Ye Olde Smugglers Inne

The place looked lovely, which makes the whole thing a shame. I tried to book a room for myself and a friend, but the website was down for maintenance. Fair enough, so I called. They said they couldn’t take a booking by phone and I’d have to wait a few days for the site to come back. It was still down when I called again, and they again refused to book by phone. When I asked why, they acted as if I’d said something ridiculous. I asked to speak to the manager or landlord, but was told they weren’t available. I left my name and emailed the landlord about the room I wanted, but never got a reply or a call. I don’t usually leave bad reviews, but the service was so abysmal that I felt I had to. I don’t understand why taking a room booking over the phone was treated as impossible. Pubs up and down the country are supposed to be struggling, so you’d think they’d be glad of the business.

We stayed for one night so we could do two walks on the South Downs Way. Wonderful pub, comfy room, great food and beer. Thanks, Lisa and Charlotte.

Our group of 15 walkers arrived for a meal we’d ordered in advance and were served almost straight away, much better than the long waits we’ve had elsewhere. I was a bit disappointed beforehand to see beetroot goulash as the veggie option since I don’t really like beetroot, but it turned out delicious and felt like a healthy pub meal. A bit more pepper next time would be nice, though you can add your own. They also let colleagues switch to a nut roast that wasn’t listed online, and it was better than what we’ve had at many other pubs. Prices were reasonable. A couple of the other dishes, like the scampi and onion bhaji burger, didn’t look too exciting. My only complaint is that the online menu was out of date.

We had a surprise 30th birthday here, and I can’t fault anything. The food was delicious and the staff were lovely, especially Lisa, who was really helpful. I’d definitely recommend it.