Country pub for food near Arundel ish

[ditchy]

The Black Rabbit - right on the river, but gets pretty busy...food ok

Food was not very nice yesterday. Pretty rank ordinary to be honest .

 

[grubbyhands]

Regularly stay with relatives who live in Coldwaltham so have become very familiar with some of the excellent pubs in the area.

Agree with the plaudits for The George in Burpham and The Sportsman at Amberely, but a big NO to The Black Rabbit in Arundel.
I'd also add to the recommendations ; The Halfway Bridge Inn at Lodsworth (A272 between Petworth & Midhurst), Horse Guards Inn at Tillington (A272 just west of Petworth)
and current favourite, The Welldiggers Arms in Low Heath (A283 between Fittleworth & Petworth.

To be honest, drinking & eating at these mid-West Sussex pubs is reason enough in itself to warrant a trip to the UK !!


View attachment 86242

The Welldiggers Arms

Known locally ,when I used to live in Billingshurst anyway, as "Testicle Teds" because a long time previous owner once had a shorts malfunction. However, it's a very good shout but I personally haven't visited since it's recent renovations. Will give it a go this coming weekend IF I can get in. It used to be very popular and I can only see it getting more so.

 

[dazzer6666]

Most, if not all.

It's a glorified Harvester charging simpleton's top end money for low grade food, £11 for Ham Egg and Chips, please.

Fair play to them, I don't have a problem with that policy.
I just don't enjoy the thought of been squeezed onto a tiny table, unable to hear my company or for that matter myself think.

To me, in the Summer, it's a 'stand at the bar waving a £20 note' kind of pub.
Not the highest of praise.

Sounds exactly like the Anchor at Barcombe (thin sliced ham, cheap frozen chips) . You're paying for the riverside setting, the food is 1970s pub grub at best at 2017 London prices.

 

[Bozza]

I've not been to the Black Rabbit since I moved back to Sussex but it always struck me as a place that was incredibly lazy, relying on the location and not really bothering to put the effort in with anything else.

 

[Stat Brother]

I've not been to the Black Rabbit since I moved back to Sussex but it always struck me as a place that was incredibly lazy, relying on the location and not really bothering to put the effort in with anything else.

As said I don't really have a problem with that, they have a cash cow and they're flogging it.
TBH in the same position I doubt any of us would do anything different.

For me the problem comes when the clientele try to convince others the pub is something it clearly isn't.

 

[SK1NT]

The George at Burpham is as good as any imo.

The Woodman's Arms on the A27 near Angmering serves good old fashioned Pub food

The George and Dragon at Houghton is excellent

Both of these lovely. The George in Houghton is nicer if you want a proper sit down meal rather than a meal in a pub.

 

[SK1NT]

Regularly stay with relatives who live in Coldwaltham so have become very familiar with some of the excellent pubs in the area.

Agree with the plaudits for The George in Burpham and The Sportsman at Amberely, but a big NO to The Black Rabbit in Arundel.
I'd also add to the recommendations ; The Halfway Bridge Inn at Lodsworth (A272 between Petworth & Midhurst), Horse Guards Inn at Tillington (A272 just west of Petworth)
and current favourite, The Welldiggers Arms in Low Heath (A283 between Fittleworth & Petworth.

To be honest, drinking & eating at these mid-West Sussex pubs is reason enough in itself to warrant a trip to the UK !!


View attachment 86242

The Welldiggers Arms

This Welldiggers looks nice. I shall give it a go

 

[SK1NT]

Food was not very nice yesterday. Pretty rank ordinary to be honest .

Sister worked there for a few months and she said she would never eat there again.

Lovely location but as everyone has already said this hasn't been good for 25 years. Overpriced tourist trap.

 

[Superphil]

Known locally ,when I used to live in Billingshurst anyway, as "Testicle Teds" because a long time previous owner once had a shorts malfunction. However, it's a very good shout but I personally haven't visited since it's recent renovations. Will give it a go this coming weekend IF I can get in. It used to be very popular and I can only see it getting more so.

Testicle Ted a legend in his own lunchtime, He was a decent bloke, very much a bloke who loved being the Centre of attention, plenty of charisma, and an impressive appetite for the alcoholic fayre behind his bar. Also served the most astonishing steaks and seafood.

The style and menu has somewhat changed from his time, immediately after the refurb it was getting well deserved rave reviews, but very much as a restaurant, don't bother going there just for a drink. We've had superb meals there, pricey, and very much in the gastro pub/restaurant style, which they did impeccably well. I think it changed hands recently but people I know still rate it highly.

 

[Icy Gull]

Sister worked there for a few months and she said she would never eat there again.

Lovely location but as everyone has already said this hasn't been good for 25 years. Overpriced tourist trap.

Exactly in it's heyday, about the time brick mobile phones came out, it was excellent. The only reason I mention mobile phones was because it was there that I first I saw people posing with them

It has been living off it's reputation and location for years. Didn't the original owners buy and run the place beside the station?

 

[grubbyhands]

Testicle Ted a legend in his own lunchtime, He was a decent bloke, very much a bloke who loved being the Centre of attention, plenty of charisma, and an impressive appetite for the alcoholic fayre behind his bar. Also served the most astonishing steaks and seafood.

The style and menu has somewhat changed from his time, immediately after the refurb it was getting well deserved rave reviews, but very much as a restaurant, don't bother going there just for a drink. We've had superb meals there, pricey, and very much in the gastro pub/restaurant style, which they did impeccably well. I think it changed hands recently but people I know still rate it highly.

I'm happy at least one other NSCer knows him as "Testicle Ted", It makes me happy.

 

[osgood]

The Black Rabbit - right on the river, but gets pretty busy...food ok

Has it improved a lot recently ?

 

[foul old ron]

I'm happy at least one other NSCer knows him as "Testicle Ted", It makes me happy.

Make that two. Legend.

 

[grubbyhands]

Make that two. Legend.

Foul Old Ron AND Testicle Ted, now that's a double act in my book!

 

[Weststander]

Has it improved a lot recently ?

It really has. The best rural pub restaurant in that part of Sussex by a 'country' mile.

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

Thanks to [MENTION=903]West Hoathly Seagull[/MENTION] I now want to eat a homemade burger with Cheesy Baconnaisup.{bacon, cheese, mayo, ketchup} in the http://www.royaloakhooksway.co.uk/index.html

It'll either make me or

If you're worried about the calories, you could always cycle there. Mind you, that hill back up to the B2146 would be a bit of a beggar after you've wolfed that lot down.

 

[Weststander]

A couple of other amazing country pubs in that part of the world:

The Country Inn, Bepton, near Midhurst.

Half Moon at Northchapel, NW of Billingshurst

Both are away from the crowds and well worth the drive.

 

[Stat Brother]

If you're worried about the calories, you could always cycle there. Mind you, that hill back up to the B2146 would be a bit of a beggar after you've wolfed that lot down.

Done it many a time, just not with a blooming great big burger in my stomach.

Leaving South Harting heading south are the hardest climbs.
But the worst of all is descending the 's' bends, after the long climb to Harting Down and turning left straight into the 15% climb heading to (Straight Outta) Compton.

Possibly the hardest physical and technical bit of cycling to be done in West Sussex.

 

[AmexRuislip]

The Black Rabbit - right on the river, but gets pretty busy...food ok

Sportsman at Amberley, now run by the Greyhound Brewery, first class grub, excellent beer

Cheers for this, I'm off down to meet family at the Amberley Heritage Museum, later on this month, so will check these two out

 

[Stat Brother]

Cheers for this, I'm off down to meet family at the Amberley Heritage Museum, later on this month, so will check these two out

You've not properly read the whole thread, have you?