Where to get food along the Way
Once you leave Winchester, the SDW doesn't go through any villages where you can pick up any food until Alfriston which is about 11 miles from the end at Eastbourne so you may have to detour off the Way if you need to stock up with food, below are a few places that were open in April 2017 that may help you in your planning.
Winchester
There are plenty of food shops, cafes and pubs in Winchester to stock up on before your walk or treat yourself if you're finishing in Winchester.
Meonstoke
There is a small shop in Meonstoke just before East Meon and slightly off the route open until 7pm apart from Sundays (5pm).
East Meon
There are a couple of pubs in East Meon and a small village shop which didn't seem to stock much of anything and you might prefer to carry food from the start at Winchester rather than divert the mile into the village.
South Harting
There is a pub and a small village shop/post office in the village but it closes at lunch time at Weekends. South Harting is about a mile away from the route but it is quite a climb down and then back up again after visiting the village. If you are finishing the day in Cocking or Graffham I would suggest missing out South Harting.
Cocking
There is a small shop/post office in Cocking village open until after 7pm during the week and slightly earlier at weekends. There is also a pub in the village that does meals.
Graffham
There is a well stocked shop in the village of Graffham which is open until 7pm apart from a Sunday when it closes at 5pm. There was a pub also in the village but it had closed in April 2017 when I visited the village. The Graffham campsite also sells a few things in its little shop.
Amberley
There is a nice tea shop in the village and a small village shop. The village is not far off the main route and not much ascent to get back on the route.
Washington
The Frankland Arms in Washington is not far from the campsite if you are staying local and it serves food every day.
Steyning
Just before Upper Beeding is Steyning, it's a larger village that Beeding and you will find a Co-op shop plus a few cafes and pubs, personally though I preferred going into Upper Beeding a little further on the route.
Upper Beeding
There is a well stocked shop and a garage shop in Upper Beeding, not far away from the main route and no ascent really meaning it's not much effort to divert into the village to stock up.
Keymer and Hassocks
In Keymer there is a Chinese restaurant and a pub but half a mile further along the road is Hassocks which has a few cafes and takeaways plus a few shops open until late in the evening. The campsite also has a small shop if you stay there and don't want to venture into the village.
Lewes
Lewes might be too far off the route on your walk but you might be tempted to stay the night in the village and get there by taking the train from Southease Station. In Lewes there are plenty of shops including Outdoor shops and supermarkets.
Alfriston
There are a few pubs that sell meals in Alfriston and also a small village shop and a newsagent. Personally I found the shop expensive.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town so whatever you want or need, you will get it here. Numerous food shops, pubs and takeaway to treat yourself after finishing the South Downs Way.
