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Detail Pages
The Fountain, Chichester
Chichester
PO19 1ES
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Fountain
The Fountain is a short walk north of both the bus station and the train station so is the ideal starting point for any beer crawl of Chichester. It is a Hall & Woodhouse pub and usually has four of the brewery beers available on the handpumps. For my visit these were Badger First Gold, Tanglefoot, Hopping gold and something with a paper badge with “New Badger” scribbled on it. I ducked this and went for the Tanglefoot which was perfectly fine.
The Fountain is one of the oldest public houses in Chichester, dating from the early 1800’s and is built against the famous Roman city wall , a bit of which is still visible within the building itself.
As mentioned below there are three distinct areas. The front bar has a nice spacious feel to it and has a couple of open real fires. The smaller central bar is cosy and dominated by the bar billiards table and then beyond this is the dining area of the pub. Then to the side of the pub is an outdoor drinking area with patio heaters. Not a lot seems to have changed in the three years since the last review and the décor remains shabby with chipped paint work and holes and tears in the seat upholstery and the whole place could do with a bit of TLC to bring it back to the level it deserves.
Like most H&W pubs there is a focus on food at the Fountain, but cannot comment on that because we were only here for the beer so better off looking at Trip advisor if you are going to use it for this purpose.
I found it a comfortable place for a beer, but more could be made of the fountain. However, I got the impression that their central location means they don’t have to try too hard, and consequently, they don’t.
On 19th June 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Fountain
Four handpumps with three ales on – Firkin Fox, K&B Sussex and Badger Tanglefoot. My Tanglefoot was below average, a bit lifeless really. As seems the way these days, the ale in this (seemingly) Hall & Woodhouse pub was overpriced compared to a number of nearby outlets. The interior is set over three rooms, with one set for dining. The front bar is a bit tatty, chipped paint and the floorboards looked to have seen cleaner days. High shelving here held books and a large model boat. There was a dartboard which was unfortunately located behind a sofa. There was a nicer-looking back room though, which flagstone flooring. Service at the bar was perfunctory and some the locals sat at the pleasant bay window were not overly happy to see us ‘outsiders’. I was disappointed by this one.
On 18th July 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about The Fountain
I liked this traditional pub. The main pub area is to the front, with a dining area to the back and the yard with tables to the side was pleasant on a sunny afternoon. The four hand pumps were offering H&W Firkin Fox, which I thoroughly enjoyed, Tanglefoot and Badger, and K&B Sussex. Staff were helpful.
Good but unexciting food menu. I was particularly unadventurous with a cheese burger which came unexpectedly with bacon also, and with chips and salad was a generous meal. My companion had a nice chicken and chorizo salad.
Generally has live bands on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
On 22nd May 2011
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Fountain
A refreshingly traditional pub in a city with too many fancy 'gastro' joints. The front bar is fairly spartan, with the regulars all to be found in the more cozy back room. A blackboard indicates frequent live music nights. The same four beers are available from handpumps in each bar, including a decent pint of Pickled Partridge at £3.10 (and it appears to be a freehouse despite all the ales coming from Hall & Woodhouse).
On 3rd February 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]