please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I have made quite a few visits to the Half Moon under different circumstances so I can be even handed in my assessment. The service can be good to ‘we have forgotten you are there’
They have a good kitchen, the results are generally good but some of the dishes are more expensive than they should be. Having said that they do use mostly local produce which may even things out.
The range beers are limited but well chosen including a local ‘Long Man’ brew and Harvey’s Sussex.
If you time your visit to when things are quieter and you sit inside you will get the service you deserve. If you sit outside with a full house inside you may well be forgotten about.
In any event your bill might be more than you expect and if you choose wrongly or don’t ask what you will get on the plate you could leave feeling hungry.
So for something quite tasty and easy on the wasteline in a nice location this could be your place.
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A good friendly place. The pub itself is not large but there is a good choice of seating and tables outside. The emphasis is on food but an interesting range of beers are offered. I visited when things were quiet and I could not fault the service. The menu is imaginative and the food quality is what you would expect from the price, but £9 for an omelette ? Good place to take kids for a run around in the field at the back while Mum & Dad chill out.
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Excellent pub, this. Went a couple of weeks back for a birthday lunch with friends. Food was excellent (took a while to arrive but they were plainly busy and the quality was worth the wait). Good bustling atmosphere and well kept pint of Harveys. However, if you have something against children, then approach with caution, as this is a family friendly pub and there will be small human beings there.
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Very nice gastropub, excellent food from local producers. Very cosy, great and friendly service.
Although a gastropub, they've an interesting range of mainly local ales that are well looked after. A nice place to relax over a good meal, absolutely recommended.
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They have really got it all together very well here. Very pleasent atmosphere and decor, inside and out. Good, well thought out menu, little pricy but you gets what you pays for. 3 ales on tap...usulayy a Harvey's and a couple of rarities. Not really an ale drinkers venue, so tends to sit in the pump a little too long, but hey...these are details. Its a GREAT pub in a magnificant location and rapidly becomming one of my favourite in the Lewes area. 7.5 out of ten!
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Had a very good group Sunday lunch here in pleasant surroundings. Even though the car park was chocka, there seemed to be plenty of space inside. Actually, now I think of it, they allow customers to park and walk (the pub is right under the South Downs) so maybe folks were out and about. The food was a bit on the expensive side but we all thought it was very good. And the service was excellent even though we messed them around a bit (very attractive staff too ... if that matters ... probably does to them). Unfortunately, two of the three beers available were a bit off so that lowers my rating.
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Having seen all the good reviews, went for lunch here before a long walk on Aug Bank Holiday Monday. It was very busy which I'm sure contributed but the service was very slow - we waited 45 minutes for our food - we are happy to wait for freshly cooked food, but 45 minutes? And when the food arrived it wasn't very warm, the portions were small and whilst it tasted ok, it was not worth the premium prices charged. Shame really, as the 'pub' (its more an eatery than a pub) is in a great spot and everyone is very welcoming. Oh and the beer and cider choices are excellent.
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Came across this pub with a girlfriend. This rapidly became my favourite pub. The beer is well kept the bar staff are really friendly and the food is excellent. The ambiance is perfect. A Monday night with all of the above and Ella Fitzgerald tracks playing quitely in the background is my idea of heaven.
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We ventured here whilst staying at Blackberry Wood. It was a lovely sunny day and the patio beer garden out the back was the perfect place to enjoy a few cheeky pints. We stayed here all afternoon, had food which was very tasty, and were given a free lift back to the campsite by the lady who run's it! Will definately return next time we're back in the area.
Highly recommended
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We visited the Half Moon twice on a camping weekend at Blackberry Wood. First time was for lunch and the second day we ended up spending the whole afternoon there after a walk in the South Downs. We sat by the fire and at the bar chatting with Karen and her team who are passionate about their business, extremely friendly and made us feel very welcome. Food, beer, atmosphere and the service were all great and we thoroughly recommend the Half Moon. We were even given some of their firewood for our camp fire when we realised we had been there too long to pick any up, now that's a proper inn! We'll be back for the 'glamping' when you open it.
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Great pub. Sat by the fire and drank Fortyniner and American Pale Ale from proper beer mugs. Brilliant. Great food, friendly and knowledgable staff. Can't wait to go back!
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Had an absoluetly lovely time here on Saturday. We were camping at the nearby Blackberry woods (fab site by the way!). It was tipping it down and we had a very soggy walk to this pub. But as soon as we got there we felt right at home. There was a table next to the fire to dry our clothes at, beer tasting so we could decide which to drink (in a dimple mug), and tasty lamb lamb for dinner. Very tasty and all good fun. To top it all off we were given a lift back to the campsite so we didn't have to walk home in the dark and rain! What service. Will definately return here!
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Super pub serving Ringwood Fortyniner. Great food (perhaps a little pricey?) and a great atmosphere. The staff were very good and they seem to be working hard on developing the pub with character. Will return.
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Turned up here with a group of 40 walkers off the Downs. Speedy service and we were made to feel very welcome. Cosy interior with a fire too - will definitely be back when next in the area.
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Walking on the Downs? You just have to come down to Plumpton and visit. On our visit (New Year's Day) the atmosphere was friendly, service exceptional, good choice of Beers (Harvey's Best in good condition) and a great kitchen. Late on the day they were suffering with some food running short, but the chef got creative and we had a gorgeous feast in front of as real roaring log fire. So good we stayed the afternoon rather than continuing the walk!
This pub changed hands around the start of December, now run by two lovely ladies with great ideas for bringing the reputation back up to where it should be. It's a real walkers pub again, but good for a casual pint or lunch.
Did I mention a full round of Stilton and crackers on the bar? Dangerous!!
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I had walked over Ditchling Beacon with a mate before getting here, only just made it before afternoon closing, the staff kindly let us stay for a couple of pints in the garden, which was a freindly and much appreciated gesture. Our visit was short though, so cannot comment on food, ambience etc - can only say excellent bartender and a very good pint of Harveys Sussex.
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well a jolly fine pub with the beer well presented and kept and the menu not bad by half. The only negative comment was the muzak in the eatery. The musicians and circulating totty made for a good evening. like this one, will go back.
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My first visit to this pub. Yes it is more poncey gastro pub than proper pub and it has absolutely no atmosphere at all, which is a shame because the staff were friendly and efficient, the food was very good and the beer wasn't bad either. The blues music playing discreetly in the background was nice too.
There is a restaurant bit and a more pub like bit with the bar between the two. We would have liked to have sat in the pub area, which was a bit more cozy, but that was also where the squawking kid was so we got well away from that. Later, some more rather pompous parents arrived with a shouting child and a baby, so we paid up and got out.
There is also a large garden with climbing frames and stuff, so they obviously want the family trade. There are interesting old David Brown and Fordson tractors for the kids to play on too, I wonder what health and safety zealots would make of that.
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Attempted lunch booking foiled by email bouncing back from bookings address. When brought to attention of pub in phone call, attitude was "Oh, really ...?" Enought said. Won't bother trying to book again.
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This pub is a gentle change from the other pubs in the area. Very pleasant staff training other young staff (so best to show patience). Live jazz some evenings and two fireplaces...
No pretensions or pomposity(Griffin and Sportsman spring to mind)..Great after a walk, or just to actualy be able to hold a quiet conversation.
Good music playing, and I will go out of my way to return...
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On the main road, it looks a bit univiting from the outside, but has a smartish eating bit and nice seating area outside at the back. Also a locals bar with pub games. Beer is a range of Harveys, with maybe Dark Star. Staff were friendly and cheerful when we called, though no food Sunday evening so didn�t check menu.
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Used to go to the Half Moon quite a bit- could always guarantee good food. Went recently and had a below average meal, very little choice, VERY expensive. Paid �6.75 for one sandwich and about 15 chips! Very disappointed, will not be coming back.
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Despite poncey Gastro-ish decor, this pub delivers the goods on beer and food. The Dark Star Hophead was a delight. Harveys also available.
The ploughman's (�7.95) is a very classy affair -beautifully presented with three types of cheese, pickled cucumber, pickled olives, delicious tomato relish, salad with mint dressing and two thick slices of fresh bread. Delicious!
Sunday roast (�9.95) is also a substantial affair, piled high with big Yorkshire pudding.
Although the place wasn't exactly heaving, the kitchen was struggling when we visited at 1pm on a Sunday, with no new orders being taken until 2.30pm.
Strongly disliked loud 'new age' music being played in bar, but gardens were pleasant.
Great South Downs ridge walks on the doorstep.
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Nice new decor. Food excellent quality and fair value. Good service. Camping on the back lawn. Result!
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We decided to venture out of Buggers hole and this was my first choice. Driven past it loads of time and knew it had been done up recently.
Lovely pub, Serves Harveys which is always a bonus. They had ran out of Best though. Menu appeared a tad expensive but was worth every penny. I had pork belly, hubby had chicken chirizo dish. Both great and as for the chocolate brownie, we'll defo be back for that again.
Has great specials and the lunchtime ramblers menu was cheap and had a good selection.
Also has a a great campsite so if you walking the downs and need somewhere to stay, it only �3 per person per night. Harvey and camping, nothing better.
This is definatly worth a visit!!
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I used to look forward to calling in here halfway through a hike along the South Downs. I called in last week with some friends and hadn't realised it had bene taken over and 'gasto-pubbed'. The service behibd the bar was poor (grumpy) and the food (they offer ploughmans - perhaps because of the previous reviewer's comments!) was nowhere near as good as the good quality hearty fayre served previously. They serve Harveys, which given this can be obtaned everywhere in these parts is a bit of a shame.
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2008 - under new management. They're trying to up the image (not hard when you remember how the last lot had run it down!) so early days yet...
Food is good but too expensive - there is very little affordable food for walkers at lunchtime and, unless this changes, it could be their undoing.
Suggestion: Offer food more suitable for walkers at lunchtime (sarnies, ploughmans etc) and cheaper options in the evenings for those who don't want to spend �50 for a meal for two with drinks!
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As an ex-college student (Plumpton Agric...) I was very happy with the quality, atmosphere & service within The Half Moon. Now as a fairly regular visitor I am still happy and can honestly say it's a worth while visit. Ample parking is at the rear of the property and access is via a lit path on the side of the building to the front. The resturant section serves some wonderful dishes and with prompt, polite service. Its a great place indeed. Well worth a visit whatever the weather.
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Nice enough pub, but cant believe it doesn't open all day on Plumpton race days.
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Friendly staff. Interesting history (see painting of 1970's locals for one or two celebs!) but traditional layout was butchered towards the end of the last century.
Good points: food, drink, location (near South Downs Way although climb back up is v.steep)
Bad Points: dead in winter, local students (agricultural college is 'next door'), lack of atmosphere.
Want to change it? It's for sale apparently!
anonymous - 17 Oct 2006 06:58 |
Spacious inside, with a mixed food and drinking traditional atmosphere. The food is good steady fare with some massive chocolate desserts. The beer is well kept and very drinkable. The service is friendly although occasionally slow as it can be a busy popular pub. There is a pool table at ones end of the bar.
The outside has a huge garden (field) at the rear with
great views of the downs. Lots of swings and bits and pieces for children to amuse themselves with.
Nice attitude, pleasant environment.
sbart - 10 Oct 2006 08:55 |
