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Detail Pages
The Old Cross, Chichester
Chichester
PO19 1LP
Pub Type
John Barras (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BRUMMIE STEVE left this review about The Old Cross
Really nice pub in North Street, lovely place to sit outside in Summer on the pedestrian pathway while plenty of tables inside. The pub serve's very good meals and also shows live sporting event which makes it very popular with a mixed clientele. Also a good selection of draught beers an Ciders at reasonable prices for Chichester.
On 5th September 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 12 recommendations about 12 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Old Cross
Town centre pub, tastefully refurnished in a modern style with paved floor and matt painted wood, which detracts a bit from the aged-looking exterior. Ales from Greene king plus a guest (TEA).
On 26th December 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Cross
As others have mentioned, a fantastic looking old period building with a prime location on the pedestrianized section of the main North Street which then goes on to disappoint when you walk in.
At the time I didn’t realise that this place is managed by the Wetherspoon lite John Barras pub company but I should have realised what to expect by the fact that they were clearly competing for which pub could display the most England (and other nation ) flags for the world cup, and you couldn’t actually see a lot of the exterior or in through any of the Windows due to flags. And the bits that weren’t covered by flags were displaying the formulaic laminated plastic pub grub food menu’s.
Inside it is actually comfortable enough and a traditional pub interior, just nothing to complement the excellent exterior. But the biggest let down was that I caught it at the wrong time as far as beers were concerned. A lunchtime visit on the eve of England’s opening World Cup encounter found only three ales going on the 2 banks of 3 pumps and as the one I chose went off as the bar maid poured it I was left with a stunning choice of Pride or Directors. When I asked why so many pumps were off I got the very informative “Dunno, but I think they’ll all be on for the game tonight”. And as I had no intention of returning here to watch it I guess I’ll never know.
On 18th June 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Old Cross
A big old traditional frontage (presumably ancient!?) which unfortunately has been stripped of its e much heritage inside, assuming it had some to start with. The place is obviously owned by some national chain with six list ales from large regionals – Black Sheep, Spitfire, Courage Directors and Best, Youngs Ordinary with Doom Bar reversed. The Directors and Youngs were both in serviceable shape. It tries to be many things to many people (food, coffee machine etc) which makes it feel Wetherspoons-esque. Whilst I previously bemoaned the lack of original features in the interior, what they do have - plush carpeted floor, half-length dark wood wall panelling, nice lamps/light fittings – is done well and above par for a chain, in my opinion. Yet again there was a dart board rendered unusable because of furniture in the way. A TV was on showing the football results coming in. Whilst I wouldn’t rush to recommend this one, it was a decent 15 minute stop.
On 18th July 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Old Cross
This looks like a fantastic old pub from the outside, and is conveniently situated right on the High Street. Inside it's a bit disappointing though. It's obviously part of a large chain with various corporate menu's and notices around the place and with it's wooden panelling and leather sofa's has the feel in some places of a hotel lounge bar rather than a pub.
Although it is presumably a genuinely old building it must have at some time in the past lost all it's original internal features, and there's been a pathetic attempt to recreate them. The fake wooden beams are bad enough, but have a look at the black wooden lintel above the alcove on the left of the pub. Here you'll find stuck on plastic mouldings that are supposed to resemble the carvings that you would get on an old fire place or the like. But they just look as though someone's thrown Yorkshire puddings at it. The fact that the middle one has fallen off and just left an imprint where it used to be is even worse. It's almost worth a trip in to the pub just so you can have a laugh.
Clearly the locals are wise to the fake nature of this pub, and on a recent Monday night visit we were the only people in there until a couple of others wandered in to enquire whether they were actually open or not. The barmaid was fairly disinterested (understandable, perhaps) and bizarrely served a port in a straight glass like you would get a lemonade in. What's that about?
Beers on offer were Spitfire, Adnams Broadside and Greene King IPA. The only cider was Strongbow unfortunately.
Rather annoyingly, I filled out a "customer satisfaction survey" to tell them what I though, and stupidly made the mistake of leaving my e-mail address. I now get loads of e-mails from them with all their news and offers. Errr, I don't think I'm interested thanks - you were rubbish and I live 150 miles away!
On 1st April 2010
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]