BITE user comments - WipersTom
Comments by WipersTom
Closed and soon to be turned into a housing estate.
It was a pretty good pub a while back, before Marston's got their hands on it.
Another pub killed off by a national chain.
13 Jan 2016 11:13
The Prince of Wales, Heathfield
Under new management again. It can only be an improvement.
13 Jan 2016 11:06
Gem of a pub hidden away off the A27.
Harvey's BB and Gun Brewery's golden ale, Scaramanga. Both very good. Food very good too, at a reasonable price. The pub makes a feature of local produce.
Stunning views of the Downs to the south west.
All good!
1 Oct 2015 07:55
Like so many nowadays, this is more restaurant than pub. Harvey's BB in the front bar was good. Good food but restaurant prices.
9 Jul 2015 14:48
See Dogtrain's below.
Things have not got any better in the intervening two years.
30 Jun 2015 10:34
The Runt In Tun, Maynards Green
Just had a bit of a tasteful makeover. This pub is very handy for the Cuckoo Trail just to the south of Heathfield.
The food is very good, both bar snack type stuff and full meals. Prices very reasonable. Very popular with the Sunday lunchtime crowd.
Beer: Harvey's Best is always on, plus a guest beer or two.
30 Jun 2015 10:31
Visited this pub with a friend while doing a River Wey walk last week. Good range of real ale on hand pump including Summer Lightning. Very nice.
The food menu is pretty good and there is an extensive bottled cider menu.
Large beer garden to the rear.
Great pub in a lovely setting. Will return.
30 Jun 2015 10:17
Three real ales, Hogs Back TEA, Harvey's Best plus one more. Very friendly pub: staff and locals. The pub had several donkeys (4?) one of whom is reputed to be 35 years old and is a real character. The beer is good and the food is exception value for money and quality. Highly recommended.
12 Jun 2015 20:08
The Olive Leaf, Hayling Island
Great pub! Had an evening here on a walking holiday. Four real ales and three ciders from the barrel. Excellent food. Excellent service. Friendly locals and welcoming staff. Call in, you won't be disappointed.
12 Jun 2015 19:50
Sadly gone. Now a domestic dwelling but the pub sign still reamins, confusingly!
14 Mar 2015 09:59
Called in at lunchtime when walking on the Literary Trail. A great village pub. Log fire and friendly welcome. Three real ales on handpump: Long Man Best, LM American Pale Ale and London Pride. Three ciders on the bar too. The APA was very good. There is an extensive menu and my fish pie was delicious. Highly recommended and we will call in again.
14 Mar 2015 09:53
It's a Wetherspoons. You know what you are going to get.
Why it's in the Camra Good Beer Guide 2015 is a complete mistery to me...............
7 Mar 2015 16:15
A proper village pub. A Harvey's house with three real ales on handpump: Best, Old and the pub's unique own brew, Bull Bitter. All very good. I didn't eat but the menu looked good and the people who were eating looked happy enought. Bar staff were very good too.
Highly recommended.
7 Mar 2015 16:05
The Plough and Harrow, Litlington
Visited this pub with my walking group last week. A stict 'Boots off at the Door' policy in force but fair enough! Made to feel very welcome by staff and locals alike - great atmosphere.
Six real ales on handpump: Harvey's Best,
Long Man Long Blonde, Copper Hop and Best,
Timothy Taylor Landlord
Burning Sky's Plateau
Between us we tried all of them and they were in great condition.
The food was a bit pricey but good quality and plenty of it.
All in all, a great local pub!
13 Jan 2015 13:49
Why this 'pub' is in the 2015 Good Beer Guide is a complete mystery to me. There is a fair range of ales (but not that cheap), I suppose, but they all seem to taste the same. And I thought CAMRA were supposed to be against the 'one size fits all' pubs owned by the conglomerates. Must have been wrong all these years!
There are several really good pubs just around the corner. They are in the Guide and rightly so.
2 Jan 2015 12:41
Stopped here when walking the Socratic Trail, taking shelter from the relentless rain, with my group.
Very friendly reception for 7 dripping wet and muddy walkers. As already mentioned, the ham, egg and chips was superb. Good range of real ales including Harvey's Best. The village is lucky to have such a great pub.
Call in if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.
2 Jan 2015 12:26
Still a great, unspoilt pub. The landlord is committed to keeping it that way and gets a lot of support from the local community. It has a small car park to the right when viewed from the front.
Opening hours: Sat and Sun: 12-24. Mon - Fri 18-24, at time of writing.
Beers on handpump: Harvey's IPA, Best and Old Ale. All in perfect condtion. The IPA is £3.00 a pint, and for SE England, that's cheap! There is a lager on draught for the non beer drinkers.
Quite rightly a CAMRA Heritage Pub.
2 Jan 2015 11:44
Great place. Very much a food pub - very good and resonably priced - but excellent Harveys and good range of local guest beers.
Well situated pub for walkers on the South Downs Way and the Sussex Ouse Valley Way. Walkers welcomed.
2 Jan 2015 11:12
The Cross In Hand Inn, Heathfield
This pub has reopened after a bit of a makeover but this is still very much a Scottish & Newcastle pub.
It is aimed at the youth end of the market, I would say. Loud music and large flat screened TV's in most bars showing MTV (or whatever the modern version is).
Beers on handpump were Doombar, London Pride and Old Peculiar. The LP was ok but at £3.60 a bit expensive for the area.
I'm not expecting this establishment to appear in the Good Beer Guide any time soon. If you are a 19 year old Saxo driver this may be for you. An old f*rt CAMRA member, perhaps not.
2 Jan 2015 10:32
New Landlord from last May. Now does food. Well cooked and reasonably priced. The steak and kidney pudding highly recommended.
It's still a Harveys tied house so the beer is Cask Marque approved and is always good. Usually two beers on handpump, occasionally three.
14 Dec 2014 22:06
At dogtrain: I think you have the wrong Kings Head. There is another one about 2 miles away that is not noted for the quality of its beers! This Kings Head, South Road, has a landlord that is fanatical about his beer. Drank in the pub for years and never had a bad pint.
3 Nov 2013 09:19
Well, so much for the food...........but what about the beer??
Maybe we should rename this site, foodintheafternoon?
24 Jun 2013 13:45
This pub is now closed. There was a bloke changing the locks when I called there yesterday. It may reopen but there were pub chain banners being displayed. Be warned!
23 Apr 2013 08:45
Not a Harvey's tied house any more. Still selling good Harvey's BB though. The refurb is a bit of a shock, first time back, as others have noted. Food very good with locally sourced meat. Good log fire in the long bar on a cold spring day (is there any other sort?). Train timetable chalked up on ceiling beam! Yes, I'd go back.
23 Mar 2013 20:44
Great pub. The Harveys Best on handpump was spot on. Excellent food. The breakfast is highly recommended. But you have to pre-book, for breakfast at least.
Friendly, efficient staff, good parking and nearby station. What more could you want?
23 Mar 2013 20:35
Food pretty good and not too pricey. Try the steak and kidney pudding. Out of this world!
They usually have 3 Harvey's beers on: it's a Harvey's tied house after all. It's a Cask Marque rated pub but the beer can be a bit variable.
23 Mar 2013 20:23
The Quaker Coffee House, Darlington
Had one night to kill in Darlington last week and was recommended this pub by a barmaid in another! I wasn't disappointed. An amazing range of real ales, efficient staff, friendly locals and a cracking atmosphere. The bonus was a live band, Uncle Gilbert. If you are in Darlington this is one not to be missed.
9 Mar 2013 14:45
Called in last week on a very cold wet day with some walking companions. The log fire was really a welcome sight! A charming little pub with a good range of beers including Firkin Fox, Sussex, Tangle Foot and Badger. Though not a fan of Hall and Woodhouse, I must say the Firkin Fox was perfect, as was the Sussex. The menu was very good with a specials board above the fire. Prices resonable for the area. My lunch was a fish finger sandwich. Superb!
Highly recommended. Will call again.
29 Apr 2012 09:24
Visited this pub today for lunch with a friend. I had a pint of Broadside which was spot on. There is a good and varied menu with a slightly cheaper Specials Board.
The meal was well presented and good value for money. The barmaid (can you still call them that?) waited on table and was very attentive. The pub was very neat an tidy and my friend said the ladies toilet was spotless.
All in all, a very good experience. Will certainly call in again if passing.
16 Apr 2012 18:25
Passed this pub on Monday and it had a sign outside saying 'Under New Management' so I preume it is open for business again. Will have a look in next time I'm in the area and report back.
21 Mar 2012 19:11
Visted this pub the other day for a pint and some lunch. After reading the handbaggings on here, I was unsure of what to expect!
There were 3 real ales on, Ringwood Best, Doombar and Timothy Taylor Landlord. Had the Best and Doombar and they were fine. There was a good selection of reasonably priced food on offer. Our meal was good.
I would certainly call in again, if in the area.
Oh, they had raised a pretty impressive amount for H4H too.
21 Mar 2012 19:07
I think the negative reviews belong to an earlier Landlord. As Beerinmybeard says, a good, friendly pub. Good range of real ales but not Harveys, strangely, for this area. Fantasic views to the coast from the rear. Eccentric but friendly pub Staffordshire BT dog. Will post again when I have a list of the beers on handpump.
Highly recommended.
19 Apr 2011 13:56
The Cross In Hand Inn, Heathfield
Under new management again. This couple are a great improvement! Excellent food. The beers on handpump are Directors and Doom Bar. Both very good. Recommended.
19 Apr 2011 13:29
This is NOT a pub, in my book. Think, up market (a bit) Harvester.
When you arrive you are met by a member of staff who shows you to a seat and takes your drink order while you peruse the menu. This is a eating establishment that serves alcohol. The point is that you must eat. I don't think you can even order a drink for yourself, at the bar.
The regular '6 o'clock club' that used to meet there every evening have been tuffed out, ' We don't want your sort in here' was the message.
Having said that, the food is pretty good, 2 for the price of the higher priced meal and the beer is cask.
BTW the piped music is loud and very annoying. The staff do try to turn it down, when pressed, but I get the impression they are under orders to preserve the PR departments carefully crafted 'customer experience'.
Horse for courses I suppose but I, for one, am sad that a 'proper' pub has gone but your mum will love it.
1 Mar 2011 20:09
OK for a chain pub. Pretty good range of real ales. I had Adur's Ropetackle which was excellent but expensive at �3.40.
7 Jan 2011 18:55
The Devonshire Arms, Bexhill-on-Sea
Seems to have re-opened as an Italian Restaurant- Ziggy's. Just what Bexhill needs, another Italian eating place!
7 Jan 2011 18:45
I call in here sometimes. The landlord is a bit of a character. This pub is pretty much unchanged for the last 50 years, at least, which is a good thing in my book. I tell my grown up kids to enjoy this pub while they can, it's one of a dying breed. Think 'Harvester' at one end of the pub scale, this is at the other end. No food, no carpets, no brass numbers on the tables, very basic but I've never had a bad pint there. Friendly locals and a popular pub with the traction engine crowd. Be there first week-end in June. You will see what I mean.
21 Nov 2010 15:50
Great pub. Great food. Great real ales and even has Leffe for the other half! We have had several meals in this pub and can highly recommend the food as well as the beer. Good garden and good parking.
21 Nov 2010 15:32
I use this pub every now and then. Best pint of Harvey's in the area. Usually have several Harvey's beers on hand pump at any one time. Friendly regulars, excellent bar staff. No food. They are starting to do the occasional beer festival. The last one was excellent! Highly recommended local pub.
17 Jun 2010 08:00
The Cross In Hand Inn, Heathfield
This used to be a very good, busy pub. Then one of the chains bought it. After a lot of renovation work and the usual 're-branding', it re-opened. No Harvey's! There have been a endless seccussion of managers there, each one less able than the last. My last visit there, another new landlord, I was told he didn't accept credit cards - for food - and served me a pint of keg when I asked for cask. Not good. Lot of potential in this place, sadly not yet realised
16 May 2010 11:32
The Devonshire Arms, Bexhill-on-Sea
Pretty souless town pub. Usually has one or two real ales on: Harvey's BB being the most usual. Served well by friendy bar staff. There are many TV's dotted about so you can view whatever is on from about anywhere in the pub. They have Sky Sport on most days. Gets very busy at week-ends. Bouncers (very polite) on the doors in the evenings.
15 May 2010 09:33
The Royal Sovereign, Bexhill-on-sea
Am an occasional visitor to this SN tied pub. Very handy for the station. A typical town pub and no food (see below), unless you count picked eggs. Bare wood floors, basic furiture in the top bar, fairly comfortable but distressed seating to the rear bar with pool table and dart board. This pub has a great atmosphere with a large group of frendly regulars. Good satalite TV (2 sets) for all the major sporting events. Sunday lunchtime/afternoons are a hoot, complete with a compelmentary cheese and cold meat buffet and a meat raffle to round it all off. On the down side I have been served the odd dubious pint of Spitfire but it has always been changed with no grumbling. Also it's handy if you are a Man U supporter, which I'm not! But all in all, pretty good.
11 May 2010 22:22
Visited this pub at lunchtime one day. Didn't see much evidance of the 'Deliverance' crowd. Looks like it was once a K&B pub with friendly and efficient staff. There is a small stone flagged public bar and a fairly compact saloon bar with inglenook fireplace. Good beer-garden to the side and car parking in front of the pub. I was very impressed with the real ale. Food was well up to good pub standard and seemed to be being enjoyed by a pretty full saloon bar. Mine was certainly home made and reasonably priced. This pub is in the 2010 Good Beer Guide. Enough said! Can't see what the first reviewer's problem was. Perhaps not so much Deliverance as Straw Dogs!
11 May 2010 22:00
The Crown, Stone-in-Oxney
Appeared closed when I drove passed it yesterday (Saturday) lunchtime. Styles itself, or did, a Bistro.
Nuff said!
20 Mar 2016 18:34