please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We entered through a bead curtain, to find a normal, presentable pub yesterday lunch time. There seemed to be a restaurant annex too, but which was closed.
There were five ales, and my Harvey's Sussex Best was decent enough. Prices weren't silly either.
We entered the rear garden by another bead curtain, where we ate an appetising lunch. There must have been one or more wasps nests nearby, and that perhaps explained the bead curtains. I didn't see anyone reading tarot cards anyway.
People seemed unconcerned by the wasps, commendably, but the loan, of pairs of bicycle clips at the bar would have been welcome, maybe.
I'd gladly come again, if near this quaint Sussex village.
All wasps can pssoff.
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Dropped in for at lunchtime yesterday after visiting the the museum. Four of us sat in the garden on what was a glorious day. Service was very friendly and the food we ordered was very good with generous portions. The beer battered fish and chips were excellent. I had a pint of Harveys and to be honest it wasn't at it's best (I knew I should of had the Hopead!). But it was another pleasant visit to this pub. Interestingly, on our way back through the village, we noticed that The Bull, Ditchlings second pub which has always lived in the White Horses shadow, was much busier, so perhaps it has moved up a gear. Will pop in when we visit next.
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Visited at the weekend when we were down in Ditchling doing the Artists Open Houses. Great beer, good wine, delicious vfm food, friendly service and we were treated to some very fine folk singing by the Morris troupe we followed into the bar.
Highly recommended.
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Me and my husband have been to many pubs over the years on our travels and I can honestly say what a delight it was to stay at the White Horse. We were welcomed on arrival by a polite and helpful gentlemen (who later turned out to be the landlord himself), he showed us to our room which was lovely. Clean, tidy, comfortable and welcoming - lovely en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower! We then freshened up and decided to dine in the pub after a long journey. Greeted by a lovely younglady who was helpful, polite and made us feel right at home. We were told that the menu was new and when I asked what she recommended she suggested the steak and the pie. We ordered a bottle of Malbec and my husband enjoyed a pint of Harveys bitter. I ordered Scampi and my husband the steak - it was delicious and the portions were exceptional value for money. The service was excellent, the food was homemade. tasty and more importantly the atmosphere was lovely. My only downfall with this pub would be the mens toilets, my husband walked across a courtyard to go to the gents and promptly came back to use out B&B room facilities, he said they were like the dark ages! I would like to say a big thank you to the staff and landlord for a lovely stay and I would not hesitate to recommend this pub for B&B, food, service and a good bottle of vino!
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have not been in i played rugby for the village, completely changed for the better, pub was busy food wise, popped in for a quick jar. 6 ale pumps, 5 in use, inc dark star and harveys, and otter. ale superb will visit again.
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No, there's no bar billiards there now. Can't say I miss going there as the drinks were so pricey.
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Very impressed after my last visit. Didn't eat, so can't comment on the food, but the staff very friendly and effecient. There were four ales on offer, including Dark Star Hophead and Festival and Harvey's Best. The Hophead was excellent.
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Had hoped for something special but came away disappointed. Limited menu and quite pricey. I had what ammounted to a posh steak and chips which cost �17.95 or thereabouts and was no different and no better than I can cook at home. I had hoped the cheese board would be a selection of Sussex cheeses, instead it comprised a piece of stilton, piece of goats cheese and a sliver of cheddar all for nearly six quid. Thank you, but no thankyou.
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Having visited the Bull on a few occasions I suggested we try the other pubs (ie pub) of Ditchling. I was informed the White Horse would only be a brief visit as it wasn't up to much. As soon as we entered I was impressed with the place. Although quite busy, the staff were fast to serve us, they had several ales including Summer Lightning, Hophead and Palmers 200. The tables were well spaced out so as not to appear on top of each other and we were impressed enough to try the roast dinners - good value and superb food and service! I don't know when it changed but everything was for the better - it obviously pays once in a while to go back and check things out. The pub to go to in Ditchling.
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Very impressive free house. Good range of beers. I had a problem with my first pint of Dark Star and the manager/landlord changed it without question or quibble. We called in on the London /Brighton bike ride having used the Bull on the cross roads in previous years. The White Horse is far nicer and more a genuine locals pub. Was told that it was recently owned by the Bull, and neglected, but recently sold off and since then has one from strength to strength.
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We have been to this pub on several occasions over the last 6 months and have found that it has become one of the best places to drink and eat. The food is fantastic - I had the seabass and my husband the Standean Farm Steak and it was so enjoyable. We then returned on the Sunday and both had Roast Lamb - if we lived closer I would be indulging in these roasts every sunday - what a treat to enjoy home cooked food. My husband had 1 pint of Summer Lightning and then followed with local bitter Harveys which he said were excellent. The staff were very friendly and helpful, when the pub became quite busy they were all dashinga bout very busy but still ensured that we were ok and made the atmosphere of the pub very comfortable indeed. It was refreshing to see the staff had an excellent rapore with the locals and everyone was treated the same. We will be returning to the area in a few weeks and we will be making several visits to the pub again - what a treat to look forward too!
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Arrived here unannounced on a Sunday lunchtime with nine people. All tables were booked but the staff were really helpful and managed to shoe-horn us into the restaurant area. Initially disappointed with the rather limited menu but we ordered sandwiches which were excellent and fairly substantial as well. Four real ales on, tried the Harveys and Darkstar which were fine. All pretty good really.
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Two years ago this was the perfect local boozer - great staff, great service, great atmosphere, telly to watch sport, so on and so forth. Whoever is now running this place is obviously determined to run it into the ground. Following a minor refit about a year ago the pub remains in a half finished state and is totally bereft of any of the above. It is minimally staffed and the service we experienced last night has to rate as the worst I've seen in any pub in the country (and I've been to an awful lot of them). At 22:40 the barmaid's boyfriend turned up at which point she locked all the doors (including the route to the toilets). My request for more drinks was greeted by the response 'are you joking, we're closed', she then returned to her boyfriend to discuss her important day of Christmas shopping. No more open until 11pm, no more 10 minutes drink up time, no more ringing of the last orders bell. And all this at Christmas. We took our custom over the road to The Bull which I suggest everyone do in future ! Avoid, seriously !!!
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I have visited this pub on several occasions over the past couple of months and have been very happy each time. The food is very good (and cheaper than the Bull) as is the beer - I can recommend the Autumn Ale. The locals and landlord are friendly and it is great that it is also a family friendly pub. A very relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and it looks as though there will be a good beer garden in the Summer...can't wait.
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A great pub under new ownership. It's no longer owned by the same people as The Bull, thank goodness.
The Harveys is really good, much better now it's back on hand pumps. The food is good and reasonably priced.
There was no bad drains smell as mentioned below and it looks like they're opening out the back part so you can see the downs.
Important to me - it's a family friendly, warm & welcoming pub again.
In my opinion, a much better boozer than the snobby, overpriced and pretentious Bull.
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Just when things were looking up it's been sold. No longer owned by the same people as the Bull it has gone down the tube. It is grubby and the main bar smells of bad drains. As for the beer - the range is more limited and the Harveys was warm. On the plus side The Bull is only across the road.
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I went to this pub one lunchtime a year or so ago and to be honest, did like it much. It all seemed to go quiet when I, a stranger, walked in and although the beer was good, the food was cheap and deserved to be.
Least week, I went visited again, expecting the worst but very pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, the beer was excellent and although we didn't eat on this occasion, the menu looked more adventurous and the food being brought out to other customers looked very good indeed.
I will certainly go back and try the food next time. I know it is now owned by the same people who own The Bull but it seems much more relaxed and less swamped by ill mannered toffs. The young lady behind the bar, Sarah I think, was helpful, friendly and efficient.
I'm giving this pub an 8, but it could easily go up.
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Went in here with a group a walkers. There's plenty of room inside and a rather "urban" garden at the back. Sat inside as it was a baking hot day and there weren't any shady tables left outside.
Food was excellent, a bit more pricey than normal but worth it.
I was on the cider to cool myself down, but those on the Harveys pronounced it a fine pint.
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Went ina fter trying (unsuccesfully) to get a table at The Bull. Turned out well as the food was excellent and better priced than The Bull. Good ales on tap and nice staff. Open fire too.
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Went in last night (early evening) for the first time since it changed hands. General atmosphere seemed similar to before the change of ownership. Beer choice was a bit less adventurous than before but still quite acceptable (Harveys, Kings Red River and Palmers Bicentenary). The Palmers Bicentenary was excelent and did not seem extortionate at �2.80 for a 5% beer. However, the winelist seemed expensive (in most cases nearly �4 or more for a 175ml glass). I did not look at the menu so cannot comment. Overall a good pub to go and have a pint in.
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A really good pub - friendly, helpful staff, with excellent food and good beer. Definitely worth a visit,
ianwr - 26 Nov 2007 10:37 |
I have been visiting this pub for several years for Sunday lunch with kids and granny - have always enjoyed lovely beer, excellent good value traditional pub food, including dishes such as sausage sandwiches for kids. Unfortunately has been 'gastropubbed' by new owners! Beer was still great, but have done away with kids' menu, would appear they are trying to flush out their customers with children. Prices including beer substantially hiked up, waited 50mins+ for food. Great shame!
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oh dear. compass have bought it. now own both pubs in the village. gonna be expensive ale. will probably go the same way as the new inn hurstpierpoint. shame. bring back the north star!!!!!
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the pub has indeed changed hands and although the beer is the same and the locals are the same, the gorgeous restaurant and value for money food has fallen by the way-side. Such a shame. Worth going for a drink and a laugh but don't expect value for money. Will need to improve to be in the running for any more awards.
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The pub has just changed hands, but it is a great pub with lovely Harveys and a regular choice of other ales. The food is good value without being spectacular. One of the few pubs left with a bar billiards table. Lots of locals, dogs welcome, walkers and country people having a good time. Hopefully the new owners will continue in the same vein.
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Love this pub!
Food is lovely - a real treat and definitely worth every penny. Staff are friendly and funny.
Bar billiards, darts, etc.
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Justifiably voted CAMRA's Country Pub of the Year, it ought to win the overall prize. It is quite simply a superb pub. The Mole's beer I had on Sunday was exquisite. 10/10. The Sandrock mentioned in one of the other posts appears to be closed.
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Wonderful pint of Dark Star Original as well as good food. Cricket team slightly noisy but staff very friendly and efficient. Shame it is a little far away from where I live.
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A nice comfortable pub with friendly staff and excellent beer. Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted and Harvey's Bitter were among those on offer. There was a bar billiards table and blues/rock music playing at an unobtrusive volume in the background.
You're really spoilt for choice in Ditchling with the White Horse just up the road; there's a third pub round the corner called the Sandrock that I didn't have time to try (it's not listed on BITE at present).
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A good 'old fashioned' pub with no music, just good guest ales.
Dave Cumberland - 12 Oct 2004 20:57 |
