please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Isfield Straw Blonde and Downlands Truleigh Gold were sampled and both found to be in good condition. Harveys Best and a cask cider were also available but not sampled on this visit.
|
I have attempted to visit the pub every July for the last five years. If you arrive early on a Sunday evening, the kitchen will have closed just moments earlier, despite being advertised as being open.
If you arrive and only order chips, you will be refused service, as it is not possible just to cook chips as this is a cheap meal, and what would happen if someone else arrived wanting a full main course while the deep fat fryer was busy helping you out? Yes, this did really happen to us.
This year my group of happy campers have already made me promise that we will never go to the Sloop Inn again. We won't be going.
|
Just the place to be on a brisk Autumn day. Splendid pint of 'Toad in the Ale' and a big juicy burger. My companions opted for the Irish stew and did comment that a chunk of crusty bread would have made it perfect - a comment I passed on and which the manager said he would consider. Yippee!!!! Could happily have stayed all afternoon.
|
I don't know if there has been a change of management again but the menu has been de-poncified. I actually like the previous menu as it was a bit different, now it's good pub fare.
Still a good pub either way but I wish they would turn the bass on the music down a bit, it distorts horribly!
|
The Sloop is now on the map again. As mentioned by the previous contributor, it is now a free house and so much better for it.
Ales from Harveys and Hammerpot breweries were on offer, I tried both and both were well kept. The food was excellent and bit different but still reasonably priced and the landlord and landlady were very friendly and welcoming.
I was there on a Saturday lunchtime and the pub was full, which is unusual for a pub which is well away from both housing and shops.
Dogs are allowed as are children but children sitting at the bar with their toys on the bar? Come on.
|
Excellent pub. As of December 2011 this pub is now a FREE HOUSE! The pub has been bought from the Green King estate and now will be even better with the ability to sell beers of the landlord's choice. Harveys Sussex Best Bitter now a permanent feature and so expect to see the likes of Dark Star and more.
This is a proper rural Sussex pub, thankfully it has not been spoilt to meet the tastes of the "down from London" folk living in the Haywards Heath commuter belt. Expect a friendly welcome, clean attractive surrounding, log fires, decent beer and proper well priced meals. A Sussex pub as it should be.
|
Once you've found it, a great place to sup.
|
Great place, great food: Walked to this charming pub in beautiful countryside on a Tuesday lunchtime. Got lost, and so turned up after 2pm. Thought I was going to get the usual 'well, we've closed the kitchens' scenario, but nothing of the sort. The staff couldn't have been friendlier and more helpful, and the homemade burger and chips I had was wonderful (good value at �9 I thought). Also a very comfortable and handsome bar, and an unusually pretty and well kept pub garden.
|
Had been meaning to visit this pub for some while following good reviews from friends. Telephoned before visiting to check what food was available for vegetarians, I was told that there was a good selection and the lady listed 5 different dishes and said that there were more, this pleased me as often there is only one choice - if that. Upon arrival the menu only had 1 vegetarian dish so we asked whether anything else was available only to be told that the vegetarian starter could be made into a main dish if required :( We decided to stay and have the dish listed as we were fairly short of time and it sounded nice (goats cheese and walnut salad served with warm bread) Ordered drinks including a glass of dry white wine. The wine was not very well chilled and was rather sweet but we didn't wish to make a fuss so drank it anyway. The food took rather a long time to arrive but the pub was busy so we waited patiently. A lady at another table had the salad and it looked delicious. Eventually our food arrived but the bread was not with the salad so we enquired about it and was told that it would be sorted and would come straight out. 5 minutes later the bread had still not arrived so we enquired again and was told that it was on its way. 5 more minutes passed and we enquired yet again. 5 minutes later the bread finally arrived by which time the grilled goats cheese was cold and my companions had both finished their meals including cold chips) and I was left eating alone. I was very disappointed in the meal as the walnuts tasted old and fousty but as we were quite time limited and after the length of time to simply bring out the bread I pushed the walnuts aside and ate the salad and cold goats cheese. When the waiter collected our plates he asked whether the meal was ok so we told him of our disappointment and he went to fetch the manager - James. Well, what a rude, obnoxious man he turned out to be. He seemed surprised that I had waited for the bread to arrive before eating the salad, implying it was my fault that the cheese had gone cold and tried to tell us that the bread had arrived after 2 minutes and that we should have mentioned to staff if we were dissatisfied (which we had done twice). He eventually reluctantly refunded the value of the salad but continued to defend the meal and service. I would not recommend this pub to anyone and will certainly not be returning myself.
|
Visted Friday 5th November lunchtime
My wife and i were attracted to the Sloop from the signs near the Bluebell Railway
We were very impressed with the young lady who greeted us with a very friendly smile and warm welcome.
The Good points - Fresh Lemon for the sparkling water and fresh lime for the Lime and soda. The Sloop Burger was one of the best fresh burgers i have ever had 5*. The bar maid / waitress was excellent and a credit to James who runs the pub, and who spoke with us for 5 minutes and was interested in what we thought of the pub and asked us what we like in a good pub.Immaculatly clean.
The could do better - The menus were not printed out for the lunchtime session and 2 lots of customers had to ask for these. It was a little cold for our liking and my wife had to wear her coat. The steak & Ale pie 3* was very runny but OK and was more like soup. Allin all a good lunch and with a little tweaking will make a great pub. Will we go back YES if in the area as we were an hour from home 8/10. James i hope it works out well for you
|
Four of us visited The Sloop on a Tuesday lunchtime, we were made very welcome by the landlord James, who introduced himself and shook hands with us. This was my first visit since the Inn has changed hands. The bar area where we sat was very attractive, there was an open fire, and the whole bar area was very clean and bright. It's true that the menu isn't extensive, but I rate this as a good sign not a bad one as it invariably means the chef is cooking the food from fresh and not microwaving pre-prepared bought in stuff.
My rump steak was one of the tastiest I've had in a long time, and believe me I'm very fussy about my meat. I like it cooked 'blue' and this was cooked exactly correctly which is more than I can say for many restaurants. It was really ggod value at �9.95 and was accompanied by excellent chips and a tasty salad that was a variation on the normal limp leaves and a tomato. I had a slice of Banoffee pie for desert, another dish usually bought in and not very good, but this was home made and really as a Banoffee should be. So, full marks for the food. My friend drank the guest beer - Proper Job from St Austell and liked it enough to down 4 pints. My beer was also good. There was no music (thank God) so we were able to hear ourselves talk. All in all I would rate this as one of the best pubs we have been to for a long time and the four of us regularly visit Sussex pubs. So full marks to James the landlord and we will certainly be coning again
|
Visited twice in the last couple of months, the first time was a month after the new owners had taken over, we looked at the menu (there were 2 starters, five main courses and three desserts!!) the choice was really not great so we thought we would leave it until they had got their feet, oh dear, what are they doing, we have just returned it, the place is terrible, the menu is just as small, the staff are not brilliant and quite frankly the chef should be replaced. I dont want to sit and eat my bland food listening to the music being played in the kitchen. It is no wonder the place is so quite.
|
This large group arrived, and without even the courtesy of asking, proceeded to eat their sandwiches and drink their drink - in our beautiful garden. Our takings may never recover if they don't come back!
|
A pleasant pub in a beautiful setting, perfect after a walk you would think.
However, our rambling group was not made welcome. A rather shortsighted approach we felt as we will make sure that we avoid The Sloop and frequent pubs where the landlord is polite and welcoming.
|
Bar staff surly, attitude at best indifferent. Food no more than average but fully priced. interior dull, but the rural setting is its saviour, lunch on benches on the outside, weather permitting. This could be so much better with a little personality.
At bank holidays, one to avoid.
|
Charming rural Greene King pub with pleasant garden and interesting choice of ales: Gem and Olde Trip were on when we visited. Great to see a pub doing so well in this remote location, and full marks to the team for attaching 'Sloop' signs to public footpath fingerposts along the walk from Sheffield Park.
|
Back in July 2007 new 'local' owners took over...
A year later ?
Well they are still there and the 'old' Sloop is back in business ~ and big time !
Even 'Benson' (Richard) is turning out the food again in the kitchen, but working now with top quality product, all supplied by Ian Thomas !
The Garden has been worked over so all the families can sit outside and the children can play ...
The diners eat in the Lounge in peace and quiet again...
Even the Sloop 'die hards' can enjoy a pint in the 'typical' Public Bar, now practically a 'child free' enviroment ~ what a bonus !
In short, something for everyone ...
Even 2 car parks ensure there is somewhere to park when you arrive !
Down side ?
Well I cannot see one, all that surprises me is that this was this not possible before !
Well done Becky (landlady) and her family team !
|
This is a real gem of a pub. Good food in the restaurant and a proper public bar for the locals. Garden and patio overlooking the Ouse. Great for fisherman, walkers, cyclists. Probably one of the best in Sussex, great location, nice ambiance, but have to mark it down for not supplying Harveys.
|
Th new 'local' owners blasted away the cobwebs last night with a new Chef, an 'al fresco hog roast' & music from 'Blues Abuse', with Benson back behind the bar again the pub's 2 large Car Parks filled quickly to capacity with cars parked up and down the lane outside, plus standing only inside ~ if this is the taste of things to come, 'The Sloop' has found it's feet again !! Keep it up guys ...
anonymous - 22 Jul 2007 17:08 |
Just changed hands again May 2007 that makes about 6 in 20 years but 3 in the past 3 months....
Now we shall see what a 'local' can do to the place...
anonymous - 27 May 2007 11:27 |
This pub has recently been taken over but still owned by Green King. The beers are the usual Green King offerings and are well kept. The food is a little too expensive for the size of the portions, though generally good. There is a good sized garden which is a bit unkempt and there are currently no parasols, so take a sun hat!
Staff seem very young but very pleasent too.
|
Superb food and a great range of well kept beers, set in an idyllic spot between Scaynes Hill and Freshfield. I understand they have a cricket club, a stoolball section, a golf society and a quiz on the 1st Monday of every month, so always something going on. Thoroughly recommended for a visit, it's on the Sussex 'Ale Trail' and deservedly so, so make the detour.
|
Great food and well kept beers, well worth a quick detour off the A272.
|
Haven't eaten here but the beer and the beer garden are wonderful. Great location and good atmosphere
|
Green King tenanted country pub which keeps most of the GK range, and guests, in excellent condition. Traditional public bar, with restaurant area on other side. Food high quality
|
