Uckfield

[Raleigh Chopper]

Never understood the vast amounts of snobbery over towns. A quick google finds this about Plymouth

Devonport is awful and Keyham is also pretty bad (what with it bordering North Prospect aka Swilly aka Scumville).

I would personally suggest looking outside of Plymouth and commuting in. There are a fair number of developments built specifically for this purpose.

If you must live in Plymouth, some of the nicer areas are Derriford, Hartley and Mannamead. Some people seem to love Plympton but I don't personally see why. More than happy to answer any other questions you might have.

I've worked in and around Uckfield for 5 years and have lived in Hailsham for over 10 years and never had any problems. Maybe if I lived in Town Farm or Diplocks then I would. So a bit like Whitehawk or Moulsecoomb or St Leonards or Brixton or Blackbird Leys or Moss Side. Does that mean that there are no nice places to live in or benefits of Brighton, Hastings, London, Oxford or Manchester?

And, FWIW, before the Supermarket's price war on petrol, the Applegreen in Uckfield is normally one of the cheapest around.

Apple green was the first one I went to where all the trouble started but as you can see I did not manage to fill up, I ended up in an esso.
About the above. This thread was never about Plymouth. You would not get an argument from me that parts of Plymouth are very rough and there are some real cretins that live here, but if I had experienced what I did in Plymouth, Brighton or any other large town or city I would not of posted.
The point of the thread was that I remember Uckfield from many years ago as a nice, quiet small Sussex town but within just 15 minutes of popping into the town I was given pelters on 3 occasions and I was asking if this is now normal in such places as I found it shocking. It seems that the place has its problems along with Hailsham (any more?)
I have lived in Plymouth for 13 years and nothing like this has happened but 15 minutes in Uckfield was all it took.
Some cracking replies by the way and I will not be searching for cheap fuel again.

 

[HHGull]

Some cracking replies by the way and I will not be searching for cheap fuel again.

You're not welcome back, troublemaker!

 

[Mr Putdown]

I've played football and have many friends in Uckfield and never met a palace fan - lots of BHA and one of the Seagulls over Burwash coaches goes via Uckfield - this Palace thing is an utter myth!!!! (Maybe there's some that are part of the new 10k fans that go to games now at CPFC2010 Franchise stadium?)

It certainly isn't a myth, the Brickmakers Arms laid on a 50 odd seater coach for the playoff games back in the 90's

 

[Return of the Rev]

Recall a lad from uckfield went to albion games in a butchers coat,this was 1974

 

[Del Boy]

A good friend of mine has recently moved to Uckfield (first step on the ladder) and is forever telling me how upper class and wealthy the area is!!

 

[Dick Swiveller]

Is that the old Shell garage at the bottom of the High Street?

That's the one. That and Esso are normally cheaper than Hailsham or Heathfield but the sub £1 thing seems to be a step too far for non supermarket stations.

 

[atomised]

Friend of mine moved to Uckfield because she felt it was really classy, ever since then she spends her days sending moaning tweets about various companies

 

[BN9 BHA]

I've played football and have many friends in Uckfield and never met a palace fan - lots of BHA and one of the Seagulls over Burwash coaches goes via Uckfield - this Palace thing is an utter myth!!!! (Maybe there's some that are part of the new 10k fans that go to games now at CPFC2010 Franchise stadium?)

A customer of mine told me about the Palace fans living in Uckfield, this was about 14 years ago, he lived there before moving to Brighton, he wasn't originally from Uckfield though.
He seemed really surprised why so many lived there, and so did I when he told me.

 

[Sheebo]

It certainly isn't a myth, the Brickmakers Arms laid on a 50 odd seater coach for the playoff games back in the 90's

Ages ago then - there may be some but there's more in Heathfield that I've come across (unfortunately am mates with many!). I remind them they're fortunate to have immigrated from such deprived areas of course...

 

[Mr Putdown]

For the avoidance of doubt, even I agree that East Sussex is truly God's own county.

 

[Brighton Mod]

A customer of mine told me about the Palace fans living in Uckfield, this was about 14 years ago, he lived there before moving to Brighton, he wasn't originally from Uckfield though.
He seemed really surprised why so many lived there, and so did I when he told me.

When I lived there, I had a Chelsea supporter one side, a Palace the other and across the road was a Wolves supporter, just might have been the 'Wolves supporter in Uckfield'. Its pretty cosmopolitan up there now. Its due for a few thousand more houses shortly so it is still increasing in size!

 

[Davemania]

My daughter plays rugby there so I have to go to the place more often than I'd like to. The cinema looks great and I like the sports shop but it appears to have no other redeeming features. It looks like a good place to go if you fancy getting your head kicked in at the weekend

It's not a rough place at all. Kids are mostly well brought up. The rougher element of 20 years ago has gone. The worst blocks of council flats were demolished. Its nothing like Hailsham or Crowborough which has a much worse chavvy element imo. It's quite a nice little town these days. Lot of people have moved here as its cheaper to buy a home than Lewes or Haywards Heath. There's going to be a 1000 more homes built in Ridgewood too so they need to get the town planners in I think and remodel the town centre

 

[Davemania]

Ah, Nutley, yes you are right. Some good gigs used to go on there but I've not been for 20 years +.

It closed down in about 1994ish. Me and my mates played a couple of gigs there. Was just old enough to go there for a year or two before it closed

 

[Davemania]

Sorry how far in miles ?

About 8 miles

 

[Davemania]

Is the Hare and Hounds still there?

Still going but one of those country pubs now going from one landlord to the next on a short term lease.It struggles along still probably completely unchanged since you were last there

 

[Davemania]

I've played football and have many friends in Uckfield and never met a palace fan - lots of BHA and one of the Seagulls over Burwash coaches goes via Uckfield - this Palace thing is an utter myth!!!! (Maybe there's some that are part of the new 10k fans that go to games now at CPFC2010 Franchise stadium?)

Agreed absolute nonsense, I've met one palace fan who lives in Maresfield. Lot of Brighton fans obviously, it's only just the other side of Lewes

 

[Count Otto Black]

Agreed absolute nonsense, I've met one palace fan who lives in Maresfield. Lot of Brighton fans obviously, it's only just the other side of Lewes

my girl friend who lives in uckfield has a couple palace neighbours

 

[BN9 BHA]

Agreed absolute nonsense, I've met one palace fan who lives in Maresfield. Lot of Brighton fans obviously, it's only just the other side of Lewes

Living next door to Palace, Palace who the F*** are Palace

 

[Peter Grummit]

Living next door to Palace, Palace who the F*** are Palace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudDmgr1H3o

PG

 

[Audax]

Moved to Uckfield around 18 months ago, in the Ridgewood area. Have to say I've been pretty happy with it as a decision.

I like the fact that the sign by the River Uck has been fashioned in such a way as to make it graffiti proof.

Mostly ... but not always .

End of a crap train line so its inhabitants (along with Buxted) get a very raw deal as any problems then services often get terminated at Crowborough.

Not great for a drink.

Two McDonalds.

Train line is most definitely garbage. I've only found 1 MuckDonald's though.

[...] is utterly crap for pubs.

No pubs [...]

Been in the Highlands lately? Since it got taken over by the folks from The Cock near Ringmer it's been brilliant (assuming you like a Gastro Pub with quality ales).

Ok, quick précis.
I am originally from T wells and in my 50's so I have passed through Uckfield on many occasions, even down the high street before the by pass and always thought it was a nice quiet Sussex town where not much happens, but that was some time ago.
I was visiting my brother over the week end who lives in Heathfield, having driven from Plymouth my tank was empty so I asked if there was any 99p petrol around as the local station was 107. He said we would have to go to Uckfield and he would come with me to show me the quickest way.

On entering the town, I pulled into a petrol station and as I did a lady reversed out from my left and I had to swerve quickly as she would probably have hit me, she just carried on, I looked over at her, she was probably in her 40,s, she gave me the 2 fingers and the w****r sign and was hollering abuse.
I lost the plot and blocked her in at the exit and was about to get out and sort her out but my brother advised me not to, so I carried on down the high street.
Looking in my mirror I had this really crappy car right up behind me, who pulled along side, winding down our windows this young lad and his girlfriend were giving me pelters saying that she was nowhere near me, I told him that I just swerved as it looked like she was going to hit me and I was just avoiding her, and that he did not see what she was doing and saying from her car. I told him to mind his own business, wished him a merry Christmas and he went off.
I filled up at another station which was the same price as Heathfield (no 99p petrol in Uckfield) and set of back to Heathfield.
Leaving the town, I was driving along a road with parked cars and side roads on the left.
I saw a car stop at one of the side roads and just as I was about to go past at 20mph he pulled out right in front of me, I had to slam the brakes on. He stopped and wound down his window and was giving me the dogs abuse, 2 fingers and the w****r sign, again. He was in his 50's.
I could not believe what was going on, I had only been in the place for 15 minutes and honestly had done nothing wrong to get this treatment.
I said to my brother "what the hell is going on, I don't remember Uckfield being like this years ago"
He was laughing and said " welcome to Uckfield, thank god you are not in Hailsham"

Now I know things are different these days, places have changed and so have people, but Uckfield?, Skelmersdale maybe, is this typical, I don't get this in Plymouth and parts of this City are very rough.
Was I just very unlucky. I am no pussy, but I was shocked, and all in just 15minutes.

Sounds like you got your timing wrong on all counts. Up until 2-3 weeks back, the Applegreen and Esso in Uckfield were easily the cheapest fuel around (well, as far as the northerly run up the A22 is concerned). Applegreen has slowly drifted down to 102.8, but the Esso is doing my head in stubbornly staying at 105.9. Mid-November, I could get fuel there for 105.9 or sometimes 103.9, when places like Nutley (Texaco), BP (East Grinstead) were up at 108.9 or higher. East Grinstead BP down to 103.9 now, Esso in Uckfield still 105.9 ... and the Texaco in Nutley is now a Harvest (who the F are they?) and I saw 99.9 on it Monday night.

I am confused, people I spoke to in the evening, in Heathfield told me that Uckfield (and Hailsham) are like that nowadays due to the amount of chavs and travellers that live there. How can that be a place to like.
Maybe I was unlucky, I agree that its still a nice little town and there are some nice places around Uckfield, but its the people that make a place in my opinion, and if people like I met in just 15 minutes are typical of its residents then its not a place I would want to live in.
Having said all that, I suppose when you get to a certain age you avoid all that by not going out in the town centre of an evening and when you do go out it is a quieter country pub etc so its not such an issue.
I do not drink in Union Street on a Friday or Saturday night for example.
All the same, still shocked by what happened in such a short space of time at 10am on a Saturday morning.

Definitely what you experienced isn't typical. But just like any town of any size, it has it's share of chavvier areas and denizens who sometimes venture out to make a nuisance of themselves.

Yep - first thing I thought when hearing his story? Ones an Esso and I guess he went BP in Uck so didn't expect a difference either!?

As mentioned above ... the Esso in Uckfield was my go-to as cheapest on my journey for most of this year. Right up until 2-3 weeks ago. It's now overpriced.

And, FWIW, before the Supermarket's price war on petrol, the Applegreen in Uckfield is normally one of the cheapest around.

By about 0.1p per litre over the Esso. Until a few weeks ago.