The White Hart, West Sussex

Hotel review

This bustling village pub is a popular watering hole with local characters. Innovative home cooking and a cosy atmosphere also draws a crowd and in summer cyclists pedalling the South Downs Way. Behind the main building in a stable block are a series of contemporary well appointed rooms with high ceilings and wooden beams which have been thoughtfully decorated; king size beds with button-back headboards, towelling dressing gowns, local information booklets, REN beauty products, torch-like reading lights, sewing kit complete with a rainbow of coloured threads, old black & white photographs in distressed frames and modern bathrooms with large-headed showers, vintage-looking radiators and Victorian-style taps all contribute to an enjoyable stay. The charming family suite comprises a double bed with adjacent wooden bunk for children. Dinner will not disappoint, mussels, crab cakes, seared venison and pan fried fillet of Gurnard to name but a few, plus tried and tested pub classics – Upham Ale battered cod and White Hart Beef Burger. The menu changes seasonally and is sourced, where possible, from local family food suppliers. The wine list is sensibly priced and service attentive, but not intrusive. An enormous fire in the bar/dining area with locals and visitors swapping tales. Breakfast in a separate dining room includes fresh fruit salad, a range of cereals and bacon and sausages from a nearby farm. Complimentary newspapers are provided. The White Hart is great for walkers and cyclists, with the South Downs Way passing just South of the village. The cruciform parish church of St Gabriel in the village has a memorial to Eric Gill, the sculptor and typographer and there are medieval stocks and a whipping post just outside its gate. Further afield are Uppark, once home of Nelson’s mistress Emma Hamilton, Goodwood Racecourse and Estate and Chichester Cathedral. There is plenty to do and see in the area.

Malcolm Orr-Ewing Review published: 12/03/2024