The Plough & Attic Rooms, Horsham

A long sign on the front of the Plough & Attic Rooms gives some history of the area and the 16th century building in which this pub now resides. Apparently going back to medieval times the building was part of a priory and during works in 1840 the bodies of four nuns and a medieval prioress were discovered. They were later reinterred at St Mary Magdelene Church over the road. The Plough existed as an inn by 1892 and the pub as it is known now came into existence after a refurbishments in 2007. The entrance faces some sofas and a table that sit by and inglenook with a large hooded fireplace to the right, and the toilets are located behind the inglenook in the right-hand side of the building. While I was using the toilet I heard some very loud banging which I thought was from upstairs, but walking back to the bar I realized this was one of the bar staff loading up the fireplace with logs. The serving counter runs across the rear wall to the left of the entrance before some steps that ascend to a dining area that runs up the left where the ceiling is a bit higher, so I could stand up straight here. Behind the counter is a flight of stairs that climb to the Priory, Nunnery and Attic Room. I didn’t venture up, but I believe these are rooms with names that reflect the history of the building, rather than the 90s pop dance music in the background that didn’t. There’s a large beer garden out the back with a patio that leads to a grass covered area with picnic tables. There are four hand pumps on the counter, three of which were in use drawing Surrey Hills Brewery’s Ranmore, Hogs Back Brewery’s TEA and Harvey’s Kiss during a recent early Sunday afternoon visit. Premium keg was also available, but I decided to have a pint of Ranmore that went down a treat. There was a strong smell of curry from the British and Asian food menu, the large group sitting next to us were eating either roast dinner or curry. I’m sure the food is great, but I understand why the Star Inn up the road was much busier in this very English village. The pint was good and the service was friendly so I’d pop back in if passing, which isn’t very likely because Rusper is pretty remote.

Official site of The Plough & Attic Rooms - www.theploughandatticroomsrusper.co.uk

Official site of The Plough & Attic Rooms - www.theploughandatticroomsrusper.co.uk