The Cross Inn, Robertsbridge

As you might expect, this attractive old pub with front beer garden is situated on the village crossroads (although the branch leading to Robertsbridge is now just a bridleway). Also as traditional as you would like inside the main bar / dining area to the left of the entrance and a smaller and slightly raised room on the right-hand side. Harvey's (as required by the byelaws in these parts) and Hoppers Ale from Rother Valley (£4.50) available from two of the four handpumps.

Official site of The Cross Inn - www.thecrossinn.com

Official site of The Cross Inn - www.thecrossinn.com

The Cross Inn is a popular country pub located in the village of Staplecross in the Sussex Countryside. Outside the front entrance is a small lawn behind a waist high picket fence. Some picnic tables are found here, but there are more in the rear garden that also houses a gazebo which is used for BBQs and live music during special events such as family fun day. At the rear of the garden is a strip of gravel that may be used for boules and to the right is a large empty grass covered area that would be ideal for a bit of kid’s football. To the left of the pub is a car park with limited spaces. Inside the pub the bar counter running along the back wall faces the entrance. To the left is seating and a dartboard. During my recent Saturday afternoon visit there was a dining family sitting at a table that was on the oche. This wouldn’t be the case on Thursday evenings when the pub’s dart and shovepenny team plays in the league. On the supporting pillar in the centre of the bar area is a television that was showing a film. Being on ITV I imagine that it had just been left on after the World Cup rugby had finished. In the right wall of the bar is an inglenook that has been turned into a seating area. To the right of this stairs lead up to a separate dining area that I imagine is available for hire. Available from the bar is a premium keg range alongside Fosters and I counted four hand pumps. One of these was unused which left Harveys Best, Canterbury Ales Brewery’s The Friar and Cellar Head brewery’s Pole Dancer as the cask ale options. I didn’t see a menu for food selection and prices, but I would imagine traditional pub fayre when the kitchen is open between midday and 21:00 (16:00 Sundays). Breakfast is available Wednesday through to Saturday when the pub opens at 08:00. On Tuesdays and Sundays the doors open at midday and during winter this pub is closed on Mondays. This pub lacked the décor, such as rambling hops and copper/brass artefacts, that one would expect to find in a quintessential Sussex pub, but I found the governor to be very friendly and there was a good community atmosphere even though it was not that busy. Worth a look if in the area.