Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Sussex Arms, Twickenham
Twickenham
TW2 5BG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Sussex Arms
Update - June 2012
This pub continues to go from strength to strength. A very enjoyable pint of Grey Ghost IPA from Derbyshire's Raw Brewery was enjoyed early last Saturday evening. All beers are priced at £ 3.20p which, with a loyalty card that gives you a tenth pint free, works out at just under £ 2.90p per pint. For a beer with an ABV of 5.9% that's pretty good value in my book, especially when you compare it with the prices charged by a certain well known brewery just over the river in Chiswick. It would appear that my initial doubts that this pub would be able to maintain such an extensive range are unfounded. Do look this pub out if you haven't already been
Original review from August 2011 - A full page advertisement in the latest issue of London Drinker referring to “18 hand pulls of rotating real ales and ciders” encouraged me to seek out the newly re-opened Sussex Arms in Twickenham earlier this week. It re-opened on 28 July 2011
The pub is situated away from Twickenham Town Centre just past The Green and, conveniently, local buses H 22 and 490 from Richmond stop, literally, right outside the door.
Notably, despite living only a few miles away, this is a pub that I had never previously visited, due to a reputation that might diplomatically be described as “not good”.
As we approach the pub, we see a round barrel pub sign welcoming us to The Sussex Arms Ale and Cider House.
Central doors lead into an attractive interior with a number of restored traditional features such as wood panelling, two fireplaces ( one with built in seating), a wooden bar counter with glasses gantry and Victorian lamps, and some coloured patterned leaded windows. The central bar area is narrowish, but the interior opens out at each end with a mixture of comfortable upholstered seating round the perimeter and circular traditional three legged tables and padded stools.
The area on the left leads through to a back room with rather clinical looking glazed wall tiles. This room leads out to the surprisingly large garden at the back which comprises a concrete terraced area and a grass lawn. This lawn appears to be very much still a work in progress and a notice tells us to “please bare(?!) with us while we work on Twickenham’s only petanque pitch".
There’s a few modern touches such as the part light pine wooden flooring and small candles on each table, but the overall feel is of a sympathetic refurbishment tastefully done. “It’s got that proper pub feel”, a chap in the garden commented to me.
There’s no TV’s or fruit machines. An old style vinyl record player was playing The Beatles, Beach Boys etc on my two visits. A basic food menu is offered. Prices are on the high side, but portions appear generous.
The real attraction here, if you haven’t already twigged, is the 18 handpumps offering a splendid range of real ales and ciders. On both my visits last week, approx 14-15 of these were in use with 6 offering ciders ( mainly Millwhites ) and the rest being real ales, mainly from micros with an emphasis on local brews. On my two visits, beers on included W J King Red River, Purity Mad Goose, Dark Star Saison and Hophead, Twickenham Naked Ladies, Woodforde Wherry, Ringwood Best, Triple fff Pressed Rat and Warthog and Windsor and Eton Conqueror Black IPA. Two blackboards either side of the main doors list the beers on with brief tasting notes. Most notably, all real ales were priced at £ 3.00p per pint which, by South East price standards, represents excellent value, particularly for the higher gravity beers. All beers tasted were in excellent condition and temperature. The youngish bar staff appear keen and enthusiastic and tasters are offered.
Often, in the first week of a newly reopened pub like this, there’s several niggles / teething problems to report ( eg – not enough staff, short measures, untrained staff, the odd rogue pint), but I’ve nothing adverse to report in respect of either visit, I’m pleased to say.
It’s still early days and I do wonder if they will be able to keep such an extensive range of ales and ciders going once the initial honeymoon period is over. Having said that, it’s got off to a really flying start as far as I’m concerned. I sense it’s destined to become one of the areas top real ale pubs and I envisage many more visits to come in the months ahead. This is definitely one to watch.
On 25th June 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Sussex Arms
Excellent real ale pub in close proximity to both Twickenham Rugby stadium and the Stoop. 18 ales and ciders on the bar and having sampled 4, I can only assume that they are all of the same high standard. 1000's of beer clips on the walls show that the pub is not frightened to experiment with new brews. Didn't eat here but the food coming out looked great. The pub also has a drink 9, get a tenth free!! Now there is a challenge. Oh, if you need a job, they are desperate for experienced staff with a smile.
On 23rd April 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Sussex Arms
It was definitely worth the 10 minute walk from the train station to visit this little gem of a pub. Despite the refurbishment it remains a real pub, with all the very basic qualities one expects from a basic pub. It doesn’t seem to have fallen into the trap of adding the modern unnecessary embellishments so many places feel the need to introduce. And I suppose that 17 or 18 ales and ciders on helps somewhat! I didn’t count the pumps, but they took up half the bar counter. The quality of the couple of pints I sunk yesterday afternoon was excellent. I just hope that they get the custom to sustain such an ambitious array of drinks. I sincerely hope so. This one is definitely worth seeking out.
On 11th August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Giles Ward left this review about The Sussex Arms
Brilliant pub, very friendly staff, have been a few times now. I Agree with reviews of JB, MM and BL. Just to clarify comment made by MM "A couple were clipped with a note that read "a bit mature but with a lot of life in me" and reduced to £2" Go for it! My self and my mate tried a couple of these and they were great. 2 pints and change from a fiver! They've been buying more garden furniture it's getting there and looking good. I have tasted a different pint each time I've been there and all the ales have been top quality. I've even converted the wife. Not tried the food yet. If they get the food right this will be a winner.
On 9th August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Braks Lover left this review about The Sussex Arms
Just a couple of points to add to the thorough and positive reviews of JB & MM. Firstly, the pub is happy to offer tasters which, given the array of many unfamiliar brews, is most welcome. Secondly, driving there is not recommended since, apart from the obvious “drink & drive” temptation, parking in the area can be quite difficult. Use the frequent local buses from the centre of Twickenham or enjoy the 10 minute walk instead.
Certainly if the pub keeps up the standards of last night’s visit you can expect it to be winning awards in the not too distant future. Excellent!
On 9th August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 9 recommendations about 8 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Sussex Arms
Just the seventeen pumps in use yesterday afternoon, with one conditioning. Again half a dozen were ciders with one fruit flavoured example seeming to be a popular choice. I don't intend listing all the beers as there are too many and they change over in any case, but I sampled two, Hexhamshire Devil's Elbow and Franklin's Brewery Dry Hop, both were first rate. A couple were clipped with a note that read "a bit mature but with a lot of life in me" and reduced to £2. I wasn't sure about this policy, ok if the beer is just past its best but drinkable but it would be an interesting debate say you bought one and found it undrinkable and tried to return it? Maybe I'm being cynical. I did chat to the friendly barmaid briefly, she reckons that so far the throughpull is keeping pace with the selection. Good luck to them anyway.
The beer range is listed on a couple of chalkboards on the front wall, either side of the central door.
John has covered the pub description pretty much comprehensively, the interior is comfortable and relaxing with decent background music, The Beatles followed by Otis Redding yesterday, the rear garden and patio are well appointed and catch the sun.
The food menu includes home made pies, sausages and cheese plates.
This is certainly a destination pub, and one I hope to return to more than once.
On 6th August 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Sussex Arms
Due to reopen summer 2011 after refurbishment.
On 29th June 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Sussex Arms
The Sussex Arms is a decent looking oldish pub that is just off twickenham green.
This pub was quite smart inside and there were two real ales on the bar i had a drink of London Pride and this was a decent drink the other beer was Tetley bitter.
Pub visited 13/12/2003
On 13th December 2003
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]