please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great pub-- excellent ales and the burgers are fab as long as they are cushioned between crip ciabattas-- ask for this and you will not be disappointed!
Stunning location
Vindy - 21 Aug 2012 08:50 |
good old fashioned country pub with a happy hour which means 2.50 for any pint of lager or bitter......so it's good for the locals who can have a cheap pint or two after work...
...Greene King IPA is the mainstay though there was another one on pump..Speckled Hen I think though I can't be sure...
worth a visit if in the area..
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Our favourite pub in the whole UK ! The food is freshly prepared and never fails to be excellent, at least in our experience.Don't understand some recent comments - portions are generous. There can be a bit of a delay at busy times but to be expected with food that is cooked to order. The owners are very hands- on and have a great eye for detail.It is a reason to live in Lurgashall but sadly there never seem to be any houses for sale ! Parking is not difficult but possibly irritating for the local residents.Visitors need to be respectful of the village green.
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I have been going to this pub for nearly 30 years. Without doubt, the current management team is the best it has ever had, a view shared by many of my friends who live in the area and are deeply envious of having such a good pub withn walking distance of my home. The staff are cheerful, efficient, attentive and a well-run team, capable of runnign the place even when the landlord and his good lady take a well-earned day off
The beer is well kept, and the chepaest of any pub in the area - Green King IPA is �2.80 per pint. A good range of three cask ales is always on parade - two regulars and a guest ale, so one is often spoilt for choice. Apparently there is a good range of lagers, cider and stout, but I seldom go up that end of the bar.......
The food is not the cheapest, but the produce used is of the highest quality, and price reflects that fact. If you are content with pre-packaged food bunged in a micro-wave, then the Noah's Ark is not for you. The menu is changed regularly, and everything is freshly cooked and imaginatively served
Where to park is a constant issue for the pub, as it is for the village as a whole. There is plenty of space to park around the green, but I have seen cusotmers resent having to walk the 50 yards or so from their car to the front door. Strange attitude - some car parks can require you to walk much further. When I sit with friends outside watching the cricket on the green, there is not a better place to be
The only reason I have not given it maximum marks is because I am such a miserable so-and-so who never gives full marks to anyone!!
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The pub itself is a lovely old place, but I found the food rather overpriced for the quantity that eventually arrived. However the beer was cheaper than many in this area. But I can only agree with the others here who have mentioned that the number of cars parked all over the village green don't help the experience of a pub visit. I spoke to a lady there who told me that their village green gets churned to mud in winter just because of the pub visitors parking all over it.
Knowing this made me feel rather guilty that I was contributing to wrecking this pretty village green by even visiting the pub and swelling the numbers who park on the grass, but there was no where else to park. They seem to have a garden behind the pub and I would have thought that could be converted to parking. I will visit again but maybe wait until there are enough of us to make up one full car-load rather than each arrive in a separate car, that way I can enjoy the experience and not feel guilty.
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We have been great fans of the Noahs Ark for twenty five years and under the current landlord it went onto greater strengths. However, in the past 9 months we have seen the pub go veer away from its previous high point giving a feeling of complacency. Its still a good place for a beer.
The landlord is never there when we have visited or appears to be away much more than previously and the staff appear to be unable to cope at times, even when the pub is not particularly busy. You usualy have to wait at least 45 minutes to get your food and wait a long time to be served. The prices are not cheap at all and the food quantities have diminshed.
In addition now they have decided to ban dogs from anywhere other than the pub part so anyone wanting a dog friendly pub please note this.
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Went for Sunday lunch and was sadly disappointed. At �15 I would expect to be full, but the portion was tiny and the beef overcooked. Really nothing to write home about - we have eaten much better and cheaper for lunch in other narby pubs.
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Good pub, though a bit too much on the restaurant side.
However, it's currently open all day, has happy hour(s) from 4.30 to 6.30 where it's 2.50 a pint...
mainly Greene King ales, with a guest bitter..
dogs and kids welcome....
Recommended.
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This used to be the best pub in the area, glad it is still going and people like it.
To the 'hatter' commenter - maybe it's you, everyone else likes it.
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I recently went back to this pub after a considerable absence and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. The landlord seems to have found a happy balance (which was not there when I last visited) between a village pub and a good quality restaurant. Lots of locals drinking in the bar and lots of non-locals eating in the other rooms (and thereby providing the profits to enable the locals to keep on drinking). Good beer, good laugh, excellent food. This one is back on my list.
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We are regulars at The Noah�s Ark as we live nearby. It is true that the pub can get very busy and so we always book, particularly at weekends; they have a large room which is used for parties but we personally have never been turned away due to a private function. There always seems to be a strong drinking crowd and noticeably many live in the village itself.
I know that the landlords are working closely with the village to sort the parking problem and they offered their own garden as a parking solution put the brewery itself rejected this idea.
Maybe reviewers should check their information before damning an establishment. Particularly when it proves to be a well managed and thriving pub and his been brought back from an unsuccessful �one man and his dog� venue. We will continue to be regulars, sometimes for a drink and sometimes to eat � we are always welcomed, love the atmosphere and the well priced food.
A Happy Local.
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I don't know how the locals put up with this pub - cars all over the green spoiling this idyllic village (Why can't the landlords garden be converted into a car park!) and what's even more appalling is that it's more of a private venue than a pub. I've been turned away twice! The landlord was unfriendly and the wine and food overpriced! So Sussex guzzler I'm with you on this one!
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I have been going to this pub since moving to Chiddingfold 15 years ago. Under current owners it is the best it has ever been. Proper pub. Proper food. Proper beer. I love it.
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Went for a birthday celebration and was very impressed - good food, friendly service and well kept IPA. Perhaps a little pricey at �34 per head but that's West Sussex for you.
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I read the rave reviews of this pub so decided to look for myself. Well what a diasppointment! Yes the village is very idilic, but it is spoiled by the cars parked allround the front of the pub - if your idea of a nice summer beer outside involves looking at a huge number of cars and the related "no parking here" ( cause you are ruining the place) signs, then you will have a great time. The rest of us who actually want to get away from that - well this is a real dissapointment.
I was equally disappointed when I got inside, and got some food. It is lack lustre and expensive. Almost �40 for two glasses of wine and two burgers and the burgers were not exceptional. Pretty poor actually wtih a handful of what looked like fat frozen chips.
Despite having a small toddler less than 2 yrs old, we were not offerd a high chair - I didn't see any in the place at all.
Staff were OK, not particularily friendly, landlord & land lady pretty stand off-ish.
Next time I tried to get in, they had a function. So much for being a local village pub, forget it - this is an up-its-self restaurant. there is not even a dart board!
Very disappointed indeed.
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Well what a great find tucked away in the Sussex countryside. Thirty seconds at the bar and I knew this was a good place. A good selection of bitters and really lovely staff. Add to that the lok and feel of a real traditional pub with a very picturesque location and you have it all.
But it doesn't end there. The food is very good and reasonably priced.
I'd really recommend this place, and in summer with cricket outside this place must be a piece of heaven.
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A very good gastro-pub that was an isolated village pub, very good food (we had roast dinner's top notch, spent �20 quid each plus booze and a starter - not too bad), lovely spot on massive green but not really a pub unless you find room at the bar, or - and this is crucial - its summertime and you can sit and lounge outside - lovely. Overall if your middle class and aspirational with a touch of hippy relaxedness (i.e. most of rural west sussex) it will suit you fine, if your not, or looking for an actual pub, steer clear.
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this is a really cracking village pub, fabulous food, really great bar, and in the summer, it really comes into it's own with the beautiful village green- not to be missed.
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We think that The Noah's ark is the best pub in the local area, it combines great food, with a cracking bar and friendly atmosphere. The food is so good, that you should try and book otherwise you';; usually be disappointed. Well worth a visit, the village is pretty special too. Don't come to often though, it's kind of busy enough.
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A friend recommended this pub for a recent mid week lunchtime reunion and we were not disappointed.
The pub is off the beaten track on the edge of a pretty village green surrounded by medieval timber framed houses from �Country Life�.
There is a reasonable selection of real ale and the beer is well kept. Inside the pub is welcoming and clean. The menu is interesting; the food is good, but expensive. The staff were attentive and we received prompt service.
The �gents� is normally a forgotten area in most pubs � in this one it is excellently looked after.
If you are picky and can afford this style of pub you will be well catered for. Take care on the approaching lanes as some are narrow and some local motorists are used to having the road to themselves.
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I used to be a regular here (see 13 July 2008 comment) until it changed from a village pub to a "Volvo and Audi destination". Last Thursday, being out for a stroll in the lovely Sussex countryside, I arrived at Lurgashall at about 3.10 pm and noticed a sign outside bearing the magic words "Open all day" and the lights were on in the bar. Thinking to let bygones be bygones, I decided to call in for a couple of pints. Unfortunately the barman had other ideas - "Sorry mate we're just closing". "But you've got a sign outside saying open all day". "Oh yes - that ended last week - forgot to take it down".
Never, never again!
The barman was however kind enough to offer me a lift to the Hollist Arms in Lodsworth - a proper pub, open all day.
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Its got to be one the best locations for a pub in England. The beer is well kept - Green King IPA and Abbot. The makeover at the end of 2007 means that its much cleaner than it used to be, which is an improvement. It a real shame about the loss of dart board and general 'village local' ambiance. It was made very plain to some of the locals that they didn't fit in with the new image. Sometimes Henry can be charming.
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My wife and I recently had a meal at the Noahs Ark after hearing several friends recommendations, we were wary having not been there for a couple of years and after reading some negative comments on this site. We could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The pub is now lovely, simply decorated with a relaxed feel and most importantly clean (my wife raved about the womens loos!). Although it was a Wednesday night, the restaurants were full and as we had not booked we chose to sit in the bar. My wife had a crab pate followed by seafood pasta and I had souffl� and sausages and mash, we shared a bread and butter pudding. Not only was the food great, (in fact the best meal we have had out in a long time) the bill was very reasonable. We had a long chat with the owner and met the resident pub dog, a lovely nosey terrier. The only negative we found was that at times it was quite noisy as there were a few jovial people drinking in the bar but next time we�ll remember to book a table - we already have for next week! It was a fabulous evening and we both agreed that we should have gone sooner.
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This used to be a classic village pub but all its character has gone along with most of the locals. It's now just a typical suburban winebar. The present tenants even threw out the dart board! What a shame.
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Wonderful idylic location overlooking village green, giving a typical village pub setting. Under new management since end of 2006 - no more dart board as it has become a gastro pub. As Biker remarked you need to get your wallet ready �3/pint and menu mostly over �10! Very small pub car park - have to park elsewhere around green - this is not so good when its wet and muddy.
andy8 - 23 Jun 2008 20:21 |
On a warm summers evening, with a cold pint of beer in hand, sat in front of the Noah's Ark, you could be forgiven for feeling as if you are sat in a beer advert. The location of the pub is idyllic, and quintessentially English.
Furthermore, the menu looks fantastic and well balanced, using local produce. i was presented with a charming welcome, and was looked after extremely well, throughout our meal by an eclectic front of house staff
In short, one of the best pub in the area.
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The front end staff attitude leaves a lot to be desired. The food is very average and very expensive. I don�t know who Henry is so can�t comment if he is rude or not. There are better pubs in the area, personally I would give this one a miss.
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Great village, great walks, feels like a great pub although I was driving and only had a half and didn't meet Henry!
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Pub is warm and welcoming and food is good. So pity about Henry, the owner, who vacillates between being nice and downright rude.
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This is without doubt is probably the best pub in West Sussex. The new landlords, Amy and Henry, have transformed it from an ordinary village pub into something very special. You can always be assured of a warm welcome and a great pint of beer. In the Summer months you can sit outside and even watch a game of cricket! The food is sensational, with a varied menu and they can cater for larger parties. There are choices for everyone, including vegetarians, and everything is freshly cooked from scratch. The wine list is full of surprises, with excellent vintages from small, renowned producers at very affordable prices. The Noah's Ark is possibly one of West Sussex's best kept secrets but it won�t stay that way for long�
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Great location, lovely ambience inside and out and the food is pretty decent too. Perfect for cosying up by one of the open fires in the winter or sprawling out on one of the many benches in the summer whilst watching some truly village cricket.
In summary Good Food, Friendly atmosphere & Good Times
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A fabulous pub in every way. Great beers for a great evening with the lads. Great food for lunch and dinner with the missus. Great beers and food and wine for a happy threesome. Henry and Amy the owners are really friendly and hospitable. Very child friendly with the nicest toilet soaps in Britain. You will not be disappointed.
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Scrumptious Ruddles Hedgrow on a chilly autumn evening sitting 'inside' their magnificent fireplace complete with crackling log fire. Was so comfortable had to stay and eat and had exceptionally good food. English snails were amazing and Turbot and chips completed a brilliant pub experience. Thoroughly recommend for a quick pint, a bite to eat or dining out in style. This place has it all.
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Classic English country pub on a village green, nice shadey garden to sit in and watch the cricket. Fine pint of St Austell's Tribute, they also had Green King & Abbot on I think. Food was not so impressive, my steak was tough as an old boot and there wasn't really enough. Then a dog scoffed my friends bacon sandwich.
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Civilised upmarket pub on a lovely village green. Get there early!
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A very nice little pub on the village green. The quietest setting i've ever had a summer's drink and the foods above average. Reconmended.
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Currently onder new management and closed for refurbishment. So we went to the Hollist Arms at Lodsworth, a few miles to the South.
A sign on a board (blown over!) read ' reopening on the 2nd December. Watch this space.
anonymous - 27 Nov 2006 14:37 |
