The Welldiggers Arms in Chichester

A lovely pub with beautiful views. The service at lunchtime was good and the food was tasty

So I booked 4 rooms months on 16th July 2024 for GFOS in July 2025 and 3 months later they cancelled my booking via booking.com and just said sorry . So now I have to find x 4 rooms at additional cost. REALLY BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND YOU SHOULD NOT SIMPLY CANCEL A BOOKING AS YOU CAN CHARGE EXTRA. NEVER USE WELLDIGGERS ARMS unless your prepared to be let down at any time

A last minute booking for my husbands birthday. Greeted well at the entrance. Delicious starter of hummus Main a mushroom pasty. This was really tasty and the only thing was a tad too salty. This doesn't mean we didn't enjoy it, we did, but a little less salt added would be good Great service, food served promptly. We've made a promise to return during the daytime to enjoy the outside views Would recommend. Twinkly lights came on after our arrival, which added to the cosy feel of the place. We've already recommended to our friends and family

Great country venue to meet friends coming from different areas. Excellent selection of food and drinks; lovely staff and good atmosphere and plenty of off road parking

Great food, fantastic location, service was a little slow.

Lovely pub hotel. Delicious roast, the pork was amazing. Vegan Wellington was wonderful my daughter thought. Service excellent. All served in a beautiful setting. Looking forward to staying with you next year to be near our daughter's wedding venue.

We had visited the welldiggers about 5 years ago and did not have a very good experience spo we thought we would try again as it all looked dufferent

Great location with the most stunning views. 10 out of 10 breakfast. New manager is brilliant. We will be back

A little slow but great food once it came.

We had a Saturday evening meal with friends at The Welldiggers. The window table gave us a chance to share the amazing view....full marks for that. Not full marks for the menu and food though. We all agreed that there was far too much choice, that "less is more" and that the quality of food on our plate was not worth the amount we paid for it. Overall we were disappointed having enjoyed the food on visits in the past.

First time at Welldiggers Arms and the atmosphere and food is immaculate. The staff were also very attentive, and had a great energy! The view is also very picturesque. Highly recommend a visit!

Beautiful view from the pub and the room. The patio area is a lovely addition with stunning views. The staff were all friendly and the pub itself is beautifully decorated with a warm welcoming atmosphere.The only negative thing to say is with it being on a busy road, the traffic noise is very noticeable, but that can’t be helped!

I had a very good overnight stay at the Welldiggers Arms. The bed was very comfortable. I had a room with a little terrace and a lovely view of the South Downs. I had dinner in the restaurant and the food was very good quality. The breakfast was very good too with a big choice.

Lovely pub with beautiful views.

Going to a wedding we drove past, stopped and had a great meal. The staff are extremely friendly and efficient. If I was really going to gripe then I would say, "watch out" the Ribeye is actually pork - yes, still great but not beef. Oh aye, cider is on draught (gluten free) as is all cider. Catch up soon 🙈

Nice staff, well cooked food but the portion sizes are very disappointing. A Sunday roast consisted of just 1 slice of beef, 1 small piece of carrot, 1 small piece of parsnip, 2 half’s of a potato, a tiny bit of broccoli and a Yorkshire. Bit mean considering it was £23 per head. Came away feeling hungry.

We had a very bad experience dining here for Sunday lunch. Very slow service, poorly cooked food, didn’t give us the table we wanted and they forgot our drinks order. Then to top it all we found a piece of metal in the desert. See photo. On the plus side the beer and the location were great. Not recommended.

I wanted to share a wonderful experience we had at The Welldiggers in Petworth on the 17th September 2024. We arranged for our client from Korea to stay there, and they had a fantastic time. After a long day of travel, our client arrived in the UK and checked into their room at The Welldiggers. The room was absolutely beautiful, with stunning furnishings, and views that perfectly captured the charm of the British countryside. We also booked an evening meal for our client, and they were thoroughly impressed with the food. Everyone enjoyed the meal immensely. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the staff at The Welldiggers for their warm hospitality and exceptional service, especially Ellie, who served us on Tuesday - very friendly and helpful. They made our client's stay truly memorable and contributed to a successful business trip. Thank you again for everything. Best regards, Lisa.

Great location, food great & staff friendly and attentive. Would thoroughly recommend

Lovely and very tasty lunch from a varied and interesting menu with wonderful views to the South Downs. Highly recommended.

Many moons ago The Welldiggers was a favourite lunch venue for us. Afriend and I had lunch there. last week..I live in Kent, she in Hampshire! ...the Welldiggers half way for each of us.. .I had not returned snce my husband's¹ death 10 years ago. We had dry fish and chips and avchocolate mousse cake dessert which was more of a chocolate brick!! A very disappointing meal. The young waitresses who served us could mot have been better. We made no complaints about the fish and chips but did mention the brick cake. If your chef needs s good mousse cake recipe he/she should look up Jocelyn Dimbleby!. We were recompensed ,however with a bill charging us for everything but one dessert only ! l am truly sorry not to be able to say we enjoyed our meal...not having seen each other for at least 2 years it was very 1disappointing.

great location with views over the downs

Amazing, lovely setting, gorgeous food nice beer really freindly staff. Dog friendlly as well. A hidden gem.

Lovely pub, lovely setting and staff very friendly, however meal spoilt by some fundamental errors including; a starter being forgotten, the wrong main being served to one of our party and an error on the bill - overcharge. In fairness, the starter was removed from the bill at the point of paying but not ideal.

Ploughman's lunch very small considering it was for sharing. 1 small sausage roll no sourdough, focaccia instead not a good choice too soft. Boiled egg was tough and not what we expected as stated in the menu. However we would return if only for a drink as the location was stunning.

Lovely meal, good service, great location

I had lunch with my family, our food was lovely and the service was good too. The biscoff doughnuts with coffee were so good, delicious!

I found The Welldiggers Arms online whilst looking for a suitable place for a Sunday lunch near Petworth… and wow, we were absolutely delighted by the find. Great selection of beers (and zero options), the Sunday roast options were excellent, and the view of the South Downs stunning. Service with a smile and good food, could t have expected any better. Certainly a place to revisit when we’re next in the area.

Stopped in here after a walk at Petworth House, really dog friendly, great service and amazing food. Would absolutely recommend the biscoff doughnut bites! Beautiful interior and amazing views from inside the restaurant, dogs were welcome throughout which was so lovely. Thank you so much!

really nice view and pub garden but the staff weren’t as welcoming and cooperative as I expected.

We had to wait 1 hr 10 mins for food including a meal from the children's menu. Staff were friendly but didn't warn us there would be a long wait. We were brought a different dessert than we had ordered, as the waitress hadn't been told about the change. Dessert at over £4 named 'after 8' was just a ball of ice cream. Main course fish was in an almost inediblely sweet sauce and overpriced.

The food was good but the service let the experience down. No reflection on the staff working but there was clearly no managerial direction to organise effectively. Unfortunately we could hear a number of customers complaining about waiting to place orders for food or drink, etc. I hope this is useful feedback so you can action improvements.

We are regular visitors of the Welldiggers Arms as it is a middle spot between families. It’s always a lovely atmosphere day and night and the food is always great! Occasionally, when very busy, service can be slightly slower but as long as you aren’t in a rush - no complaints, just more time to enjoy the lovely views!

We had a fine evening at the Welldiggers’ hostelry near Petworth. Service and food were good, and the views are outstanding

My daughter booked lunch for us to celebrate my 60th birthday with my mother. To say we were all disappointed with the experience would be an understatement. I wish I had read recent reviews beforehand. I have visited previously and enjoyed the meal and the location. Our very overpriced sharing platter took over an hour to arrive with no real explanation ( did someone have to go and buy the ingredients?) We were still eating this when our main course arrived, which was ridiculous. My mother ordered the lamp scrumpets which turned out to be gristly, chewy bits of sinew in breadcrumbs, definitely no salad as described on the menu. We were told that the chef would be advised but that was it ! The other mains were very average. I wish we had left once we had finished our drinks and way before any food arrived. As for trying to pay, no member of staff was interested in taking payment without me traipsing around the pub. I certainly will not be coming back and will advise my friends to avoid in the future .

I have had two fabulous lunches and a dinner recently at the Welldiggers Arms, super service, super food, fabulous views towards the Downs. Extremely hospitable, we will be back, thank you.

Nice looking pub from the outside, well presented though looked small, but don't be put off it's a Tardis. Inside the style and decor was really nice, greeted politely and welcoming. Ordered drinks and food, all of which were served as expected based on the professionalism already experienced. Food was ok, we enjoyed it, price was fair for this level of eateries, well done team Welldiggers.

Hmm, seems to me that they are lacking a front of house manager as confirmed by the team on my visit. Which makes me wonder how all the replies are written by the General Manager – is this an Avatar, a figment of our imagination, a willow-o-wisp? I’m not trying to be bitchy but I really like the Welldiggers and have been coming for ages so it’s a shame when it doesn’t come up to expectations especially when I’ve brought friends to experience the vibe. Still, the staff were friendly-ish, the food was OK –ish, the service was OK-ish although a main vegetarian dish couldn’t decide if it should be luke-warm or hot. I’m hoping that a new captain at the helm will move things along and this lovely pub will return to being on top form again.

we have been here a few times for drinks as it does have a stunning view out the back, so we decided to try a sunday roast here. we were sat in the garden, so we had to go to the bar to order food, thats fine but trying to find someone to serve you is a very hard job. we ordered three roasts and three drinks. paying between two people. we sat outside and waited for our roasts. when the roasts turned up, the chicken roast was missing the stuffing, had one carrot on the plate, 2 tiny potatoes and a yorkshire. the two pork dishes were both missing the apple sauce and had no crackling and again two tiny potatoes and a carrot. we asked for the missing bits which did eventually come out, but the stuffing wasn’t what the menu said. after eating the very disappointing and overpriced roast we sat there with our drinks and tried to work out what we had been charged for. we then went inside to say we had both been overcharged for our roasts and drink. oh no they said, that’s a service charge added on to both bills. this was not given as an option and considering we were on a non table service table, the cheek to charge for service is a joke. the very young manager refused to come over and just glared at us the entire time. this is a beautiful place with a lovely garden and the rooms look lovely but unfortunately the food and especially the staff are very disappointing.

It was a delightful location, gazing out over open fields from a comfortable settee on the terrace of our signature plus room. Our dog , Roxy, was fascinated by the sights and sounds around her. The Sunday meal was heafty and well served and any problems were soon sorted out. We cannot fault this venue for supreme country comfort.

I came to the Welldiggers for my 21st birthday alongside my family, but have left rather disappointed. We had put that it was my birthday on the special requests tab in the booking section but there was no mention of it. The staff were lacking in attentiveness, charisma and attention to detail. We weren’t asked if we wanted anymore drinks, and the ones we did order were just plonked in front of one person! The food was also sub-par, the fish and chips was conveniently served without mushy peas which we found out weren’t available until after it had been served - and the ravioli dishes were far to small a portion size, rather watery and undercooked. As an employee of a similar village pub I completely understand that some nights things just don’t go your way - but there are some simple elements that need to be addressed.

After a couple of years away following disappointing food and service, we were persuaded to give The Welldiggers another chance. What an improvement! The environment felt refreshed, the food was so much better and the service ( particularly Tilda) was brilliant. We'll definitely be back❤️

This was a superb pub. It has beautiful views and the food was excellent. We would definitely visit if we're in the area again.

Came for dinner, amazing food and nice staff, very good with allergies only note is the low ceiling / above 6,4 your gonna need to duck

Another lovely evening on the terrace enjoying super food and a very refreshing glass of wine.

Nice choice of beers, excellent high speed WiFi and albeit I did not eat I would say that the food with looked and smelled very nice. Very friendly staff too 👍

Stayed here for a wedding and the room was very pleasant and the views were beautiful. Staff were polite and professional and we were made to feel welcome. The hospitality tray in the room was lovely and the toiletries very very high quality. If I had to be very very picky it is a shame the hot chocolate provided required milk to make and no way of heating milk in the room, but that is so minor compared to a great experience still giving 5 stars. Would stay again. Excellent value for money

What a wonderful find! Such a lovely pub with amazing views from dining tables. Good choices from the menu, would highly recommend if in the area. Would suggest booking a table as its popular.

We visited the Welldiggers for Sunday lunch. It was a lovely experience. Great food, great service and the view from the dining room is fantastic… pure Sussex!

Easy to find. Good garden area Well run with very helpful staff

Both came in for breakfast, venue and how laid out looks amazing. Sadly the food and drink let it well down. Latte Coffee strong and bit aftertaste. Ordered 2 Eggs benedict 1st with Bacon, 2nd with ham. Sauce taste didn't taste right, muffins only slightly warmed and felt doughy, ham didn't have much taste to it either. . Will try again in future as always give a place 2 attempts if fails then don't return. We all have off days, and try to be fair and balanced on this occasion sadly didn't work & if was improved would give 5 stars.

Great pub - great beer - great food - great service - great location - great atmosphere - great price - that’s a 7 out of 7 from us! Definitely planning our next visit very soon. Thank you to everyone in the team that makes the Welldiggers Arms so ‘great’

Everything in this pub/ restaurant is fine. The food was average- nothing special but nothing to complain about. The venue is superb - amazing views over the South Downs from the big airy dining room. But certainly nothing to go back for. The fact that the place was 75% empty on a lovely sat lunch time probably tells you all you need to know. Worst bit was £13 for a very very modest cheese board with 3 small pieces of average cheese.

Great atmosphere and view. I loved the variety of food on the menu, although even more veggie options would be great. Waitress was very knowledgeable and friendly. I thought it was odd you only had full fat milk available for coffee, semi skimmed is usually available in places but not here. I thought the rooms outside looked very well positioned and I’d love to stay in one of them one day.

Had an amazing trip down to Sussex last weekend. Lovely views with fantastic food and service to match. I will be returning.

Easy to find on web, booking simple and acknowledged and confirms coming, reception good, location wonderful really great meal, lovely tasty and visually attractive, all four of us enjoyed and interesting sources noted on menu. Good memorable value for money, Sunday full.....Am + others coming back

Room was small but very comfy and the view was incredible. Full English breakfast in the morning was excellent. And their beer selection is excellent. However, we were very let down by dinner. In hindsight, we probably should have booked dinner somewhere else. My steak wasn't cooked the best, and the advertised chunky chips appeared to be frozen fries. I persevered through mine (it was edible), but my wife sent her fish tacos back (something she never does): they were chewy and minimal. So as a place to stay, I can highly recommend. As a place to stop and eat, not so much.

Came here for lunch and was not disappointed, food was amazing and staff were so friendly! We will most definitely be back, highly recommend the welldiggers arms!

We didn’t stay because the menu had 1 or the 2 vegetarian options off the menu and really limited vegetarian offering anyway. Real shame because we love the location and it used to be really great

We had my Mums wake at the Welldiggers yesterday. Barry and his team were so wonderful and made the whole experience much easier for us. It was a difficult afternoon, and one I was dreading, but Barry made it all run smoothly and nothing was too much bother. The Welldiggers made us feel so welcome. My Mum loved this pub, and I know she would have been so pleased that we chose the Welldiggers to celebrate her life with friends and family. Thank you to everyone at the Welldiggers. We will always remember yesterday and we won’t forget how kind you all were. Love the Careswell’s xxxxxx

Amazing views from room patio Brilliant location to walk straight out from the pub. Lovely evening meal and breakfast, good value all round and dog friendly

My cousin and I (and my cousin’s dog) has a great couple of nights stay here. We arrived late Sunday afternoon and tucked into a delicious roast! The room was perfect with a wonderful patio with views across the fields. The breakfast was top notch with a full vegan option for my cousin. We also enjoyed a couple of drinks in the garden and dinner the following evening. Ellie and her team could not have been more accommodating and welcoming.

Upon the discovery of a human hair in a salad niscoise the response from the staff was the less than concerned and when the bill was presented surprise was expressed that we did not wish to pay the expected service charge. Location is'nt everything.

Lovely lunch with my family over from Australia great location and super meal

I recently discovered this gem of a pub tucked away outside of Petworth, with the perfect backdrop of the South Downs, and it exceeded all my expectations. The rooms are wonderfully comfortable, blending rustic charm with modern amenities. The food is a culinary delight, with each dish prepared to perfection using fresh, local produce. Their drink offerings are superb, featuring an excellent selection of beers and wines. The views from the pub are simply spectacular, with the rolling hills of the South Downs creating a picturesque backdrop. This pub is a true treasure and a perfect retreat for anyone looking to unwind in a stunning setting. Five stars!

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this incredible little pub nestled in the heart of the South Downs. The rooms were cozy and beautifully appointed, offering a perfect blend of comfort and charm. The food was exceptional, with a menu that showcased amazing ingredients and flavours. The drink selection was equally impressive, with a fantastic range of ales and wines. What truly sets this place apart, though, are the breathtaking views of the rolling South Downs. Waking up to such stunning scenery was a highlight of our stay. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a delightful and memorable getaway!

Very disappointed. Despite being pleased to see a new menu and the food was of a good standard, sadly the service was lacking. They have changed the policy so there is no table service whatsoever when in the adjoining marquee or garden. You even have to carry your tea and coffee on a tray. No one checked to see if we were ok with our food. Very disinterested staff. Although we did note that the waitress served drinks to another table outside who had champagne. Not surprisingly the place was empty barring a couple of tables. Sadly we won't be rushing back despite the fact we were fairly regular last summer. What a waste as it is a lovely venue and a promising menu.

We visited for a family lunch to celebrate numerous birthdays. Our booking was for 12, and we were a few minutes late, but less than 10 minutes. We were seated and menus given out and drinks ordered. Only half of the party wanted starters, which took about an hour to come out of the kitchen. We then had to attract the attention of a member of staff to order more drinks. By 1.30 we still had not received our main courses, although we had been told that the table would be needed by 2.15. When the food came out it was very good - however we had to ask for the appropriate accompanying sauces as they were not served automatically. We were quite put out by the comments about leaving the table so we all declined desserts and left. Despite the good food - when it eventually reached us - I will not be recommending your establishment to friends and colleagues.

My meal was not good. I ordered the pork and crispy potatoes, but sadly the pork was dry and the potatoes were so crispy I couldn't put my fork in them. The server was lovely though and offered a new meal (which I didn't take) and took the item off the bill which I cannot fault. I think it was a one off, the atmosphere and views were lovely and staff very friendly.

We only had lunch at The Welldiggers Arms - but we were welcomed warmly and had fabulous service. Holly was amazing -in spite of a busy restaurant - she managed to look after a number of tables.

The Welldiggers Arms is tucked away with stunning views of the South Downs. A little gem with lovely rooms and a pub with amazing food and drinks. We had a great dinner while watching a deer popping out from the undergrowth. Very sweet. The staff were lovely and very welcoming. Rooms had everything you needed from toiletries to tea, coffee and tasty little almond biscuits. We had a full English breakfast with tea for me and coffee for my husband. Food was just wonderful and well presented. Thank you to all of the staff for a fantastic and relaxing stay.

My partner and I, along with our two dogs, stayed for two nights. We absolutely loved our room, the bath in the room was so indulgent and the view was stunning. The service received from everyone, but especially Barry and Ellie was next to none, we really felt cared for. Nothing was too much trouble. Thank you, we will be back!

Just had a fabulous stay at the Welldiggers Arms to celebrate our anniversary. The views from the restaurant and garden are glorious, and our room was really nicely decorated with lots of lovely touches. Dinner and breakfast was delicious and we did a beautiful walk into Petworth. All the ingredients for a great weekend. We will be back! PS We love the White Horse in Chilgrove (have stayed there a few times too).

Lovely place and location with stunning views of the South Downs. The only let down for my wife, daughter and me was that during our one nights stay the table service when we went for a meal was very below standard which really tainted our evening. Basically, the place was very under staffed and they hadn’t seemed to organise table bookings properly as everyone appeared to come for food pretty much at the same time and instantly noticed that it had over whelmed them. Firstly, I ended up going to the bar to get drinks as waited well over 10 minutes, after being informed that as we were eating, drinks were part of the table service, and then had to wait over 1.5 hours until our food was served. Very frustrating as I had booked the table 2 weeks in advance, but the food was very good and was offered one drink each on the house for the inconvenience of it all. Think my wife and I need to come back to this place again as I’m guessing that this experience was just bad luck all round and am sure it won’t be like it again.

Boy, this place has changed since I last went here 40some years ago! Delicious lunch, good value. Beautiful views from the dining room and garden.

Great little break, lovely rooms and views just slightly let down by breakfast but otherwise great break

The most amazing little venue. Room was absolutely immaculate. Bath in the room was incredible & so big & comfy. Spotless throughout. Lovely & very tasty breakfast. Would def recommend to anyone looking for room in this area. Oh and stunning views also.

Just a fantastic stay made completely lovely by outstanding staff. Food was really good and the views are magnificent. Properly dog friendly & other customers relaxed & friendly.

Stopped in here for a beer and cheesy chips. Super friendly service and delicious cheesy chips! We'll be back for sure

Made too feel welcome as soon as we got there had a wonderful lunch before travelling the short distance down to Fontwell races for a evening meeting got back to pub for a few drinks before pub closed . Breakfast at 0830 which was super will be returning.

It was not very good and it was very expensive and the service is a bit not up to power so I will look for somewhere else to go

They were short staffed, but it still doesn't warrant 3 hours to have two courses. Food was very mediocre and the service lackluster. Overall a big disappointment

Can’t comment on the rooms, just had Sunday. Service was good. Meat was great, but a very meagre portion (£21,75 for beef). Potatoes were especially disappointing. View was great. Was nice to be able to have my dogs with me.

I booked a night in the Signature suite at the Welldiggers arms for my parents. They absolutely loved it. The view from their veranda was beautiful and they enjoyed coffee while relaxing there. The room was immaculate with a variety of teas and coffees. The food was exceptional and the staff very helpful. Would definitely recommend it.

Stayed for a wedding, rooms are nice if a bit small and the food is great, particularly the cooked breakfast.

Friendly and welcoming staff. Fantastic Sunday lunch - quantity and quality food. The room we stayed in had a lovely view across the countryside and was very clean and comfortable. Thank you. We will definitely be back for more.

A nice roast dinner shame about the Bisto gravy

I had a lovely stay here with my partner. The room and facilities were brilliant. The coffee with breakfast was my favourite.

We like to pop in for a drink or something to eat and it's always a first class experience! Delicious food, and lovely cocktails!!!

Great service, amazing vegan roast and the view is incredible

Good food, and location - worst service I have experienced in a pub for years. I won't be back ! Totally disinterested and absent staff - really poor and unnecessary.

Really nice staff & excellent welcome. The Signature room was lovely with extensive views over the South Downs. Breakfast & dinner on both days were very good.

Great food, great customer service and great accomodation

Delicious midweek lunch & discounted with loyalty bonus. Great spot with lovely views & perfect ambience.

Located near to Petworth and the lovely countryside, this pub has a restaurant overlooking the rolling green fields. Food was good, the room was also comfortable.

Lovely pub with gorgeous views. Food is always good, staff are friendly and a lovely environment. We are regular visitors and will continue to. Highly recommended

Had a lovely supper here with my Wife. I can recommend the steak and ale pie. It was exceptional.

Not great guys long waits in between courses and some parts of your meal have been nuked on the outside as sat under the hot light for ages and cold in the middle plates are roaming hot seems to always 3 people in the kitchen not a clue what they are doing last chance I give this place its ashame as its a great location

Great place to stay, good food and views over the South Downs.

Visited on 25/02/2024 and had a fantastic roast. All perfectly cooked and a good sized portion, with extra yorkshire puddings on offer too. Polite and attentive staff and nice atmosphere.