please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited this old haunt on the first day of the County Championship season and was pleased to find that there were still at least six real ales on offer including a number of local brews. A two course Sunday lunch (a big bowl of minestrone + roast beef and Yorkshire pudding) was good value at around £11. Very busy on the day.
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Good food and ales.
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This pub has the best selection of ales, every week they have at least 2/3 different guest ales and on Mondays you can get a pint for �2.50 -some promotion they have in the evening.
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I Called in with the family for Sunday Lunch last week, I only recently learnt that children of all ages are allowed in the Dining Area at any time of the week.
A great range of cask ale on including the standard stuff like Timothy Taylors Landlord, Harvey's at a pretty good �2.85 a pint. Worthington Red Shield was on promotion at �2.50 a Pint. Others included a dark Treacle Stout from Itchen Vally brewery. I opted for a Pint of Pica Pica 4.5% from the Thornbridge Brewery, it went down a treat with the Roast Beef and horseradish.
All round good pub, good food, good staff and a good pint!
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Called in on my yearly pilgramage at the cricket at lunch on a Bank Holiday Sunday so as you can imagine, it was pretty busy.
There were plenty of staff and there needed to be with the masses at the bar and the amount of food being ordered.
There were 4 different cask ales to choose from. I went for a very nice pint of Harvey's Sussex Ale at a reasonable �2.75. The beer garden was as pleasant as ever despite the cold weather with the beauty of being able to see the scoreboard inside the ground.
The food prices looked very reasonable and I'll certainly be back.
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Always overlook this place as it has that "big chain identity" offering value food etc. However, if in need of a few decent beers, it seems to offer an extremely good choce of ales at excellent prices. Will return (when in the area).
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My inaugural visit on a Tuesday evening several weeks ago for a few jars with an old school friend unfortunately coincided with the aftermath of a Sussex cricket match at the adjacent County Ground, a special meal offer and the weekly pub quiz, which all conspired to make the bar service painfully slow, especially early on (when there was only 1 person serving behind the bar as far as I could tell). Several real ales were available on handpump, including Harveys Bitter. Definitely plan to revisit when next in the area, but will probably avoid Tuesday evenings, particularly if Sussex have been playing at Hove that day!
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Popped in here rather opportunistically during the lunch interval of the cricket match taking place next door, and despite having limited expectations given its chain identity and rather bland appearance both in and outside, I found the pub to be surprisingly worthwhile.
By way of correcting the previous commentator - unless of course there has been a sea-change since late April - there were no less than seven cask ales on offer as of yesterday. The handpumps had the whiff of Greene King about them, as each had been installed with that peculiar new high swan-neck device next to the pump itself (of which I personally am doubtful as to whether it imparts any real merit whatsoever to the quality of the beer it dispenses), but this doesn't disqualify their beers from being "real", and thankfully, only 1 of GK's portfolio was on offer (IPA). The remainder were a diverse selection including Harvey's Best, Fuller's Summer, Keltek Even Keel, Martson's/Ringwood Fortyniner, and something from Tom Wood which I forget. And furthermore, I found the two I sampled in perfect condition, and served with efficiency by the staff.
I also expected the place to be very family-orientated, given its emphasis on food, but again I was pleasantly surpised to find the clientele to be comfortably over-age and seemingly representing a healthy mix of backgrounds. Indeed, there is a notice on the front entrance advising that children under 14 are not permitted - suits me as I'm one of those who prefers a pub to be essentially an adult environment (I might alter this view if only more parents could learn how to teach their offspring how to behave appropriately in public!).
Atmosphere was perhaps lacking and if anything it was being generated second-hand by the presence of the Cricket Ground and its activities, and the sunny weather. All the same, it wasn't enough to take against the place.
I can't comment substantively on the food, although brief observation suggested it was hearty and reasonably-priced, if a little obvious in terms of choice. So I can only conclude that if you like your real ales, and a child-free pub, and are in the Hove area, don't discount the Cricketer on the basis that it is a branded chain outlet!
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An Ember Inns pub with their usual decor and choice of food. Seating was very comfortable and the pub had a very friendly atmosphere. They had 3 cask ales on the bar, Greene King IPA, Harvey's Sussex and Morrisy Fox Blond. The latter was served well but was rather bland.
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This pub is in the national press today after the assistant manager ejected a pregnant lady customer because she felt the customer should not be drinking alcohol.
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Usually 3-4 real ales, decent wine selection and okay food all at reasonable prices with polite staff. Recommended.
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It's a chain pub but the food is much better than usual for such a place. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Go in after a County match and there's a chance to talk to some International cricketers as well as some up-and-coming youngsters.
Good beer selection - nice real ales as well as a selection of cold-and-fizzies plus a quality selection of wines
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Very handy for the cricket. This pub has been refurbished regularly over the years and nothing has detracted from its atmosphere. Not all pubs have to be old and quaint to have a good atmosphere and I believe this to be one such pub. It has one large modern bar with no pool or darts. It caters for people who want to meet and chat. A good pre-club meeting place. Lots of cricketers. The beer is very good and there is usually a good selection of ales and ciders. When I have visited the service has always been first class. Overall an agreeable place to go for a pint.
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I live locally to this pub, however today was the first time that i ventured into the establishment. And I was pleasently suprised, despite the somewhat generic interior. I was immediately welcomed upon entry by a member of staff (I believe him to be called Kevin) we were served in a polite and friendly manner and my husband appreciated the barmans knowledge of real ales and was impressed by the quality of the titanic which was recommended (a very well kept beer!) We decided to stay to eat, desptite a small wait at the bar, which seemed under-staffed we were nonetheless happy with the quality of the food and the service but feel that the barman was running somewhat of a one man show, but doing it very successfully. All in all good value for money and we will be back!! (especially for the titanic, or so my husband says!!)
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This ones ok-ish depending on what your looking for, A good place to take mum and dad, A bit baron if your on your own. Nice beer garden, Guiness is above average, Toilets pretty good, no sexy staff only professional yes people, Good/Bad ? Are your parents with you ?
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"Functional" is definitely the word for this place. Along with "large" and "soulless". I suppose it's fine as a bar while you're watching the cricket, but as a pub it's not much cop. I'm staggered that it keeps appearing in the Good Beer Guide.
anonymous - 20 Dec 2005 15:25 |
I'm told it was a decent pub before the dreaded refurb.
Now a characterless barn of a place with all the usual fittings you expect of a bog standard 'food pub'.
Inattentive bar staff, the usual small range of boring nationally-trucked beers, bland food.
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Nice sun trap outside, lovely pink bubbly helped to make for a very nice afternoon.
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Good refurbishment, beers are OK and at least there is a no smoking area.
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Never eaten the food - but I've seen my friends and I'd say it was functional! Compared to the old pub it has all the atmosphere of a hotel lobby! Not bad for a cheecky couple if you're at the County Ground.
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Poor food, slow service.
Toby - 2 Feb 2004 13:56 |
Food is no better tyhan average but usually at least four real ales and good surroundings.
Adrian - 30 Oct 2003 13:58 |
Excellent pub- good beer and food -relaxed agrreeable atmosphere-attracts all ages - friendly attentive service- Manager fine - helpful and agreeable- never any aggro
DavidWHove - 2 Oct 2003 16:19 |
This is a lovely, smart, bright and homely pub, run by the dilightful Bob. Really relaxing a perfect for a hot summers day.
Anna - 5 Jun 2003 16:28 |
Enormous pub with outdoor seating both on the street and in a rather large beer garden. Good crowd, lots of TVs for the footy and comfy sofa seating for the lucky. Food is mediocre and menu predictable though.
Andrew - 7 Oct 2002 23:34 |
