H.O. Ward, a British pensioner, who visits pubs in the South of England, is our occasional columnist. Read more pub reviews by H.O. Ward.
A Pub With Historic Ambience and a Cozy Inglenook
The Welldigger's Arms is a 300-year-old, West Sussex inn, boasting an inglenook fireplace, suitably blackened, as evidence of its log burning.To get there enter Petworth Town and leave on the A283 Pulborough road. The inn is one mile out of town on the right, situated overlooking the South Downs, in a beautiful rural setting.
There is good parking and a patio with panoramic views over the Sussex country side.
Petworth House, not far away, has one of the best international art collections of any stately home managed by the National Trust. This pub is also a great spot to rest after a bit of a stroll along the South Downs Way.
Essentials
- Address: The Welldigger's Arms
Low Heath, Pulborough Road
Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0HG
England - Telephone: +44 (0)1798 342287
- Open for: Morning coffee and lunches daily. Dinner is served only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, so booking is a good idea.
To Drink
Being a Free House the bar offers a wide range of real ales and lagers, including Young's bitter, Young's special, Stella, Carlsberg, Guinness and Strongbow Cider.There is a substantial wine list with 17 wines including two house wines as well as French, Italian, Spanish, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Chilean wines. There are two Rosés - one a house wine and a choice of 20 reds, 14 of them French. There are also three champagnes and a desert wine. House wines are served by the 175 ml glass or the bottle, the remainder by the full or half bottle.
To Eat
We've heard the French onion soup is locally famous. Other starters include oysters, prawn cocktail, prawns in garlic, smoked salmon, grilled brie, goats cheese, duck pate and fish soup.At lunch there's a variety of freshly cut sandwiches or a Ploughman’s with mature cheddar, Stilton, brie or pate.
Mains include a good selection of fish dishes - Dover sole, pan-fried scallops, whole plaice, smoked haddock, cod fillet, breaded scampi. And there's a choice of eight meaty dishes, ranging from T-bone or Sirloin steak through steak and Stilton pie, cottage pie, braised oxtail and ham and eggs with chips.
The menu also includes salads and a changing selection of daily specials, written on a blackboard over the fireplace.
The Cost
Lunch dishes range from light bites at about £5.50 up to grilled king prawns in garlic for £9.50. At dinner, served only Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, mains range from about £6.50 for cottage pie up to whole grilled Dover sole for about £22.A pint of beer costs from £3.00 for Carlsberg up to £3.20 for Stella. House wines sell for £3.50 to £3.85 a glass. Half bottles of wine, when available cost £8.50 to £14.50 and bottles are £13.50 to £30.00. Champagne is available from £28 to a heart stopping £115.
The Bottom Line
I chose the salmon fish cakes with herbs in a chilli sauce. They were the tastiest I have ever eaten, however the chips were overcooked. One of my companions had The steak and ale pie with red cabbage, carrots, cauliflower and mash. He said there was more steak than ale. I think that was a compliment. The other two had crab salad with vegetables and new potatoes.The staff was friendly and very hardworking. The place was extremely busy and there seemed to be a large number of regulars, which is always a good sign. The bill was £103 including drinks and wine. Good value and I shall go again.
