Selden Arms, Worthing

A right proper boozer this one, It had a bit of a timeslip feel and appeared to be set somewhere in the 1970's but the beer choice was bang up to date with offerings from Burning Sky, Vibrant Forest,Pamona Island and Salopian along with a nod to tradition with some Harveys and Palmers. Definitely a locals pub but very welcoming all the same. Top Notch.

A mainstay of Worthing’s beer scene for many years now, the Selden Arms is a classic free house on the fringes of the town centre, next to Worthing Hospital. It’s a simple, single room bar with a lopsided U-shaped layout which, judging by the two front doors, was previously a two bar set-up. The left hand side of the pub has padded banquettes and standard chairs under a high shelf crammed with old beer bottles. To the rear is a darts area with a couple of high tables and stools to one side and the board to the other. The pub seems to specialise in Belgian beer, so it’s no great surprise to find large collection of old Belgian beer bottles and crates dotted around the place as well as some canvases covered with beer bottle labels and framed collections of bottle caps lining the walls. There are also a few Belgian art prints on show, which give the place a nice retro, continental feel. The tongue and groove servery runs opposite the mid part of the front wall, where there is enough room to squeeze in a couple of small tables and stools before you reach the right hand side of the pub, which looked like a cosier spot, although it had been completely taken over by a bunch of folk musicians, making it tricky to have a proper look around. One feature that I couldn’t fail to notice though was the impressive collection of pump clips that covered the ceiling throughout the whole pub. This was proof, should it be needed, of the pub’s commitment to real ale and the six hand pumps were offering a choice of Palmers 200, Great Heck Treasure IPA, Fallen Acorn IPA, Dorking Pilcrow Pale, Kissingate Powder Blue and Vibrant Forest Summerlands. The landlord seemed like a very friendly chap and he served me a very nice pint of the Treasure IPA which was a nice way to round out a great crawl around Worthing. There was a menu on my table running to countless pages, which listed all of the bottled Belgian beers available along with some helpful bits explaining the various styles and techniques common in Belgian brewing. There was a good crowd in and a lively atmosphere resulted, even though the musicians had hung up their instruments by the time I arrived. This is a quality pub that will appeal to anyone looking for some interesting, well kept ales. The pub is very much in the traditional mould, offering a nice counterpoint to the town’s burgeoning micropub scene. I’m not sure why it took me so long to check this place out, as it is clearly up there with the best Worthing has to offer.

This is a proper decent pub, a sort of J-shaped carpeted room with regular style seating at mismatched chairs, a busy dartboard to the longer rear side, loads of stuff on the walls and shelves, photos, Bell's whisky "bells", gargoyle figures, cartwheel over the fireplace, the ceiling and upper walls are literally covered in beermats from those passing through. On the pumps were Flack Manor Black Jack and also Flack Catcher, Great Heck Chopper, Vibrant Forest Citra, Franklin's Resurrection, Fallen Acorn IPA Expedition, and South Down's Apple Cider. Friday night is curry night. Otherwise through the week there are hot proper pies at £4 and £6.50 with a pint. The prelims for the FA Cup final were on, but not noisily, I liked this pub, recommended to me during my excursion, certainly remains on the revisit list.

Arundel Castle, Darkstar Hophead & Golden Gate, Ringwood Fortyniner, Hampshire Lionheart, Gadds Dogbolter (later Ringwood Porter). Small horseshoe bar faces entrance, carpetted surround, wood tables, cushioned stools chairs & barstools. Plasma to left of bar showing racing ystdy, with commentary, but unintrusive. Dartboard far end of left ‘spur', real fire to rt not lit, but must provide a warm welcome when required. Pub has a real local chatty feel, with punters evidently knowing each other & sharing a laugh with the guv behind bar. Various old photos to front of pub, the rear rt could do with a freshen up, some decorative hops looking a bit sorry for themselves. Two beers went during our brief visit but both were immediately changed, maintining six on offer. The only negative was an odd odour which one of the group described as 'wet-dog'; well, my dogs don't smell like that!

A basic U-shaped boozer located opposite the gasometer. A bit worn round the edges and could do with a spruce-up here and there. Polished brass bar top with tongue-and-groove front fittings caught the eye, as did a number of black and white pictures of old Worthing and a dart board. Sports TV on quietly. Decent atmosphere inside. Four ales on, Kent Gold (a little lackadaisical), Oakleaf Whole Hearted, Palmers 200 and Downlands Pele (warm and flatlining). For a GBG pub on a (admittedly hot) Saturday afternoon I was pretty disappointed that I should have had one of the Meantime kegs for coolness. Perhaps I was unlucky?

The Selden Arms is a small U shaped boozer with an interesting premium draught range and I counted six hand pumps, four of which were drawing obscure (to me) ales. A television screen was showing muted horse racing and there is a dartboard around to the left of the bar. The seven or so regulars who were in attendance last Saturday afternoon were very friendly and the conversation created a good atmosphere. This is certainly one of the better pubs I have been into in this area and I would have no hesitation in returning for a few beers.