King & Barnes Pub Review



I am completely biased towards old-fashioned pubs where the main concerns are for good beer and a friendly, welcoming atmsophere. If the juke box and fruit machines are missing, so much the better. However, good food and a pleasant summer garden don't go amiss. So read the following with that in mind.

I've given each pub a star rating -

***** Top notch. Worth making a special trip to.
**** Very good. Worth visiting if in the area.
*** Good. Pop in if you're passing by.
** Poor. Only if you can't wait for a beer.
* The pits. Only for ale trailers.


<./TR>
Name/Location Remarks Rating
(out of 5)
Bat & Ball, Newpound Pleasant if unremarkable. Campsite ***
Bear, Horsham No frills, but very pleasant. Sandwiches only ****
Blue Ship, The Haven Classic, time warp pub. Beer served from barrels in kitchen. Great homemade food. A must *****
Bridge, Upper Beeding Locals pub, a bit unwelcoming. ***
Bridge House, Copsale Dull, but food excellent ***
Cherry Tree, Copthorne Popular village local. Currently changing hands (6/11/98) ***
Cherry Tree, Faygate Very busy, food orienated place. Gets unpleasantly crowded ***
Crabtree, Lower Beeding Awful. Really just a waiting room for the attached retaurant. Avoid at all costs. *
Dog & Bacon, Horsham Old fashioned and friendly locals pub ***
Dog & Duck, Durfold hill Small and cosy but too food orientated for my liking. ***
Dragon, Colgate Friendly and welcoming country pub. Superb garden. Great sandwiches. ****
Elephant & Castle, West Chiltington Small and cosy. Good food. Noisy landlord! ****
Foresters, Fairwarp Popular for food with locals and Ashdown Forest walkers. Get's so busy it can be hard to get served. ***
Foresters, Kirdford Cosy village local ***
Fountain, Horsham Unremarkbable **
Fox, Rudgwick More restaurant than pub. Snooty. **
Gate, Rusper Pleasant. Nice restaurant. ***
Gatwick, Horley Named after the racecourse, not the airport. Gloomy and unwelcoming. Depressing. *
George & Dragon, Dragons Green Small pub, big garden. Good food. Busy. ****
Grapes, Pease Pottage Very busy. Good food. Children's licence. ****
Green Dragon, Horsham Big and noisy, younger clientele. OK food. ***
Hopbine, Brenchley Small, friendly locals pub. Noted for landlady's curries ****
Huntsman, Eridge Station Somewhat isolated. Small friendly pub. Specialises in New England food ***
James King, Pease Pottage K&B's flagship? If so, it's badly holed and sinking fast. The antipathy of what a real pub is. Go to The Grapes instead. *
Kings Arms, Horsham Unwelcoming. *
Nelson, Horsham Nervous, threatening atmosphere. Unpleasant. *
Norfolk Arms, Roffey Large, modern estate-type pub that never seems very welcoming. **
Nutley Hall, Reigate Local's pub. Not welcoming. **
Onslow Arms Always a great welcome. Fab food including pizzas (takeaway if you wish). Canal and balloon trips. ****
Park Crescent, Brighton Recent K&B accquisition, seems off to a steady start. ***
Pelham Arms, Lewes Big, comfortable, quiet, relaxing. Good food. ***
Plough, Blackbrook Snobby and pretentious. *
Plough, Ifield Nicely run by K&B's longest serving tennant. Friendly and welcoming. Good food. ****
Plough, Leigh Most unwelcomimg. Avoid *
Plough, Lower Beeding Local's pub. Friendly landlord. ***
Queens Head, Horsham Nothing to recommend it. **
Red Lion, Willingdon Friendly, popular, locals pub. ***
Rising Sun, Horsham Unremarkable, but they seem genuinely pleased to see you. Decent food. ***
Royal Oak, Friday Street Very small, old-fashioed country pub. Good food. ****
Scarlett Arms, Ockley Lovely, old fashioned country pub. Great food. You will go back! *****
Sir Roger Tichbourne, Alfold Tiny country pub. Nice, but can get too busy. ***
Six Bells, Billngshurst Has all the right ingredients but someone baked it all wrong **
Stag, Ball's Cross Intimate country pub. You feel at home straight away. Lovely. *****
Shakespeare's Head, Brighton Friendly studenty/hippy atmosphere. ***
Snowdrop, Lingfield Squarely aimed at the food market. Little pub atmosphere remains. **
Stout House, Horsham Dark, smoky, busy. Perfect town centre pub. *****
Tanners Arms, Horsham Locals pub. Nothing special but at least welcoming. ***
Walmer Castle, Brighton Dull. Apart from the Hammerite tables. **
Wheatsheaf, Ellen's Green Pretentious and unfriendly. *
Wheatsheaf, Midhurst Cosy and welcoming. Nice food. ****
Wheatsheaf, Plummers Plain Unremarkable, either way. **
White Hart, Cuckfield Locals pub. Often packed out ***
Windmill, Lewes Handy if you're visiting your relatives in the nick, otherwise it holds no charm. *