Piston Broke, Shoreham-By-Sea

I found this much like previous reviewers on the beer front, it flatters to deceive. Only 4/14 available, I had two halves and one if them was poor. Interesting pub though that looks like a restaurant or wine bar from outside. The Hopback Brewery plaque outside is an indication of what's inside but the reality is somewhat different.

The Lazy Toad is a single narrow roomed pub with a bar on the left hand wall at the rear. I counted 14 gravity fed jacketed barrels on racks behind the bar, but only Shepherd Neame’s Bishop’s Finger and Spitfire were available. There are also five draught options and I didn’t notice any food advertisements, but I did visit on a Saturday evening. It was reasonably busy, but not uncomfortably so and I found the service to be very friendly. There was no music and the plasma screen above the entrance was switched off. The gent’s toilet, which consists of a single trap and urinal, is called ‘The Tool Shed’ and is found upstairs. I’m not sure if the beer jackets have solved the warm beer issue as I ended up having half a pint of Becks because I’m not very keen on SN brews. Based on my visit a month ago I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here again.

The numerous toad-related pictures on the walls make for a slightly odd feel, but it's friendly enough all the same. Busy on my visit, but still plenty of room inside. The ale is gravity served from racks behind the bar. It's not often you encounter Itchen Valley beer in West Sussex: there were two available, as well as Spitfire, so I gave it a go. Unfortunately, a warm evening showed up the problem with this method of dispense, as the beer was just a little too warm and not as fresh as I'd have liked. There were plenty of casks not in use, which suggests that the pub may sometimes have rather more variety than on this visit. Probably worth popping into if you're ever in Shoreham - I'd give it another go if I return.

Great pub, great range of beers, spoilt because they are too warm, this could be so good with its large range of gravity beers.