Moving to Cuckfield

So, you've found this website - that's a good start. But if you're still wondering whether Cuckfield is the place for you, read on.

My wife and I moved to Cuckfield in 2004 with our daughter, and like a number of people we've met since, we picked Cuckfield because of its geography - half way between the south coast, where I was working, and with great links to London, where my wife worked. It's only since living here that we've come to appreciate what else the town has to offer.

For the bon vivant there are several restaurants - Jeremy's, Mansfields and the Michelin-stared Ockenden Manor to name but a few. Then there are the pubs: The Ship, The Rose and Crown, The Talbot Inn, the White Harte Inn and the Wheatsheaf.

If the family is more your thing (and let's face it, even if it isn't right now, these things can creep up on you) there are parent and toddler groups, nurseries and good schools (both primary and secondary). The local park has an excellent child's playground, and you can pretty much guarantee to bump into someone you (or your child) knows there. Then there's always the youth club and Scouts.

For the sportsman or woman, there's a golf club, tennis club, cricket club and football club, and Haywards Heath Rugby Club plays at Whitemans Green, on the northern edge of Cuckfield.

If you like to "get involved", there's a whole range of clubs and societies you can join. How about the Cuckfield Society (sponsors of this website); the Cuckfield European Association, which maintains links with twin towns in France and Germany; the Brook Street Cider Club; the Independent State of Cuckfield and, and...

Events? We certainly have a few. See if any of these 2006 events take your fancy:

• In May there's the Cuckoo Fayre at the village park, followed by the Country Fayre, run by the rugby club (complete with sheep racing!);
• We had Jazz in the grounds of the old vicarage in June, as well as the Brook Street Cider party (on Brook Street), with free cider and a tug of war;
• In July there was a street party to mark the 40th anniversary of the Independent State of Cuckfield;
• September saw the revival of the Cuckfield Village Show for the first time in over a 100 years, a success that has been repeated;
• In October we have the most corrupt election you can imagine, for the position of Mayor of Cuckfield - preceeded by much fund raising, and topped off with a parade through the village;
• In November the London to Brighton vintage car rally runs through the middle of Cuckfield;
• and in December there's late night shopping, when the high street is closed and lined with stalls, and the sublime Christmas Tree Festival in Holy Trinity Church.

Has your appetite been whetted? These are just some of my personal highlights from this year. I haven't lived anywhere where there's quite so much going on. You'd have to try hard not to find anything of interest.

We are pretty well off for local shops and amenities too. Cuckfield has two post offices, a general store open 7 days a week and even a petrol station which keeps pretty good hours. Check out the local info for more details.

If you want to know more about living in Cuckfield, drop an email to [email protected], and someone will try to help.

Rob - January 2007