Old Star, Shoreham-By-Sea

The Old Star is a fairly basic micro, sticking closely to the original template, with 3 ales dispensed directly from jacketed casks behind the bar. There's some ciders, 2 keg beers and a larger selection of wines than is customary. It is a bit of a squeeze inside, with the few tables crammed in, but it all works fine.

The name of this micropub is a nod to the Old Star Inn on this site, which closed in 1940. There is a good sized picture of the Old Star on the far wall. The interior has cream coloured T & G painted walls and a timber floor. The bar area faces you as you enter the pub and the beer is on stillage along the back. A comprehensive beer and cider list is displayed on the right hand side of the bar, along with a display on the front window, which is novel. Four ales on our visit New Bristol Brewery The Joy of Sesh, Goldmark Smash Mosiac, Burning Sky Spring Pale and Hop Back Entire Stout. Four ciders, Thistly Cross Whiskey Cask Cider, Snails Bank Orchard Dry Cider, Sandford Orchards Devon Red Medium Cider and Snails Bank Rhubarb Cider. We really enjoyed our visit here, as the owners and locals were all friendly and welcoming.

Official site of Old Star - www.oldstarshoreham.co.uk

Official site of Old Star - www.oldstarshoreham.co.uk

Tucked away in a side street, just off the main drag, this is a good micropub with a friendly owner. Seating is on stools around tall tables which are scattered around. Although most of us chose to stand at the bar, as there was only one other customer present. Real ales are dispensed by gravity from behind the bar. Two were on during our visit. These were Burning Sky NZPA & New Bristol The Joy of Sesh. Boxed ciders can also be found on the bar - Thistly Cross Whisky Cask, Iford Somerset Sahara, Sandford Orchards Devon Red & Lilley's Cherries & Berries. Thornbridge Jaipur was available on keg, whilst there was also a good selection of bottled beers and ciders available in a fridge next to the bar. This is another Shoreham pub that is missing from the latest Good Beer Guide. But in my view, it's worthy of an entry.

This micropub is on the smaller side with just a couple of robust tables and benches. The floors are wooden and the walls are white painted wooden panelling. There are a few items of railway and other memorabilia dotted around. The beer is currently served from casks with cooling apparatus attached but the owners plan to build a proper cold room. On my visit there were three beers available Brighton Bier India Pale Ale, Goldmark Ebony Mild and Stancill Number 7. I went for the Brighton Bier IPA (£3.50) which was outstanding and the oddly named Stancill Number 7 (£3.30) which was pretty good too. Both were served in lined glasses that they seem to have picked up from old CAMRA beer festivals. They normally serve just beers from local micros so to come across one from up north was unusual. I quite took to this micropub especially with a pint as good as the Brighton Bier one. Current opening times are closed Mon: 12:00-21:00 Tue-Sun.