046		1202		1512
Peakden Lane (top)		1048		1204		1514
Dene Side (east)		1051		1207		1517
The Link (top of Micheldene Road)		1054		1210		1520
East Dean, Village Hall Green Lane Car Park		1058		—		—
Jevington, Eight Bells car park		—		—		1527
Wannock, Village Hall		—		—		1534
Eastbourne, Old Town, Waitrose		1105		1218		—
Eastbourne Terminus Rd Arndale Centre stop A		1109		1222		1548

There are more frequent buses to Eastbourne and Brighton running at least every 20 minutes from Friston Pond.  Although, it is probably easier to go to East Dean as there is more parking available and catch the bus from there. 

Alternatively, there is a train station at Polegate with regular services to Eastbourne, Brighton, Hastings and London.  The car park is pay and display.

Eastbourne Buses: 01323 416416

Brighton and Hove Buses: 01273 886200

National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950/ 0207 068 0500

Taxis

The most reliable and prompt taxi service that we use and recommend is A2B on 01323 746746.  They will text you with the registration number of the taxi collecting you and a description of the vehicle.  If you need an early morning taxi, we recommend that you pre-book.  Alternatively 01323 720720 are also very reliable.

Local information

Nearest cash machines: There are cash machines at the Co-Op in the High Street, Polegate and there is also one at Tesco Express.  These machines do not charge for withdrawals.

Post box: The nearest post box is at the bottom of Church Lane.  There are also post offices the Alldays store in Willingdon Triangle and at the Co-Op in Polegate.

Local shops:

Sheppards, East Dean

Alldays The Triangle, Willingdon

Tesco Express, Polegate

Co-Op Polegate

Brains Butchers, The Triangle, Willingdon (open mornings)

We are also in the delivery area for Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.

Doctors Surgeries

We hope that you won’t need them whilst you are here, but if you do the nearest doctors surgeries are in Polegate.

Dr. Brown,

Manor Park Medical Centre, High Street, Polegate

Telephone: 01323 484848

(Opposite the Horse & Groom Harvester pub)

Dr. Sharp and Partners

Downlands Medical Centre, High Street, Polegate

Telephone: 01323 482323

(further along the High Street, if going there from here, it is near the end of the road on the left hand side).

Tourist Information Centre

Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre, Welcome Building, Compton Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4BP

Telephone: 01323 415415

Chemists

There are two pharmacies in Polegate High Street.  If you are in Eastbourne surgery, the Arlington Road pharmacy (1 Arlington Road, Eastbourne) is close by.  Telephone 01323 736279. 

Hospital

Eastbourne District General Hospital (with A&E)

Kings Drive, Eastbourne, BN21 2UD

Telephone: 01323 417400

Emergency Dental Surgery

Patients who need urgent out-of-hours dental treatment must call the appointment line on 01323 449170 to be triaged before being offered an appointment.  The appointment line is open weekday evenings from 6.30pm – 10.30pm with appointments from 7.00pm-9.00pm and at weekends and bank holidays from 9.00am – 1.30pm with appointments from 10.00am-12noon. This service is only available to people who are entitled to NHS treatment. NHS dental charges apply unless proof of exemption is supplied.

Local Beaches

There are a number of beaches nearby, the following is a brief summary of what to expect and where!  Please also check the tide times to find the best times to go particularly if you want to check out the rockpools.

Birling Gap       – the nearest beach to the cottage, situated at the base of the chalk cliffs called the Seven Sisters.  To get there, turn into Gilberts Drive in East Dean and follow the road along past the Sheep centre.  You will see a large (pay & display) car park on the right hand side.  The beach is accessible via some steps.  Like most of the beaches locally, it is shingle, giving way to sand with areas of rock pools and chalk from the cliffs.  It is a voluntary marine nature reserve and is rife with fossils if you know what to look for!

Cuckmere Haven – to get there, turn right at the top of the drive, follow the road until the junction and turn right at Friston onto the A259.  There is a pay and display car park and visitors centre at Exceat.  The beach is approximately 30 minutes walk from the car park.  The pebble beach is very quiet and secluded.  There is a country park centre, toilets and a gift shop across the road from the car park.

Falling Sands Beach, Holywell, Eastbourne – situated at the western end of King Edwards Parade, Eastbourne.  This section of coastline provides rock pools full of marine life at low tide, pretty gardens and the dramatic chalk cliffs of Falling Sands. Located in a marine conservation area and site of special scientific interest.  Parking is free for 2-4 hours along this stretch of the seafront, access is difficult for the less mobile as it is down steps and slopes.  There is a café and toilets at the bottom.  There is also a children’s park near Helen Gardens.

Pier to Wishtower, Eastbourne – the main resort beach is located between the Pier and the Wish Tower. This beach is an award winning beach and boasts excellent bathing water quality, first class cafes and bars.  Pay and display parking along the seafront and you’ll need 20p to use the toilets along here too!

East Beach Pier to Sovereign Park, Eastbourne – Beaches East of the Pier to the harbour are lined with various tourist attractions and are also popular for watersports.

Pevensey Bay beach – The shingle shore is a pleasant rural beach which has been a fisherman’s paradise for centuries, and is still used by local fisherman to date

Seaford Beach – A four mile stretch of beach suitable for families.  There are concessions open in the main season, toilets including disabled facilities.  Opposite the seafront is a large recreation ground called the Salts, there are tennis courts, pitch and putt and a café.  The beach can be reached via Marine Parade which is accessed from the A259 at the mini roundabout in Seaford Town.  There is free parking along the entire seafront.  There are some lovely little independent shops and cafés in Seaford too, so worth a visit.

Recommended Places to Eat in or Takeaway….

There are literally hundreds of places to eat out locally and when you’re not familiar with the area, it can be tricky deciding. The lists below are not exhaustive, but they are places we have been to and have thoroughly enjoyed.

Type of Food	Name	Address	Telephone	Website
Breakfast	The Beach Kitchen	56 Beach Road, Eastbourne, BN22 7HA	01323 392222
British	Bills	153 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3NU	020 4512 6654	www.bills-website.co.uk
British	Bills	56 Cliffe High Street, Lewes, BN7 2AN	020 8054 5395	www.bills-website.co.uk
Chinese	Hoi Sum	8 Station Street, Eastbourne, BN21 4RG	01323 749595
Chinese	Xing Fu	42-44 Meads Street, Eastbourne, BN20 7RG	01323 726805	www.xing-fu.co.uk
European	Cru	8 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne	01323 646494	www.cruwine.co.uk
Breakfast, Lunch and Friday evening dinner	Sheppards	14 Downlands Way, East Dean	01323 423081	https://www.sheppardscafe.com/index
Greek	Gr/Eat Greek Deli Restaurant	215-217 Terminus Road, Eastbourne	01323 734877	www.gr-eat.co.uk
Indian	Ashoka	28-30 Cornfield Road, Eastbourne, BN214QH	01323 733344	www.ashokaeastbourne.com
Indian	Spice Garden	6 Church Street, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN21 1HT	01323 722121	www.spice-garden.co.uk
Italian	Pomodoro e Mozzarella	23/24 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, BN21 4NS	01323 733800	www.pomodoro-e-mozzarella.co.uk
Italian	Mamma Mi	18 Grove Road, Eastbourne	01323 732330
Italian	La Locanda Del Duca	26 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne	01323 737177	www.la-locanda-del-duca.com
Pub	The Sussex Ox	Milton Street, Polegate, BN26 5RL	01323 870840	www.thesussexox.co.uk
Pub	The Eight Bells	Jevington	01323 484442	www.eightbellsjevington.com
Pub	The Giants Rest	Wilmington	01323 870207
Pub	The Plough & Harrow	Litlington	01323 870632
Pub	Bibendum	1 Grange Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4EU	01323 735363	www.bibendumeastbourne.com
Steakhouse	Two Bulls Steakhouse	The Tally Ho, 42 Church Street, Eastbourne, BN21 1JB	01323 640258	www.thetallyho.net
Turkish	Meze	15 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3HR	01323 731893	www.meze-restaurant.co.uk

Type of Takeaway	Name	Address	Telephone	Website
Chinese	Eastern Wok	6 Crown Street, Eastbourne, BN21 1NX	01323 411182
Chinese & Thai	Yummy Noodle Bar	Enterprise Shopping Centre, Station Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 1BE	01323 639800
Fish & Chips	Trawlers	6 Freshwater Square, Lower Willingdon, BN22 0PR	01323 503341
Fish & Chips	Polegate Fisheries	31 High Street, Polegate	01323 483157
Fish & Chips	Calamar Fish Bar	46 High Street, Polegate	01323 301535
Fish & Chips	Trident	23 Albert Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 1SD	01323 416622	www.tridentfishrestaurant.co.uk
Indian	Viceroy	5 Grand Parade, Polegate, BN26 5HG	01323 485248
Italian	Pomodoro & Mozzarella	23/24 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, BN21 4NS	01323 733800	www.pomodoro-e-mozzarella.co.uk
Kebabs, Pizza, Burgers	Snack Attack	40 High Street, Polegate, BN26 6AJ	01323 489498
Pizza	Pizzarelli	42 Church Street, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN21 1JB	01323 642656	www.pizzarelli.uk
Pizza	Domino’s	3-4 Freshwater Square, Willingdon, Eastbourne, BN22 0PR	01323 500222	www.dominos.co.uk/eastbourne-freshwater-square
Thai	Thai Village	29b Church Street, Willingdon, BN20 9HR	01323 505333	www.thaivillage.co.uk
Thai	Thai Terre	The Green, East Dean, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 0BY	01323 423956	www.thaiterre.co.uk

What to do if it’s raining…

We can’t always guarantee the British Weather, but here are a few suggestions of things to do when it’s not nice enough to be outside.