The Star Inn, Heathfield

The Star Inn is a country pub in Old Heathfield which is in the middle of nowhere; you’ll certainly not stumble across this pub by chance. There is a car park that was full during a recent Friday afternoon visit, even though the pub only had a handful of customers in. Maybe there were a few hidden away in the restaurant upstairs that was apparently built by masons in 1348 when they were in the village to rebuild the local church that had been damaged by fire. Being tucked away off the main drag food sales are important to this pub. The bacon cheeseburger is priced at £15.50, which is top end for the area. There are two front low beamed bars joined by a central door opening. Both have wooden furniture, inglenook fireplaces and are served by the hop adorned bar counter that runs along the rear wall. Each bar has a bank of three handpumps and during my visit the cask ale options were Harvey’s Best, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and St Austell’s Proper Job. There is also a limited premium keg selection alongside Guinness and an extensive wine list is advertised. To the left of the bar is a snug with seating found under the stairs to the aforementioned restaurant. Out the back is a large grass covered beer garden with old picnic tables. This is a cosy country pub with friendly staff, but the remote location means that I’ll probably never visit here again.

Charming old pub, claiming a date of 1348 not too unreasonably given its proximity to the original church in Old Heathfield (now some distance from the modern town). Two very attractive bars / dining areas, both as traditional as you would expect (with at least one other room, a snug, further back on the left). Harvey's (of course, £4.55), Landlord and Proper Job available from the three handpumps on each counter.

Facebook page of The Star Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Star Inn - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Star Inn - www.starinnoldheathfield.co.uk