English you do need to move on old son,your constant advertising for this place does not sit well with the regulars on this site if fact i`m sure it puts people off.
No rating given on this pub.Visited on the afternoon of 17th of October, on the way back from the Dark Star Brewery, as one does, I had a pint of Hophead and also a pint of Partridge, both in first class condition. The bar staff were friendly and if you like your real ale this pub has everything you need i.e. great beer!Unfinished look about the interior; unmatched, inadequate tables and chairs, too many empty spaces, pretty characterless.
Exterior and front steps, characterful, I woulnd't go here regularly, as although the beer is ok, a pub should offer more.
Ababy on carpet, with two female drinkers attendant, just doesn't sit well in a pub.

At the risk of a verbal attack I think some of you are missing the point being made here. All Sara has done is critisize CAMRA not slag them off. She has simply made a point that many think but do not say.
If CAMRA cannot take it, think and change then that's where the problem is, NOT with the Royal Oak.
If anybody on the Royal Oak is slagging off CAMRA it has been me, but I was a member for many years & will be eternally grateful for what they did to save real ale for the likes of me. However it has been time for change for a long while.
CAMRA have done well but now are not fit for purpose, they can change but it must come from within. If it doen't then they may as well change their name.

CAMRA - The Campaign for Real Alienation
A good pub, shame there appears to be a shift in attitude by the owners. Its a bit "hardcore" for me (think of a slightly fluffier Slaughtered Lamb), but well worth a visit if you like real ale.CAMRA promoted this pub loads when it first changed from a run down brewery owned chain pub into a distinctive free house, it seems a great shame that the owners now seem so anti camra, you would have thought them obvous soul mates.

I have to agree with village_drinker, fridge, and spectrumisgreen. "professionalpubcritic" (??!!) is clearly a horrible person in general, not to say a bit of a moron ! The Stand Up may not be the cleanest or freshest smelling public house in the county, but the staff do a damn fine job of selling it's excellent beer and cider. If you want a nice shiny perfumed bar than naff off to Orange Square !Well said, spectrumisgreen. You might have added that the two managers were both ill over the Christmas period but still working longer hours to cover for the loss of staff. Of course, anyone can have a bad experience in any establishment but as someone who drinks there five days out of seven I can tell you that i am more than content to go on doing so.Absolutely AWFUL staff, no atmosphere, this pub needs new management...FAST if it wants to regain its popularity! Run by a couple of misserable common ladies who look rather unfit to me!. Also, the Toilets smell rather foul and cushions on chairs and curtains are rather grubby. In need of a complete overhaul/makeover. Or better still turned into a "proper" Pub with proper decent staff/management!

Unfortunately, the Shades has lost it's character over the years. Needs a little cheering up and some new and interesting beers!!!!Beer well kept; polite staff; observed a drunken argument near our table before Christmas, alcoholics, could do with more comfortable and better planned seating.
Potentially, a very good pub, but I doubt it will get the necessary investment to step up a level; but, above 90% of usual poor Crawley pubs.Ron S, if you find my comment offensive I apologise. I simply found it surprising that someone who had not posted before suddenly gave this pub 10/10, it did make me wonder if you were the landlord/manager trying to boost his pub.

Of course everyone has their opinion and that is perfectly valid, however in my opinion the Shades is not able to hold a candle to establishments like the Harp.

Again this pub has more to offer. Not only is the food exceptional, and the welcome warm but now you can take your favourite tipple home with you in the form of a 4 pint container. There is a deposit but I think that once you've taken the tipple then I believe that you will prefer to stay and enjoy the atmosphere and make this your local or at least your preferred watering hole. This pub goes from good to better every time I visit. Joy an Paul are going out of their way to improve the reputation of the pub. They are putting more and more tempting meals your way and nothing is to much trouble for them to make your visit unforgettable.
Don't be shy, drop in and give it a go,The door is always open (except Mondays) in the winter months.What can I say? This pub offers a warm welcome and good beers. The licencees are very welcoming and offer a wide range of home made meals. Joy and Paul are aware of their customers needs and always willing to ensure that the customer is satisfied. The food is 100% satisfying as is the warm welcome.
The whole atmosphere is warm and inviting and nothing is much trouble. If you are a walker, boater or just passing by the welcome is second to none. So enjoy the the pleasure of this very welcolming pub . The menu changes weekly; so give it a go. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.

Having been messaged by the chef, it appears the pork belly wasn't re-heated in the microwave but cooked in stock, hence the soggy crackling.... Although he boasts he has had compliments in Italy for his Gnocci, I did not enjoy this dish. I have only ever had this, home-made or in other restaurants (not supermarket bought as he suggests) and I have enjoyed better elsewhere. I see however that around the same time the Chef messaged me, someone else reviewed his food very favorably so pay a visit and decide for yourself!Have just had Sunday lunch at The Snowdrop Inn, Lindfield, West Sussex. We both had the Pork Belly roast, which tasted fantastic and then for dessert I had Banana & Caramel Eton Mess and my partner Chocolate & Raisen Tart. We did spend time looking at other peoples plates as they came out and everything looked great.

It is great to find a small welcoming pub, with a cosy fire in such a great setting serving excellent food at great value for money. This is our 2nd visit to The Snowdrop following a recommendation from a friend who had eaten there just after a new Head Chef started in Nov 10. We will be recommending to all our friends and family. A rare find.Went for dinner here on 30th December. Nice selection of beers and very friendly staff. The menu was very nice and I had Belly of pork to start and Gnocci for my main.
Belly of Pork Starter: Plate cold and food luke warm. This would have been a very nice dish if served hot.. also I suspect that it has been re-heated in the microwave as the crackling was soggy.
Gnocci Main: Again, cold plate and food not very hot. The sauce was really really nice but the Gnocci itself was not very good.
All in all an ok meal, but quite pricey for pub grub. The menu looked very nice, but did not live up to expectations and the prices charged. Would give it another go as the potential is there.....