The Coaching Halt, Maidenbower, Crawley

Substantial new-build Marston's pub / restaurant in a business park on the Gatwick side of Three Bridges. Slightly more upmarket semi-modern furniture and decoration than usual in the various seating and dining areas forming an overall L shape. Reversed Pedigree and Razor Back clips on the four handpumps, but the little handwritten Youngs Special (£5.70) chalkboard proved to be up to date.

The Coaching Halt is a fairly new purpose built Marston’s pub within close proximity to the M23 meaning that it is very much food led. The large sprawling interior consists of an L shaped bar and lots of seating areas all geared for dining. In fact it was still busy with diners when I visited at 22:00 on Friday night just gone. I didn’t look at a menu, but the mains on the specials board were priced around the £12 mark. The bar is stocked with standard draught alongside Peroni and Amstel. There are also two banks of four hand pumps that were both drawing Wychwood Brewery’s Hobgoblin and Hobgoblin Gold alongside Marston’s Pedigree and Ringwood’s Best Bitter. There was no background music playing, but there was a small muted TV that I imagine was still on from the World Cup Rugby game that has just finished. In a corner by the toilets is a small toddler play area which is handy for parents who manage to get their kids past the numerous play machines such as toy grab. Outside are a large car park and a small children’s play area along with some seating. This is not a pub I would return to just for a beer.