The Olive Branch, Horsham

Official site of The Olive Branch - olivebranchpub.co.uk

Official site of The Olive Branch - olivebranchpub.co.uk

The Olive branch is located at the end of West Street at the edge of the town centre. Café seating runs around the exterior of the pub and a rear beer garden full of picnic tables is fenced off from a car park. At the entrance there is the option to turn left into the bar or right into the coffee, deli and dining area. The latter had been hired out for a birthday party when I visit on a recent Saturday afternoon so alas I had to sit in the small L shaped bar. In the right hand wall is a large inglenook complete with log fire that I thought was emitting a smell of bacon, but I ended up deducing that the aroma was in fact coming from the kitchen. The said kitchen opens at 10:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 on other days to serve the Horsham breakfast crew. There is a ‘Mini Menu’ and ‘Main menu’, the former of which offers smaller portioned two course meals for just under a tenner. This is a Hall & Woodhouse pub so the two banks of three hand pumps supported by the bar were drawing First Call, King and Barnes’ Sussex and Leaping Legend. A premium range of keg was also available from the polite barman who had a large spirit range at his disposal. I didn’t spot any advertised live sport, in fact I didn’t actually see a television. However, there was some background music playing and I was reliably informed that every Friday is ‘Funky Friday’ in the bar and there is live music every Saturday evening. As high street pubs go this place is pretty good and I would have no problem returning.