Review on The Coach and Horses
From Danehill, head down School Lane towards Chelwood Common to find The Coach and Horses, a delightful Victorian country pub (circa 1847) with a pretty garden surrounded by unspoilt Sussex countryside - the views of the South Downs are splendid. The Coach & Horses still plays the part of a local watering hole serving its local community, although it has many more attractions besides, including the kitchen's excellent reputation for fine cuisine.
A little public bar with a serving hatch and a roaring fire makes an ideal winter retreat, while the main bar (with a fine old brick floor and Victorian prints on the walls) leads out to a beautifully terraced area under the branches of an ancient maple tree. The separate dining room occupies the old stables, which date back to the time when the place was a traditional refuelling stop; now it's been lovingly converted in Country Living style, with low beams and modern art on the walls, which makes a cosy intimacy that invites lingering.
The kitchen is committed to sound ethics when it comes to sourcing ingredients for their dishes and there is a strong focus on supporting local producers. The result is a regularly changing menu that might kick off with rabbit rillette and confit rabbit leg with smoked bacon creme fraiche and blackberry chutney or crispy fried squid with cucumber and spring onion salad and a rice wine vinaigrette. Main courses embrace pan roasted guinea fowl supreme with char-grilled potato, confit leg croquette, Fletching leeks and squash puree or from the sea there's pan roasted fillet of hake with sea purslane, braised fennel, saffron arancini, tiger prawns and a shellfish sauce. There are tempting desserts to finish, witness dark chocolate brownie with blackcurrant compote and frozen yoghurt and burnt hazelnuts or honey and pecan tart, roasted pears and rosemary caramel mascarpone.
A lighter snack menu is offered at lunchtime, while the keenly priced global wine list includes a dozen selections by the glass - if you're not tempted by the regularly changing real ales such as Harvey's of Sussex, Hammerpot brewery and Dark Star. Also look out for the local farmhouse cider from The Black Pig Orchard in Danehill and the award winning English sparkling wines from the nearby Bluebell vineyard.
The Coach and Horses is also featured in: Michelin Guide, Hardens, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Gastro pub / Modern British
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.00pm (2.30pm Sat, 3.00pm Sun)
Dinner: 6.30 - 9.00pm Mon-Sat (9.30pm Fri & Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express
