The Boar's Head, Horsham

Very few places in the world manage to strike the perfect balance between relaxation and enjoyment in which a group of friends can happily pass an evening. Either the place favours the feel of a deafening meat-market, has disappeared into gastronomic nonsense or is run by a factory farmed landlord and a gang of bored idiots. It is with absolute delight that I have to say the Boars Head is none of these. Truly, a pub in which the warmth of the welcome surpasses even the high quality of the beer, the supremely comfortable surroundings and the excellent live music is a gem which should be cherrished and supported. The freedom with which people of all ages are able to talk sets it apart as an English pub in the finest tradition and it is this very real sense of community that will keep me going back there at every available opportunity. As a venue it attracts some of the finest professional musicians from all over the country and it is just astonishing to be able to hear them for the price of a pint. I've never seen all the best things about going to a pub in the same place at the same time before but they've achieved it here and long may it continue. Watching the sun going down on a sticky summer's evening with a glass of something refreshing, the soft waves of jazz floating over the hillside and the beaming grins of people who can't quite believe somewhere this good actually exists are going to be the best nights of my summer.

25 Apr 2008 14:05