please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
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Had a lovely lunch in reastaurant part with family - good service and well prepared steak & Harveys ale pie & veg. The new management are obviously trying their best to maintain a good reputation. Settled in bar after, very cosy but surpisingly quite for Bank Holiday week. Recession seems to be taking its toll- even on the good pubs.
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Wishing Paul & all the team good luck in their new venture, great party, you'll be sadly missed. Well done for making The Blackboys one of England's truly great pubs.
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This place was a little strange. It's probably more of a restaurant than a pub. But drinkers do appear to be welcome. There appears to be multiple rooms. We opted for a Moroccan themed room, which although not quite having the weather, vaguely resembled restaurants in Marrakech. The ales were slightly different to Morocco too, in that they actually had some. Harveys Best Bitter, Old Ale, Hadlow Bitter and the 8% Christmas Ale were all on. Addlestones was the cider. Most amusing was watching the antics of the landlady and all of the staff. It made Fawlty Towers seem quite sane. But they were all friendly enough and we left feeling mildly amused. Not a drinkers' pub. But certainly an experience.
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went again this weekend what a difference from our last visit.
its back on track glad we gave it a second chance, still a few issues, not enough staff but the food was much better, well done. We will keep going.
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Had a lovely weekend stay at this pub. Stayed in the English Suite and parents in the Chinese Suite. Beautiful decoration, nice and clean. Food was excellent as was service. Very warm and welcoming environment. Would recommend this pub for food and drink and would recommend the B&B facility, though bear in mind the rooms are above the pub restaurant area so no going to bed before 11:00 not that you would want to as food and drink are too moreish! :)
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Whats happened to this lovely pub, went last weekend for sunday lunch hoping to have another great experience as we have never been disapointed but what a let down.
Roast dinner for two which used to be one of the best around the area, well i should have gone to a Harvester at least you know what to expect. Luke warm food over cooked meat and surley service staff. i asked the waitress if this was usual and got a very frosty reception and did not see her for ages, my wife could not eat her lunch it was so bad even the veg was over cooked and uninteresting.
Looking at the menu it might have been written by a catering student, nothing inspiring at all thats why we had the roast, mistake it was aweful. went to pay at the bar and was met by a drunk man shouting at a member of staff and then he glared at us and gestured for the money and then answered the phone, dreadful manners, left us hanging on untill the call had fineshed and then went to someone else . I have never been treated like this in a so called restaurant before.
The food has deterioriated so much i used to love this place it was consistently good, whats happened.
we will not be returning again its a disgrace.
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Not quite sure what to write in this review, last time we visited here the food & service was excellent. I thought it had changed hands but was informed it hadn't The menu was no better than a harvester, the food we had was cold and when we complained they seemed to want to make out it was our fault. The staff just seemed to be doing their own thing with no guidance from anyone, and to be honest were all a bit rude. We will not be going back again. Shame as its a wonderful pub.
kent1 - 12 Nov 2010 18:09 |
I have been going to the Blackboys for many years and in the last two I have noticed a lot of changes - unfortunately most of them are for the worse. The decor has much improved (although parts are being over done, on the whole its nice), but that is about all I can say on the positive.
The attitude of the (older) staff couldn't get much worse. Each time I have been I have been met with rude and unpleasant nature far removed from what a country pub should offer. Put it this way - the log fire is warm but the recption from the landlord has be very frosty. Odd seeing as I live in the area. Even the basics of courteousness and manners have been lost.
Examples - Standing at the bar and mid drinks order the phone rings. Bar maid goes to answer the phone, then stands chatting to the person on the other end for a good few minutes before returning to finish our order.
Another example, stod at the bar waiting to be served, bar staff are too busy chatting to family members across the bar and eating their chips than they are to actually serve loyal customers. Oh, and to top it off - on leaving the pub, turn to say goodbye and thank you, the landlord turns away. Call out thank you and goodbye. Stoney silence follows. Call again thank you and goodbye. His retort was a grunt. Charming.
Such a shame. A beautiful pub, ruined by the staff. Could be such a wonderful place to spend free time, I shall not be returning to spend my hard earned cash there.I have very fond memories of this place from the previous landlord and landlady. I have been going back in the vain hope it will recover in my estimations - however after the last rude experience I am afraid my 12 year loyalty has now come to a very abrupt end.
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Been a few times in the summer, the fish dishes were great couldnt decide what to have but the staff were knowledgeable and helped me to decide. on one occasion there were 12 fish dishes all very well thought out. The fish and chips are the best i have ever eaten, dont know what they do but its great.
Went last week but was dissapointed to find game haddent arrived yet but again had a woderful meal,apparently its on soon, cant wait. Still a fantastic experiance .
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Stressful‎
Chose to have Sunday lunch at the Blackboys for my daughter's 19th birthday today. Booked a table for 4 in advance so were disappointed to be seated at a small table that would only sit 2 comfortably right by the gangway for the waiting staff who were hurrying back and forth beside and behind us for the entire time. Added to this was a large family party with 3 tables joned together on the other side of us. We could hardly hear each other on our cramped table with all the noise around. I ordered the splendid crab salad which came with a finger bowl but with all the meals plus this and the side dishes there was not enough room on the table so we had to pile side dishes etc on top of each other. The waitress took the bread away before we had finished, one of the side orders was forgotten and then the waitress returned to clear up before I had finished eating. She said I must have finished as my knife and fork had been placed together! Fankly there was not enough room to offer the conventional signal of having them at an angle either side of the plate. All this conspired to ruin my enjoyment of what may well have been a jolly good meal.
When the big party left it became quieter and I hoped we could at least have dessert, coffee and liquers in a more relaxed atmosphere. The waitress assured me that the tables would not be moved around until we had finished eating. No sooner had she said this than somebody else started dragging the tables around and sweeping tables in such a way that my blood pressure went through the roof. The waitress who had given the assurance said, 'I can't help it if we have to set up for other customers!' Feeling that we were more of an inconvenience than welcome guests, I told my husband to forget about my dessert as it was too noisy and that I would sit outside and wait for them.
The waitress asked my husband why I had gone causing further embarrassment so that my daughter left in tears and my husband asking for the bill before any dessert was ordered.
I do not understand why we were not offered a suitable table when there were others vacant. We were quite put off asking when another customer got a frankly abrupt to the point of rudeness response from the woman behind the bar when he asked for a table.
This lack of customer care is unforgiveable. It will take a change of management before we spend our money at the Blackboys again.
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Been to this pub a number of times now, occasionally with a group of male friends and more often with my family (wife and three very young children). Never had a bad experience, quite the opposite in fact. The food is great and reasonably priced, the staff are extremely friendly and, in my experience, bend over backwards to help. The pub itself is magnificent, a truly classic English pub in lovely surroundings. Although fairly new to the area it has already become my favourite place to relax with friends and family with its calm and friendly atmosphere. Thoroughly recommended.
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We went to Blackboys today, as part of a very chilled out, quiet hen weekend. A group of 11 of us went. Te surroundings are wonderful - great room and garden. The food was over priced, though acceptable. The service was the worst I've experienced in years. The ladies organising the weekend experienced two instances of sarcastic comments and general rudeness on the phone while organising the weekend. We were made to feel unwelcome as soon as we arrived - general brusqueness, refusal from the server (we think it was the owner) to hand us a menu but just reading it from his hands, getting impatient when people asked him to repeat details of dishes, sarcastic retorts and some quite aggressive responses at times. It made us feel uncomfortable and spoilt the last day of our weekend a bit. A real shame after a lovely weekend with friends. A few of the party members even pondered whether it was a race issue, as some of the party were non-white. This is unaceptable.We spoke to one of the staff afterwards, but no apology was given. I wouldn't recommend this pub, unfortunately, despite the glorious surroundings.
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Hadn't been to the Blackboys for a while but the superb landlord welcomed us like old friends. just a light lunch today, I had the potted salt beef and my wife the soup (parsnip I think). Both excellent. The Harveys Best Bitter was in fine form, wish we could have stayed all day!
We have booked to stay at the pub in September, (only two rooms available, both look great) so look forward to a long weekend.
This is a pub I hope to keep coming back to year after year.
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Just had to write this , the game dishes on the menu are fantastic elegantly presented cooked very well and so much to choose from.
I have eaten Partridge and wild duck both are to die for. The venison my partner had melted in my mouth. A big well done to the staff no pricing issues for me we will still come its one of the best.
Shame the fish variety suffers though but im not complaining if this is what we get in winter.
Also re decoration in progress one bar done great job the rest to follow i presume, the restaurant does look old fashioned and tired but progress is a good thing.
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Characterful olde-worlde pub, but I have to agree that the food seemed very much overpriced, even for the area.
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Well what can i say but thank you Blackboys.
I have been travelling up from the coast for about 14 months just to come to this lovely pub.
The staff are allways friendly and the food is just wonderfull.Dont know what higgsters was on about i counted 14 fish dishes last week.
It is allways cooked to perfection and the variety of fish this summer has been a revalation, cod pollock haddock ling hake brill just to name a few.
The chefs know how to cook fish at this pub thats why we go so regulary.
I will be putting this place forward for sussex food pub of the year, the food is excellent.
My only critiscisms are the music is dredfull and the decor is out of date and old fashioned, service is pretty poor too.
Dont be put off go for the food and enjoy.
The game season is upon us soon last year this was a revalation too cant wait.
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Excellent staff
Excellent food
Charming buliding
Picture perfect location what more would u want ?
me and my wife went to the blackboys inn last monday 6th and i cant belive we drove past this delightfull pub for 2 years.
on arival we were greeted by a lovley man behind the bar smart and intrested in every customer . we had drinks outside then sat in the resturant and had a fantastic meal -food is priced well (the portions are very good).
followed by a dessert to die for .
we were served by a very sweet lady and the gentalmen that greeted us was wizzing round making sure everyone was enjoying there evening.
finished off with drinks at the bar . thankyou for a excellent evening we will be back .
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Probably one of the most overrated pubs Ive ever been to. Only been twice, but on both occasions very poor service and average beer. The food is well over priced too. I think maybe this is one of those places living on earlier reputation.
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I have not been here for a couple of years but this to me is a very fine traditional pub. difficult to think of twenty better pubs in all the thousands that i have drank in.
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My GF and I have been going to this pub for about 10 years. We've seen various landlords in and out.
Last 2 visits very disappointing. The pub was well known for good food and a superb variety of fresh fish and seafood, and catered well for Vegetarians (GF) but now the menu has been limited down, no real appealing fresh seafood dishes like before which was very popular.
Bring Back the old menu and this pub will be outstanding again.
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We came here at lunchtime one day last week. It was not my choice but it was convenient and so I went with the flow as they say. It was very pleasant to sit outside in the sun and the Harveys was good.
We were here for a quick lunch, however, and this was not the cheapest place to go for it. Main meals started at �9.95 - for a salad! There were no sandwiches but ploughmans were available at �7.50. Don't you hate it when they do that? What's more, it was a measly portion on arrival - quite disappointing.
Admittedly the six of us had placed three separate food orders but it shouldn't be beyond any reasonable kitchen to manage this. In summary we were served lunch haphazardly, one person at a time, over a protracted period. It was only when they tried to serve us with some things again that it transpired that they had mixed up several tables food orders.
Eventually it was time to go. I had made the mistake of keeping an open tab and had to return to the bar to settle up. This resulted in having to queue for at least ten minutes while the staff took more food orders - and no doubt sowed the seeds of more confusion!
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we visited this pub for the first time at the bank holiday week end unfortunatly we dont live very close,as we were passing through, but we found the ambience,food and staff all very lovely.we hadnt booked a table so we sat in the bar which was very informal but we were still looked after really well and even had linen napkins!! well worth a visit.
kent1 - 29 Mar 2008 16:20 |
Oh my word! what has happened to the menu again?
Just when it was going great with fresh local produce excellently prepared and served i thought it was the turn around for our favourite pub. then i read Mr reviews thoughts and had to get back down there again. Well i thought i had seen it all with odd shaped plates and strange menus on ramsays kitchen nightmares but horror its reincarnated in this great pub. Please bring back local well cooked food not Red Snapper (are they in season). This area has fantastic local suppliers use them and get back to great food again not prentious rubbish, the portions are noticably smaller as well. Come on get it back on track it was going so well.
mjh61 - 14 Mar 2008 18:40 |
My wife and I visited the Blackboys Inn on Tuesday 4th March for lunch. I had a bowl of Kullen Skink, garnished with locally collected wild garlic leaves served with homemade bread to start, followed by a more than generous fillet of Red Snapper with baby spinach. Both were excellent. My wife had a sirloin steak, again excellently cooked, followed by a treacle pudding and custard, which more than hit the spot. My Chocolate Mousse was beautifully presented and great fun to eat with a layer of popping candy hidden beneath the icecream. All I can say is what a breath of fresh air this pub is serving real food and not overpriced brakes rubbish. Good luck!
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I think the theme is clear here. All of the recent reviews revolve around pheasants, scallops and soft furnishings. Can anyone remember when this was a pub?
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This pub is the talk of the town, so we thought we had better have a drive out at the weekend, so saturday evening we arrived at this wonderful pub it is so different to anything we have in Brighton. The decor is very unusual but works and along with the lighting and candles creates a lovely and warm feeling to the place.we had a fabulous meal, we had the locally caught pheasant among other things which was excellent. the staff were really friendly and efficient. we could not fault our evening at this lovely pub apart from maybe those awful road works outside the door!We will be returning probably when the weather is better so we can sit in the lovely outdoor areas.
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I have been to the Blackboys 3 or 4 times since my past review i would almost like to call myself a regular, we always get a nice warm welcome and the food and service is always good. We generally go at lunch times due to the fact we are getting on in life and dont venture out too much in the evenings, if the family who were eating there this week at a nearby table to us, were the family who wrote the review below perhaps you would do better to take your children to somewhere more suitable to there age, as they were obviously not happy!they changed the whole ambience and atmosphere of the restaurant and i noticed a couple of tables retreated to the bar because of the noise and chaos they were causing. We had a lovely lunch from the fairly extensive seasonal daily menu and highly recommend the chocolate torte and apple crumble!! keep up the good work landlord and dont take the review below to heart as from the reports ive been hearing locally that that is not the general reputation on the streets.
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I've been motivated to register on this site because our experience at this pub was so awful!
Having been to this pub many times in the past we were looking forward to returning. Our initial impression was favourable, the decor is much improved since our last vist 2 years ago. It's quite sumptuous in a bohemian way, although it is very dark and the music is awful! The warmth of the decor, however, was at odds with our reception. Their inhospitality beggared belief, in fact. We went with my Mother (who had driven for an hour to get there - on our recommendation) and our 2 children - aged 1 and 3. Maybe if you go without children the staff may raise a smile, but having read previous reviews, maybe not. They made no effort to disguise how unwelcome children are. There are no high chairs available and is no childrens' menu, although they grudgingly told us we could order sausage and chips for them. We appreciate that some pubs may cater more to the needs of adult clientele who want a kid-free environment, but we were the only people there!
The food was OK, although the extensive menu they used to have (blackboards full of the stuff!), has gone. My husband is vegetarian and was given only one choice of main meal in the restuarant and no starter. We did not stay for a sweet.
This has, and always has had, the potential to be a fantastic countryside pub, but we will not be returning to such a cold and unfriendly place - honestly, not one person of the 3 we dealt with looked at us with anything other than a shocking disdain!
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Visited the Blackboys last week for the first time having passed it for years on end and never stopped before. It is a lovely old pub with a fabulous atmosphere. We were only calling in so we just had a quick lunchtime snack but the menu and the food we had was lovely and the scallops were to die for. Staff were lovely and friendly.We rang some friends of ours to see if they fancied an evening out at this lovely venue and we are all booked in for an evening meal in a couple of weeks time, cant wait......
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Just been to the blackboys again after the decorations have been removed, (what a relief-bit tacky). Again had a very good overall experience. The staff very pleasant and knowledgeable. Maybe needs one or two more front of house to give excellent service but hey were talking about a pub in the country not pretentious gastro ramsay in town.
The food was seasonal ,local (Pheasants shot down the road) well presented and very tasty. Pricing about average value for money i thought, i couldnt eat it all.
Great feel to the place and hard working staff made the evening very enjoyable.
Must agree about the music as with other reviews, very depressing,old fashioned and naff,
I will be going again the pub is developing all the time when will stop, its going in the right direction though.
I think the bad reviews sound like disgruntled old staff maybe?
mjh61 - 10 Jan 2008 11:37 |
I already said the furnishing was lavish - you should see it now the Christmas decorations are up! Talk about Santa's grotto! Don't expect to walk upright if you're over 5'6" !!!
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A Harveys tenancy which changed hands a couple of years ago. The new management have invested heavily in decorating the large front garden area with heavy wooden furniture and a huge marquee like shelter. Also there is a large triple garage sort of building, with the front doors wide open onto the front drive, which has been decorated to resemble a north african souk. There is a large front lawn under the trees between the pub and the road and a pretty duckpond to the side. Very pleasant to sit outside in the summer.
Inside there are two bars, the one on the left as you enter the porch was the old public bar, now predominantly serving food. The one on the right has a couple of tables (also set for meals) in what is now a sort of reception area for the adjacent restaurant. Furnishings are lavish and not at all typical for a popular country roadside village pub, which is what this used to be.
The bar staff (noiceable by their rarity) could move easily between the two bars should they feel inclined to do so. Unfortunately, in reality, this is not the case. More often than not you can hear evidence of someone rattling glasses in the other bar, but little sign of them coming to serve. This evening there was someone who was totally aware of my existence who continued to play at filling a distant glasswasher for 5 minutes before I got up and left. On the rare occasion when I have managed to be served a beer it has been good quality Harveys including seasonal ales.
Overall, a very comfortable pub, more reminiscent of a hotel lounge, strangely relocated to the Sussex countryside. Be prepared to wait for no apparent reason.
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Despite having read the most up to date review, we decided to give it a go, and now wish we had heeded 'nelly0164' ominous critique!
The staff (in both bar and 'restaurant') seemed to have a barely disguised contempt for their customers, which didnt bode well from the off.
We ate in 'the restaurant'(which appears to be based on a house of ill repute), and their idea of 'mood music' was that which inexplicably blared out 'middle of the road' tunes - never quite playing through before bouncing on to the next....not good for the digestion!
The food - well I really dont know where to start :o(
Overpriced is an understatement - although if people are prepared to pay, then thats a matter for them.
I dont mind paying - really I dont, but I DO expect what I am paying for to be half way decent but sadly it fell way short of the mark....fortunately my guests have a sense of humour!
In fairness though, I have to say that the diners around us (who were having to shout to make themselves heard over the music) appeared to be enjoying themselves...despite their 'seasonal vegetables' all appearing to be the same shade of khaki.
Maybe we picked the wrong thing on the menu (its the first time I have ever had rib eye steak - which was not only battered to within an inch of its life, but as tough as old boots!!!) perhaps it was just a bad night, who knows? One thing is for sure, I wont be wasting my hard earned cash there again to find out!
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the decor is certainly a bit od an eye opener, not everyone's taste but I quite like it overall. Can't agree with the comments about the food, very average quality, very above average price - how can you charge �7.50 for sausages, egg & chips?? Beer was OK.
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I've yet to find this place open!
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A must. Wow!
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Christmas at the Blackboys Inn was a revelation. Food was excellent and the beer well kept. The Christmas decorations were unbelievable; a real antidote to High Street kitsch. Would really reccomend this pub for the food which is amongst the best I've come across in a while and up to London restaurant standard
anonymous - 15 Dec 2006 11:52 |
Brilliant traditional Sussex Pub, real country atmosphere.
First rate food, interesting varied and different. Well presented, high quality ingredients.
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Struck me as resting on its laurels. Rather condescending Hugh-Grant-lookalike barman. None too obliging. Self-satisfied sort of place. It thinks it's great, never mind whether you agree.
anonymous - 14 Mar 2006 23:39 |
Lovely pub. The Black Boys weren't inn when I called by. There used to be a savage dog - but in all fairness that was about 20 years ago so even if he still about he won't be up to much.
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Excellent country pub with good beer, fab eclectic food (landlord is chef too), great atmos. Good for sitting outside in summer with kids/dogs. Open fire winter. Try to get there.
anonymous - 14 Jul 2005 13:56 |
Have not been to this pub but it looked good from the outside (not open at 10.30 am), set behind a pond and who ever suggested it seems to have given it 9/10 without comment (could be the landlord of course).
Will try and get there some day
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