Independent Pubs in Sussex: Free Houses Worth the Trip

A flint and brick inn at the foot of Levin Down, about a mile from Goodwood Racecourse. For years it was simply the Fox; the pub's own history says that on 6 June 1985 it was taken over from Phoenix Breweries by Gil Batley and became a free house, which is where the 'Goes Free' comes from. CAMRA tells the same story.

Historic England lists the building at Grade II and dates it mainly to the 17th century, possibly with 16th-century origins. The listing points out its old bakehouse with a brick bread oven and records that England's first Women's Institute meeting was held in the back room on 9 November 1915. The pub adds that the 1975 Doctor Who story Terror of the Zygons was filmed in the original saloon bar.

Its ales come from Arundel Brewery, including a Fox Goes Free Best Bitter brewed only for the pub, plus changing guests. The garden looks across to Levin Down and has a heated seating area. Upstairs are two twin and three double bed-and-breakfast rooms; in spring they start at £129 a night from Monday to Thursday, and prices go up for Goodwood race days, the Festival of Speed and the Revival.

A small, out-of-the-way country pub close to the South Downs Way, popular with walkers and riders. Its website calls it 'a freehouse in a 16th-century cottage', and CAMRA lists it as independently run by an individual owner. Dave and Sarah have run it since 1990.

There are three regular real ales and a guest, mostly from local breweries; CAMRA names Arundel Castle and Langham Hip Hop as regulars. The menu is plain pub food, such as homemade venison or chicken, bacon and leek pie at £15.95, and roast lamb on Sundays. There is a large garden for summer and two log fires in winter.

Go at lunchtime. Its winter hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 3pm, with food from 12 to 2pm, and it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The pub says hours are cut back because of staff shortages, and it posts any evening or bank-holiday opening on its Facebook page.

A stone pub set against a hillside off the A286, about two miles north of Midhurst. Its website names Simon Goodman as head chef and owner; it does not use the words 'free house', so this is the one pub in the guide included on ownership alone. He says he cooks with meat from nearby organic farms, fish from the south coast and vegetables from the pub's own patch.

Historic England lists the building at Grade II and dates it to the 18th century. CAMRA gives the interior two stars on its national list of historic pub interiors: the two front rooms have red quarry-tiled floors, boarded walls and bench seating, and beer is drawn straight from casks behind the counter. Regular ales are Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter and Langham Hip Hop.

Outside, CAMRA describes more than three acres of terraced gardens with long views and a pond holding trout. Lunch is served every day and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.

A tile-hung inn facing the church in a hilltop village on the Sussex Weald, within easy reach of East Grinstead and Haywards Heath. Its website calls it 'a 16th century free house', and CAMRA lists it as independently run with an individual owner. Historic England lists it at Grade II and dates the timber frame to the early 16th century.

Being a free house, it says, it concentrates on local beer such as Harvey's of Lewes and smaller breweries; CAMRA also lists Hairy Dog and Long Man among the changing ales. Food is cooked to order, and fruit and vegetables come from a market garden 1.4 miles away. Inside are oak beams and two inglenook fireplaces, and there is a terrace for summer.

There are four en-suite rooms at £175 to £205 a night with breakfast, dropping to £145 to £185 from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. Dogs are welcome in the pub area but not the dining room, and can stay in the rooms for £10 a night. Children over seven are welcome. It is closed on Mondays; on Tuesdays a pizza van parks outside from 5 to 8pm.

A stone country pub on the edge of Ashdown Forest, near Sheffield Park and the Bluebell Railway. Its website calls it 'a family run, traditional, unspoilt free house', and CAMRA lists it as independently run with an individual owner. Historic England lists it at Grade II and dates it to the early 19th century, and CAMRA gives the interior one star on its national list of historic pub interiors, with two bare-boarded bars and a dining room in the old stables.

As a free house it buys from Sussex breweries such as Harvey's, Long Man and Larkins, and keeps farmhouse cider from the Black Pig Orchard in Danehill and sparkling wine from the Bluebell vineyard nearby. Menus change often, with a daily specials board, and CAMRA notes takeaways from Wednesday to Saturday.

The front garden has a children's play area and views of the Downs, and the back terrace is shaded by a big maple. Dogs are welcome in the bars and the bar areas of the restaurant, but not in the main restaurant. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and CAMRA lists a quiz on Thursdays at 8pm.

An old inn beside All Saints church in Old Heathfield. 'Free House' is written under its name on its website. The pub says it was built in 1348 for the masons working on the church; Historic England, which lists it at Grade II, describes a timber-framed wing of the 17th century or earlier with an 18th-century wing added to the north. CAMRA gives the interior two stars on its national list of historic pub interiors.

Inside are a saloon bar, a tap room and a snug, with inglenook fireplaces. Upstairs is a restaurant under a curved 'barrel' ceiling, with seven tables for about 45 people. CAMRA lists Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter as the regular ale, with two changing beers.

The garden seats up to 80 at hand-built picnic tables, looks over rolling countryside and is lit up at dusk; the pub suggests booking a table there in good weather. It says children and pets are welcome under supervision. The pub is open every day, but the kitchen is closed on Sunday evenings.

A country pub above the Cuckmere Valley between Alfriston and Wilmington, inside the South Downs National Park and popular with walkers. CAMRA lists it as independently run with an individual freehold owner. The owners also farm next door: the pub says its beef and lamb come from its own 2,000-acre farm of South Downs cross sheep and pedigree Sussex cattle.

CAMRA lists two local ales, with Long Man Best Bitter as the regular, plus a local real cider. The large rear garden looks over the Downs, and there is a separate bar as well as the dining rooms.

It asks you to book if you are eating, but not if you are only having a drink. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in every part of the pub and the gardens, according to its website.

On the market square of Alfriston, in the South Downs National Park. Its website calls it 'a family-run, independent pub', and CAMRA lists it as independently run, naming its owner. The swinging sign also calls it the Market Cross.

Historic England lists it at Grade II and dates it to the 17th century or earlier, and its listing notes that the building is said to have six staircases and was the base of a gang of smugglers in the early 19th century. The main bar has a big inglenook fireplace, oak beams and a brick floor; beyond are small rooms on different levels, a conservatory, a sunny patio and a walled garden. CAMRA lists Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter and Long Man Rising Giant as regular ales, and the old Sussex pub game Toad in the Hole is played.

There are five rooms, each named, including a four-poster room called the Harvey and a twin called the Cosy. Dogs can stay for £10 a night each. Sunday roasts are served until 5.30pm, and the pub strongly advises booking on Sundays.

A village pub on Pett Road in Pett, near Hastings. CAMRA describes it as 'this popular village freehouse', lists it as independently run, and says new owners refurbished it in 2011. Historic England lists the building at Grade II and dates it to the 18th century.

The pub says it always has Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, keeps Ringwood Fortyniner as a regular and brings in guest ales from all over the country; CAMRA usually counts four on. Inside there are several separate seating areas and open fires, and outside there are tables and a pétanque court.

There are four double en-suite rooms, named Ash, Oak, Yew and Elm, booked by phone. Dogs are welcome in the bar and garden, according to CAMRA. In October and November the kitchen is closed on Mondays and serves only a short bar menu on Tuesdays.