Shepherd & Dog, Henfield

A narrow, rambling pub in an attractive village at the foot of the South Downs. Constructed from three cottages, the pub seems to have three “cells”,the bar being in the first two, the third and much of the second being laid up for dining.Low ceilings, inglenook and open fire:old timbers. The Shepherd seems to attract a number of food related rants on this and other sites: on our visit on a wintry January Saturday lunchtime the service was exemplary, and the food well presented and not excessively dear,given its proximity to the fleshpots of Brighton and being in a National Park. On arrival,I was thrilled to see Plateau from Burning Sky, a newish brewery I’d been waiting to try. This was in tiptop condition,as was the price,£4 per pint. Also on the bar were three beers from the Downlands Brewery-I think the pub acts as brewery tap. These-Pale and Devils Dyke Porter were more competitively priced, but, after the Plateau, somewhat mundane. I did not try the Best, nor the northern guest.For the more fashion conscious drinker, a number of fizzy offerings from the likes of Meantime were available. Being close to a substantial tract of National Trust downland, this pub is popular with walkers and their dogs:across the carpark and over the chalk stream is an attractive looking garden-some hardy souls were braving the cold when we left for our bracing walk. Conditions may well be different in fine weather,but we found this to be a fine establishment.

We tend to go to the Shepherd & Dog in Summer to enjoy the long evenings at the top of their beautiful garden, we bask in the evening sun and contemplate the gorgeous southdowns, I know of no pub in Sussex with a more delightful setting. Our idea is to go there and have dinner which unfortunately presents problems. My wife and I ate there on a Wednesday evening with no trouble; we had the table of our choice and the meal was brought out to us. On the following Friday we returned with our daughter and I ordered drinks and 3 meals at the bar, and told the barman where we were seated, immediately a lady who was in charge started talking about health and safety regulations and not being able to serve in the garden, and asked if we wouldn't like to sit on the terrace near to the pub outside. I declined that idea and said I would come down with my daughter and collect the meals when they were ready, in the event the barman kindly served us outside and explained there were only two of them working which sounded much more plausible than health and safety regulations. My daughter's partner phoned to say he would be joining us so we returned to the bar with our dirty plates and glasses and my daughter tried to order another meal but was told by the lady in charge that we couldn't have it up in the garden, she was quite obdurate about it, even though we offered to come down and collect it. My daughter quite rightly cancelled the order and her partner when he arrived had to content himself with a sandwich we had left over from a lunchtime picnic. We don't go to the Shepherd and dog to sit in the shade and contemplate a view of their carpark . So I would advise customers on busy Summer evenings, if they want to enjoy the garden to bring their own sandwiches.

Official site of the Shepherd & Dog includes menus - www.shepherdanddogpub.co.uk

Official site of the Shepherd & Dog includes menus - www.shepherdanddogpub.co.uk