Black Horse

I was right on the South Downs Way, which made the location ideal for my one-night stop while walking the trail. The bar had good service, a reasonable beer selection and decent cider. The restaurant was pleasant and the food excellent, though I thought it was a bit overpriced. My room was clean, comfortable and well equipped, with tea and coffee facilities, but no milk. It was directly below the dining area, and the noise of people moving around overhead went on until about 11 pm, so getting an early night was hard. I stopped for breakfast the next morning and just had coffee and a bacon sandwich. The sandwich was poorly made and disappointing.

The roast beef was the star: cooked just right, pink inside with a slight smoky BBQ flavour. The vegetables were plentiful and delicious, and the beetroot was a lovely addition that cut through the dish nicely. We finished with coffee in the stunning outdoor area. This was my first visit to The Black Horse since the refurbishment and management change. I used to like it before and wondered if the atmosphere, service and food would be as good. We weren't disappointed. The decor is tasteful and cosy, the food generous and delicious, and the staff were warm, welcoming and incredibly efficient. A really enjoyable afternoon. We'll definitely return and recommend it.

The squid starter was pleasant enough, but lacked a little flavour. Everything else worked very well: the skate wing, local lamb and beef Rossini mains were very good, and the small shared desserts, Jersey ice cream and deconstructed trifle, were tasty. The Nutbourne ‘Nutty’ bottle was delicious too. We booked a late Tuesday lunch just after the bank holiday. Since it was our first visit, the service was especially attentive and helpful. The dining room and garden are lovely, and we'll be back.

We sat in the garden on a sunny day a few weeks ago, and it was a real sun trap. I have a wheat allergy, so I checked with our waiter, Ollie, who confirmed that nothing on the BBQ menu contained gluten and that it was safe for me. He was brilliant and made sure we felt looked after. The food was excellent, and we'll return. They have other pubs in London too, which we'll try.