Duke & Rye, Chichester

A converted church which, as noted elsewhere, looks more like a coffee bar from the exterior advertising. Two ales on my visit Brains Bitter (cheap for Chichester at £2.85pp) and Hobgoblin with Pedigree clip turned. My Hobgoblin was fine. Very genteel clientele, mainly there for the food (dig the large salad bar at the rear) and the extensive selection of the dailies. The interior retains much of the original architecture and the large church windows provided nice levels of light. For those who dislike twigs in pubs, this place was full of them, mounted high up and illuminated by those blue fairy lights are so in vogue at present. The Grand Prix being shown on a big screen to the rear of the island bar, which few people were watching, rather ruined the atmosphere especially when combined with the background muzak. The toilets, whilst not located in a crypt, certainly smelt like they were. Worth a visit for the novelty value but a lot more could be done here – this should be an essential pub for Chichester.