Old Barn Free House, Bognor Regis

I swung by the Old Barn at 11:30 on a recent Saturday afternoon to find it closed with no signs of life. I decided to visit a couple of local pubs before popping back an hour later to thankfully find the front door ajar. At the front of the pub is a small ‘public’ bar that houses a dartboard, fruit machine and ‘just for fun’ poker machine. At the rear is a larger seating area that houses a piano and log fireplace that was unsurprisingly redundant in the summer heat. Both areas contain a plasma screens that were showing Olympics via the BBC. The décor is very basic and with a paving stone floor. From the rear seating area access can be gained to a covered patio area that houses picnic tables. Adjacent to the patio area is a car park. Available from the bar was a standard keg range alongside Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner. Out of the four hand pumps one was off and another unused which left Flack Manor Brewery’s Flack Catcher as the cask ale option alongside Lilley’s Red Rabbit cider. I didn’t read a menu, but I did note that food is available Wednesday to Friday midday until 15:00 and 18:00 until 21:00. On Saturdays the kitchen is open from midday until 21:00 and roasts are available from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. I found the service from the pottering owner to be polite and I may pop back in if passing, but I wouldn’t make this a destination pub.

MySpace page of the Old Barn - www.myspace.com

Unlike the nearby Thatched House pub, this one still has the traditional roofing material. It comprises two bars, the front one quite small and traditional, the other larger but more basic (with a pool table). Plenty of outside seating too. A total of five handpumps, divided between the two counters, with beer choice including Pride, Seafarers and a rare out-of-area sighting of Palmers Copper Ale (£2.80). (NB - Review dates from August 2011.)

MySpace page of the Old Barn - www.myspace.com