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Detail Pages
The Cat Inn, East Grinstead
West Hoathly
Postal town: East Grinstead
RH19 4PP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Cat Inn
Visited 27/04/2024
Hadn’t been to this village pub for probably around 8 years. It was then, and definitely is now, a food led pub. Menus is extensive and we really enjoyed our Saturday lunchtime meal. Only gripe was that service was more leisurely than we would have liked given other things to do on the afternoon. Fortunately those other things were materially indoors as the rain was relentless!
No surprise but the regular cask ale was Harvey’s Sussex Best. Two other guests rotate and during our visit, Firebird Parody a session IPA at 4.5% and Long Man Copper Hop an amber ale at 4.2% were the ones on. I had a pint of the Parody with lunch. Amongst the more oft seen keg beers were the Bohemia Pilsner from Firebird and the Wharf IPA from Harvey’s. The cider was from Wobblegate.
There is a bar area just inside the entrance to the bar and restaurant area and it was doing a roaring trade at 1.30pm arrival. I posted a picture of the outside but one thing that I noticed missing from visits of yesteryear was the pub sign (a black cat) and the pub name. Definitely a decent dining pub but not enough for me to make this a regularly visited venue just to drink.
On 28th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 177 recommendations about 177 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Cat Inn
A whitewashed brick and tilehung freehouse opposite the village church. Some rustic benches in the suntrap by the door, coupled with a sheltered beer garden out back. Inside, a saloon bar, with a warren of little rooms, laid up for dining, together with a couple of airy, newly built dining rooms to the rear.In the saloon, an open fire with ornate impedimenta, opposite the curved bar.
On a sunny March Saturday lunchtime, the pub was busy with diners and drinkers:the welcome was friendly with an efficient eye to detail. Four handpumps, serving the deservedly popular Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter, alongside their Sussex XXX Old Ale, a lovely dark chocolatey dark ‘un. I also enjoyed Black Cat Original, a very impressive best bitter from a micro brewery based at Groombridge, and Larkins’ Traditional.
The food offering seemed very well presented,using locally produced ingredients: not stratospherically expensive, given the apparent affluence of the area.Dogs are allowed in the bar, but as we were eating, we left ‘em in the car. Upstairs, there are three or four letting rooms.
To my mind, a very well run pub , catering for a wide cross section: we’d like to go back.
On 9th March 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 286 recommendations about 285 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Stuart Elms left this review about Cat Inn
Superb village community pub in a century's old 'living' village of real character
Run for the last few years by well known and respected publicans Mark White and dad Nick, this welcoming multi-roommed traditional hostelry excels at everything from the welcome to the excellent Real Ale - CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed - the superb wine list, fine coffee and a menu that is both traditional but with tantalising daily specials of real imagination and quality
Add B & B accommodation, a summer patio, a recently exposed ancient well now visible through glazed flooring in one of the bar areas, an historic sports car in the conservatory - reflecting the owners passion for such rare vintages - and this Inn truly fits the role in very sense
On 18th January 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]