Pub with rooms in Sidlesham, West Sussex
Curator's notes:
Rooms from
Doubles: £200; Crab Cottage: £320
Good to know
Family
friendly
Children are very welcome at the Crab & Lobster with half
portions available for smaller appetites. The cottage is a great
place for overnight guests with children and there's a local
babysitter on call too.
Water and
waves
With breathtaking coastal scenery along Pagham harbour, this is the
perfect seaside escape and you can book Betty the Beach Hut for a
relaxing day on West Wittering beach.
Outdoor
adventures
Inland, the rolling West-Sussex hills and the South Downs are on
your doorstep - why not don your walking boots, take a picnic and
enjoy the beautiful countryside?
Fine dining
Expect an outstanding locally-sourced menu with an emphasis on
fresh fish, including of course, both crab and lobster dishes!
The classic bedrooms are decorated in neutral tones with splashes of colour and texture from fabrics and furnishings.
Each room boasts individual touches - some have free-standing mirrors and jugs of fresh flowers, others quaint dressing tables, and all are peaceful and quiet. All the contemporary bathrooms are stocked with Noble Isle toiletries. There are fabulous views from the cottage windows to the marshes with grazing sheep and the sea beyond - and they even provide binoculars for those who fancy a spot of birdwatching!
Up in the eaves, Room Four has wonderful views over Pagham Harbour, as well as a striking bathroom with an original wooden floor and huge walk-in shower. Next door to the pub is the dinky Crab Cottage, a swish little self-catering option with two double bedrooms, a sitting room, fully kitted-out kitchen and a little terrace garden.
Given the location on Pagham Harbour and the pub's proximity to Selsey, seafood is unsurprisingly the main thrust of the menu, which champions local, seasonal produce.
From mussel chowder and traditional fish and chips to pan-fried hake or sea bass fillet, there's plenty of sustainable, freshly-caught fish options on offer, depending on the catch of the day.
Meat lovers and veggies are well catered for too - come lunchtime, enjoy a light salad or an open sandwich after a bracing walk along the harbour. For something to drink, regional ales line the handpumps at the bar, but the main passion here is grape. The wine list has a whopping 25 options by the glass and some stellar bins sourced from top-drawer wine merchants such as Georges Barbier of London and Berkmann Wine Cellars. If you fancy trying something local, opt for the sparkling wine from the Tinwood Estate.
Next to the main restaurant, the 'Snug' can be used for private dining for up to ten people.
