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Detail Pages
The Star Inn, Horsham
Rusper
Postal town: Horsham
RH12 4RA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Star Inn
This is a two bar, rural pub with a prominent location on the main road that runs through the centre of Rusper. The pub is split into two very distinct separate sections, with the right-hand side being set-aside for diners and the more spartan left hand room used more as a public bar. The front door takes you into the right-hand room with the servery directly opposite as you enter. The bar has a dark wood counter, simple bar back and a canopy decorated with some pretty ancient looking carpentry tools. Standard tables and chairs have been dotted through the room, which is broken up by a couple of very aged looking timber posts. The walls are whitewashed stone and dark beams run across the ceiling, combining with the low-level lighting to create a very authentic feeling rural pub scene, further augmented by a lot of horse brasses and some old black and white photos on the walls. The left-hand room is carpeted and has its own separate servery to the rear right which sports a similar counter and bar back to that in the other room. Pew and low stool seating, including one pew with a high, decorative back, runs along the front wall, offering the bulk of the room’s seating options, with a few bar stools rounding things out. A partitioning wall and a couple of disused former doorways with humorous ‘Duck or Grouse’ signs above them, suggest this rather small room was previously further subdivided. There’s not much in the way of décor on show in this room, but it still manages to remain characterful enough and I was happy enough sipping my pint over the paper in here. Contemporary folk music played quietly in the background and signs indicated a patio garden, which I failed to explore in the darkness. Similarly, there appeared to be additional rooms to the rear of the building which were not being used on this visit, so I may not have seen the pub in all its glory.
Four handpulls greeted me upon entering, although one of these turned out to be out of action, leaving a choice of Fullers London Pride, Greene King Abbot Ale and Sharps Doom Bar. The London Pride was decent enough and the barman seemed like a friendly bloke, helping a confused customer figure out what they wanted from the menu. I didn’t eat here, but a good deal of food was being brought out and if it tasted half as good as it smelt, I’m sure everyone would have left happy.
I thought this was quite a nice, characterful village pub that, despite clearly having a strong focus on food, still offers a nice environment for the drinker to spend some time. The rather pedestrian ale range was a bit of a shame, but it seemed to be well kept which suggests a wider focus on quality. I enjoyed stopping off here for a brief visit and thought it was a good asset for this pleasant little village.
On 9th January 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Star Inn
Very pleasant, large, rambling village local dating back, it says, to the fifteenth century. Unlike the premises across the road it has resisted the depredations of the gastrofiers: little has change for years and it remains a traditional English country pub and a welcoming sight for those of a certain age who wonder where all the 'proper' pubs went. Pleasant locals and friendly service too, it's only let down is the mundane beer choice.
Well worth a visit, but there's a couple of alternatives near by if beer selection is top of your agenda.
On 27th December 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about The Star Inn
This friendly, traditional pub was last year’s West Sussex County Times pub of the year. It consists of several rooms with names such as the ‘Four Ale Bar’ and the ‘Barrell Bar’, with wooden beams, wood panelled bar, bare and white painted brickwork and old photos for decoration, and there is a pleasant beer patio to the side. On my visit last Sunday, ales were served from two banks of four hand pulls, each offering the perhaps unadventurous options of Ringwood Best, London Pride or Abbot with the fourth vacant – my Ringwood however was in tip top condition.
There was something particularly nice about this place that made both of us very comfortable – just a really good, genuinely friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I can see, or rather feel, why it got its POTY award.
On 15th September 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brew Guru left this review about The Star Inn
Had Sunday lunch here, in general everything as good as could be expected without being outstanding. The chef injured himself just after preparing our meal so others may not have been so lucky. Beer range was a little limited with Ringwood Best, London Pride and Abbott Ale on. It seems like there are better pubs in the area as this one felt like it needed a bit of TLC - is it a pubco pub?
On 15th August 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 116 recommendations about 101 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mr Lloyd-Evans left this review about The Star Inn
Low ceilings & rustic interior. Pride, Abbot and Ringwood Best available on draught. The Ringwood was very good. Unfortunately the exterior seating area was infested with wasps which made things lively in the wrong sort of way.
On 9th August 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 11 recommendations about 11 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Victoria Burrell left this review about The Star Inn
Another beautiful pub in quiet remote village. Lively, fun atmosphere at night, friendly bar-tenders, good food, good local ales, cozy nooks + crannies to sit. Oldy-worldy charm.
On 11th February 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 5 recommendations about 5 pubs]