Frogshole Farm, Crawley

A fine-looking old farmhouse building, albeit much hacked about and extended to create the present-day Ember Inns pub / restaurant. All parts furnished and decorated in a rather anonymous semi-traditional style, but I don't suppose most people notice? Also has a reasonable number of wooden benches at the front and a rear beer garden with some beach-hut type structures. Just Doom Bar and Bass (£3.50) on two of the five handpumps, with London Pride, Landlord and Harvey's variously 'Coming soon' or 'Settling in the cellar'.

Official site of Frogshole Farm - www.emberinns.co.uk

Official site of Frogshole Farm - www.emberinns.co.uk

Accessed from Maidenbower Drive and set a long way back from this road by reams of parking is Frogshole Farm. During a recent Friday evening visit most of the parking was full due to this popular pub being very busy with diners and drinkers alike. Outside seating is found behind a waist high picket fence to the front and right hand side of the pub. In the far right corner is a large tree lined field were a few picnic tables can be found. The interior of the pub consists of a seating area with inglenook and faux fireplace to the left of the entrance and a small adult only area in the front right corner. Here a small television was showing the conclusion of the 3rd/4th place Rugby World Cup playoff game via ITV; I didn’t see any Sky Sports advertisements. The long bar faces seating along the right hand wall and at the rear is a raised area with yet more seating. I didn’t spot any menus but I did note that the bar was well stocked with standard draught products, San Miguel, Coors Light and Stella Cidre. Three hand pumps are found on the bar opposite the front entrance. Two of these were drawing Fullers London Pride and the Brakspear Bitter on the third was off. Seven more hand pumps are located in the centre of the bar. These were drawing another Pride, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Harveys Best, Caledonian Autumn Red, Exmoor Silver Stallion, Wychwood’s Hobgoblin and Westons Mulled Cider. I thought that this place felt more like a pub than dining establishment and I found the customers and staff to be equally friendly and polite. I would have no problem returning here if in the area again.