The White Lion Inn in Horsham

So disappointed! After reading the recent reviews I was really looking forward to Sunday lunch. It was very average, the beef was not very tender and was difficult to cut with a normal knife. The Yorkshire tasted ok but looked awful and the roast potatoes were only just done and the parsnips the same. Two dark green veg served in a side dish not visually enticing as both dark green. A roasted carrot and cauliflower cheese were just ok.we are not at all fussy and eat out often as well as cooking at home. I really cannot recommend The White Lion.

Lovely cosy pub with open fires and a very warm welcome. The food is delicious and the service excellent. Looking forward to visiting again soon, would highly recommend!

The pub had a cosy atmosphere with the fire and excellent service. Had the salmon followed by the lava cake with a crisp glass of sauvignon blanc. Absolutely delicious with wonderful service and atmosphere. Will come again.

Lovely little pub. Fab food and wonderful staff. Made so cosey with the fires. Can’t wait to return! Thank you for a brilliant afternoon

We’ve been visiting the White Lion for many years and were saddened to see it close. We were hoping the new owners would keep up the amazing reputation and they’ve done just that. New life has been breathed into the pub and the food is still excellent. We can’t wait to revisit and are so glad it’s in safe hands.

Just popped in for a drink with friends, the wine line list was fantastic! Decided to have a quick bite and had the most incredible food. The service was excellent and the pub had such a lovely atmosphere! I will definitely be coming back!

We stopped in for lunch recently and were warmly greeted on arrival by the friendly staff and a roaring fire in the cosy restaurant area. My husband sampled a few of the well kept beers on offer and settled for the local favourite, Sussex best from Harvey’s which was excellent. From the lunch menu we tried the calamari and prawn starters both of which were fantastic, followed by the fish and chips which was delicious. We will be back soon to try the new dinner menu.

Great Sunday lunch, good service, tasty food with plenty of extras. The character of the pub is something special. Highly recommended and anticipate further visits.

An experience not to be repeated. We arrived for Sunday lunch looking forward to our Roast after out autumnal walk. Our table had been booked and a deposit paid. The welcome was not warm or friendly, the service extremely slow. It took ages to place an order for drinks and food. When the food eventually arrived it was lukewarm and not cooked that well. We suspect the kitchen ran out of roast potatoes because when they arrived they were pale and not cooked through. Our main courses arrived 90 minutes after we sat at the table. The waitress apologised for the wait and deducted the value of our desserts from the bill. Whilst this gesture was appreciated we are unlikely to return. It is a shame because it used to be a great place to visit for the food and atmosphere. Sadly not the case today.

When The White Lion reopened last year we decided to celebrate my wife's birthday there, with a table reservation at 8pm. Yes we appreciated they were finding their feet as it was their third day, but the evening was a disaster due to the need for all staff (including at the bar) to use a single electronic order entry device. This alone would have been a problem, but the fact no one, not even the owners, knew how to use it properly massively compounded the issue. As a consequence we had to wait more than 20 minutes to even order a drink, a suggestion that they could write our order on a paper pad to get things moving was met with an apology from the waitress, that the owners weren't prepared to do that as they wanted to make the electronic system work. We were eventually served our starters (2 bowls of soup), 70 minutes after we sat down. My wife had ordered the fish special & I opted for the British pub staple, fish & chips for our main courses. Given how long the starters took, we assumed our mains should follow fairly quickly after we'd finished the soup. Oh boy, how wrong was that expectation as our main courses weren't served until 9:50, which was 40 minutes after the starters. By the time we'd finished our main courses every other diner had left the pub, & we decided it was too late to consider a dessert or coffee, so we asked for the bill. Unfortunately our timing was terrible as a group of about 8 young people had arrived for a drink - remember that electronic order pad? Well it was needed to process their drinks order, so our bill had to wait, and the wait went on & on, we called over the waitress to ask why she couldn't give us the bill, & she advised that the owner recognised the appalling experience we'd had & was trying to deduct the cost of the starters from the bill. We hadn't asked for that, but appreciated the gesture, as he couldn't seem to amend the bill we just suggested they deducted the value of the starters from the sum entered into the card machine. But no that wasn't possible the bill generated by the electronic device had to be amended, as we just wanted to go home we said just let us pay for everything, which we did. With a promise that next time we went desserts would be on the house. Fast forward a year. After reading positive reviews we thought we'd give them another chance. When we arrived we were told they were fully booked and as a consequence we'd been allocated a table in their small secondary dining area. There was already a family of 3 eating, & a large table set for 9. We decided to forego starters & enjoyed a conversation whilst waiting for our main courses. Just after we'd finished our main courses & ordered desserts the large party arrived, sadly this group was extraordinarily noisy, with one female member of the group having a voice louder than a ship's foghorn. Our desserts were served & the waitress then proceeded to take the drinks order for the large group. Passing our table she asked if the desserts were OK, we said yes, but pointed out that it was now impossible for us the have a conversation & asked if she could possibly have a word with the group & ask if they could turn the volume down. She didn't do so but came back to say if we wanted to pick up our desserts there was now space in the main dining area & we could move. We told her that wasn't an appealing solution so we'd finish our desserts & have our bill as soon as possible. I told her I wasn't prepared to pay the 10% discretionary charge as the solution to our dinner being spoiled was appalling & wanted to speak to the owner. He was totally disinterested & blamed us for not requesting a quiet table when we had reserved. As others have posted he's only interested in the profit & was clearly more interested in the money he was going to make from a large group. Well there are lots of other good pubs in the area & that's where we'll be going in the future.

Wow, what a find. Just enjoyed drinks on a Saturday afternoon. Dog friendly. Staff were fantastic. We had a real laugh with Richard and Andy, (2 locals). Try the local gin, it's fabulous, ask my wife. Food menu and wine list looked very nice. Shame we couldn't stay for dinner, but will definitely be back. I recommend you book in advance, as I did hear them say they were fully booked for dinner tonight. Sunday roast is supposed to be amazing. Highly recommend l.

A great find. The lunch was wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the prawns and lemon posset. Service was friendly but not obtrusive. Will definitely be going again but we will have to save up a bit before!

Little gem tucked away in West Sussex countryside. I don’t write many reviews, but I was so impressed that I have taken the time. Amazing food, great service and lovely setting - will definitely go back

We booked the White Lion Sunday lunch 13.30. We arrived just before 13.00 ordered a drink & advised the bar we had arrived, they even showed us where we would be seated. Roasts offered, we are meat eaters: Rare Beef, Pork Belly or Half a Roast Chicken. Unfortunately, the person I was with doesn't like Pork & not keen on rare beef, so was opting for the Chicken. We went outside with our drinks & returned for 13.30, sat at our table, which was by the door, so when the waitress came over we did ask if there was another table, only to be told they were fully booked, so we said fine appreciate that. We were then given the menus, ordered another drink, which was brought to the table - Other diners dinners looked really lovely, so we were really looking forward to our lunch. I was going for the Beef & my friend the Chicken, when the Waitress came back to take the order, 13.40, we were then told there was no chicken left, my friend explained that was all they wanted as he didn't like the other Roast Meat options, so she offered up the cod & chips, this is not a Roast. We then said we would pay for the drinks & go elsewhere. If you are fully booked, why would you not make sure you have enough food for the covers? If it had been later, 14.30 for instance, then maybe acceptable, but 13.40 seems rather early. I can understand keeping costs down by not wasting food, but surely the Chef could have rustled something up for the next day if there were too many Chickens left over. A shame, the food looked lovely, but we won't be returning.

Popped in to try the steak that’s on the summer 23 menu. I went for the ribeye with peppercorn sauce side which was amazing, One of the best steaks I have had in a long time… maybe ever!!! The salted caramel profiteroles were heavenly as ever and service from the team was exceptional. Keep it up guys.

I read about the white inn new ownership in our local magazine. I went with my husband and mum one evening. It did not disappoint all 3 of us had incredible food!!! So delicious pub grub and really great staff too thank you - we’ll...

We have just come home having visited this pub, our village local, for a regular drink. I am still shaken and hurt at the way we were treated. To have been told that our group were arrogant and rude was unbelievable. My husband is the...

My best friend and I stopped here for lunch and a refreshing ice cold drink on the hottest day of the year so far! The welcome from the staff was super friendly. We sat outside with our drinks and ordered food at the bar which...

This was our first time eating here and we had a lovely relaxed lunch. Our starters were absolutely superb and the mains were creative and delicious. One of the best meals I’ve had in a long while.

Just had a wonderful lunch here, delicious food, friendly service and good beer. The chicken liver parfait was full of flavour and the Wagyu burger melted in the mouth. Superb !

Everything was absolutely spot on, what a gem! All of our food was delicious, everything perfectly cooked and brilliant service. Super friendly staff, lovely location and a great atmosphere. Can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely amazing. The staff are friendly and happy, and the owners are such lovely people! The quality and care they put into the meals and desserts are worth every penny, as for the finest selection of wines, some now from local wineries, absolutely stunning. Keep...

I ordered the wagu beef burger and skinny fries for around £16 I believe the other meal in our party that was ordered was the chicken supreme which sounded amazing and was priced at £19.50, so we were expecting something really spectacular when the meal...

The food that arrived was good, but unfortunately one meal did not arrive! Apparently they were able to charge for the meal but not ‘send it to the kitchen’. We are still waiting for the refund! The poached eggs and beans on toast at home...

I went with a group of 14 for lunch. We had prebooked. Beforehand and on the day everything went like clockwork. The room had been arranged as I had requested, the waiting and bar staff were very friendly and efficient. The food was absolutely excellent....

Anniversary dinner, disapointing menu, limited selection & no specials. The food we ordered was nice enough but nothing special. Overall a bit boring and overpriced, especially the wine, we will not be going back.

Glad to see the White Lion succeeding but pricing maybe needs a bit of care - while pub overheads are clearly up, £25 (and £27.50 inc 10% service charge if part of a meal?) seems eye-wateringly high as a threshold for a bottle of wine,...

This is a very unBritish British pub. On the Friday and Sunday we were there the staff (as far as I could see all natives) gave every impression of enjoying their jobs, liking each other and the customers. It was almost disconcerting. For a moment...

Great lunch and dinner spot Lovely to have a local pub, that has got the top 3 things right... Friendly welcome, a resident chef who cooks really well and good service. Food is very good but pub prices generally are creeping up, despite this you...

This is no longer a proper pub. (BTW it is in Thakeham, not Pulborough). The objective seems to be to ratchet up average customer spend by charging absurd prices - quite likely at the cost of not encouraging return visits. The underlying tone of the...

Been here to eat a couple of times. Food is always of a very good standard. Lovely warm atmosphere. No complaints at all. Will be back

This was our 3rd Sunday lunch at the white lion since it reopened and once again thoroughly enjoyed it! The new owners are doing a fantastic job! The staff are incredibly friendly and nothing is too much trouble. The roasts are so generous in portion...

Eaten here on several occasions and never been disappointed with quality of food and wine. Friendly, warm, inviting atmosphere and staff. Menu provides a good choice of items, more than adequate as with all good establishments. Wine list offers a good choice with clear pricing....

Great atmosphere, well thought out dishes which are very upmarket for a local pub and a brilliant selection of wine. All well priced and combined with brilliant service. Cannot wait to come again!

Absolutely delicious dinner here with friends. Great atmosphere, great table by a lovely fire, just the kind of pub and food you want, a real gem.

A delightful restaurant with excellent service. Staff very friendly and helpful. Never felt rushed. I much prefer short menu choices and this fit the bill perfectly. I had a superb smoked haddock starter and my wife had roasted mackerel which was also excellent. Main course...

We visited your pub on Saturday 18th March 2023 for an evening meal with friends. Our experience was very poor. Firstly we were seated at a table for 5 but had booked for 6 so after a bit of messing around managed to get comfortable....

This was meant to be a special night out with good friends and we all felt very disappointed with our meals and the service. I wish we had read the reviews on trip adviser before we booked as clearly there is an ongoing problem. We...

We have eaten a few times at the white lion since it has reopened and have never been disappointed. The food is absolutely delicious, with the menu changing frequently so we can always find something different to eat. The fires are always lit adding to...

This is by far the best local pub in the area the food is exceptional, it’s extremely well priced for the quality and the staff welcoming, friendly and helpful. On our recent visit we had starter’s of calamari and homemade fishcake followed by the roast...

Poor show really, slow service and would love to see more choice on the menu, something a bit more creative and different

I’ve had many a meal here and it never disappoints, outstanding food. Ashley and Julia really do know their onions. Service is always brilliant too, friendly, funny service with a smile.

I had a lovely relaxed evening at the atmospheric and cosy White Lion. The food was delicious, I highly recommend the guinea fowl and the rhubarb buttermilk panacotta. The service was good and there is an interesting wine list. The roaring open fires make it...

Myself and my husband have spent quite a few afternoons enjoying drinks at the bar since the re-opening of this pub. They have a wide, well thought out range of drinks and fairly priced too. We have also had two meals here in the last...

Visited for lunch and dinner on at least three occasions in January. The short rib was amazing and the lamb rump excellent. Calamari starter a winner too. Service staff very welcoming and friendly. Best pub in the area for food

We booked a table of 20 for Sunday Lunch, they were already busy but managed to squeeze us in their lovely gun room with a roaring open fire. The owner came out and introduced himself to us and to the lovely friendly waitress that was...

Nice bar but sadly no sandwiches available. Food overpriced so did not eat. Shame as walker’s loved coming here for a pint and a sandwich.

Disappointing and expensive. We are local and menu was somewhat limited . Service fairly quick and staff were polite . Standard of food not as good as it used to be. Biggest shock was the cost and automatic service charge . Will not be returning...

Entry was via the front door rather than from the car park as of old. Warmly greeted, in both senses, by the staff and by a blazing fire in the grate. Good varied menu and good value.

We have had the pleasure of drinking & dining at The White Lion on multiple occasions since they reopened a few months back and honestly haven’t got anything bad to say! Everything has always been perfect- the food is truly incredible nothing quite compares! The...

Nice little pub menu very limited Service was slow and the front of the house waiting staff need to smile Training needs to be provided Wouldn't go back

Service poor. Waitresses need proper training. Food good but the menu needs to change more frequently. Dessert menu very disappointing.

Tonight we had such a lovely meal at the White Lion. Our great Aunt had passed away a year ago today and she loved the White Lion, she had so many memories and stories she would tell us. We had only visited once before a...

Our classic car club held their Annual Dinner this year at a newly refurbished The Red Lion Ashington. As we had 24 members booked we needed close cooperation with the manager to ensure a great evening. This was provided with discussing the ideal table layout,...

Our first time eating here and we were not disappointed. A very warm welcome when we arrived. The food was cooked to perfection and presented well. The profiteroles were to die for. Good selection of wines to suit all budgets. We cannot fault anything and...

We visited this pub off the beaten track on a lunchtime in the pre Christmas run up. Good range of real ales, good wine list; the dining area is not large and in one area the tables and chairs are close together so not much...

Beautiful scenic country pub with a cute cosy fire and separate drinkers saloon. Food was delicious and good value for money. The experience of these chefs really shows, could not fault anything. Wonderful date night spot Dog friendly also which is a bonus! Do your...

This pub has just been taken over by a young professional couple who are steeped in delivering fine cuisine in fine establishments close by but are now going it alone at The White Lion In the village of Thakeham near Storrington and Pulborough, we booked...

Popped in for a quick pre-dinner drink in this old pub now re-opened under new management. It was great. Clearly popular with locals;.both bars were nicely busy with cheery folk and there was a great atmosphere. Harveys beer is well kept and served at cellar...

First time we have visited this pub even though we are local, we were shown through to a small room that was very draughty even though there was a fire lit, there was a strong smell of burnt food that lingered throughout the meal and...

Went for Sunday Lunch catch up with friends. Had three courses all of which were incredible, roast belly pork was a particular highlight with amazing crackling. Lovely wine to accompany the lunch. The pub has a warm atmosphere for all ages, friendly attentive staff who...

I have the absolute pleasure of living around the corner from this pub. I’ve now had a few meals here and I can honestly say the food is flawless. I’d recommend the short rib for meat lovers, it’s melt in your mouth good. There’s plenty...

I cannot fault anything about the food and service we received this evening! From start to finish the service was fabulous.. the food and drinks were amazing! The staff friendly and attentive but not overbearing! The burger was delicious as was the desert, we’ve already...

We have been waiting for the pub to open for months, and this was our first visit. We couldn’t have been happier!! As a Coeliac, eating out is often a leap of faith. But, I couldn’t have been better looked after! I had the beef...

We have been waiting to return to the White Lion for a while and it was brilliant to see it back to its best! The new owners were really welcoming and we had a lovely evening! The food was great and service friendly and quick....

We used to visit the White Lion often in its previous incarnation…this was the first time since it has reopened, and I was very disappointed. The burger, as my title suggests, was cold, the chips seemed to come from the bottom of the pan, and...

We were looking forward to returning to the White Lion after it was closed for so long. My husband chose the beer battered fish and chips at £16.95 (which was very good) and I chose the Cornish cod with leeks and potato at £18.50. The...

After a long awaited reopening, myself and 3 friends booked for dinner. On entering the atmosphere was nice, with a log fire burning. After being seated and checking the drinks menu, we were all shocked at the price of the alcoholic drinks, in particular a...

After a long period of closure, it's great to have The White Lion open again. Our first visit was for Sunday Lunch and it was reassuring to see that the place was full with a great atmosphere. Although it was very busy, service was prompt...

We so wanted our first visit since it reopened to be as good as it used to be but it was far from it sadly - in terms of the food (portion size, variety and quality) and service. We were sat at our table for...

Great that this Pub has opened it's doors again! We love coming here after a good long walk. However, the coffee/cappucino cups are a bit on the small side.

This place is immense - food amazing and to see it so busy on a Wednesday evening a huge tribute to the quickly building reputation of this pub that has re-opened - to the obvious delight of locals. Great drink, food and fantastic staff that...

Great that The White Lion is open again; well worth the wait! Food and service great! See you again soon.

Great to be back after all this time, can’t fault the food, but a great shout out to the front of house, absolutely faultless every one of them so early on in their reopening. Well done.

Lunched here today with friends, it’s everything you want in a pub, friendly welcoming staff, fabulous food and a great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend.

Now reopened by a lovely couple who have kept the qualities of a true village pub just as it should be - wonderful beer, a very tempting menu (will book next time) and no annoying musak. All success and long may it continue :-)

Shame this beautiful pub is still closed. Hopefully the locals can raise the money and reopen this legendary venue. Will be a shame if the developers get hold of this.

Arrived at 1.40 today (Saturday), I would have thought still in the lunchtime remit. Told kitchen was closed. All we required was a couple of sandwiches and a bottle of wine. Apparently chef preparing for a big order at 2.00. Not sure a cheese sandwich...

I only discovered this place using Trip Advisor - exceptionally friendly staff and most importantly all food homemade and absolutely delicious. Will be recommending to all my friends and family and will be returning again very soon.

We escaped here for a meal last week to avoid the football (sorry England!) and both the food and the welcome were faultless as always. Our starters and our mains were delicious, sadly no room for desert! Good honest pub food beautifully presented, what’s not...

We first started using the White Lion in the Spring of 2019 and visited virtually every Saturday night and, once a month, or more if we had guests, to eat as well. We had some great meals and then of course lockdown hit everything. Even...

Wonderful lunch! The marquee is ideal and the food and service excellent! I am particularly grateful for the vegan options. It’s a real treat to have a choice and very rare! Everyone really enjoyed their lunch, thank you! 👏👏

Another lovely evening spent here, this time outside in the marquee so that we could meet up with our friends. A pleasant welcome as always and great food, still plenty of choice despite the current Covid situation. See you again when Tier 4 restrictions are...

Enjoyed a delicious meal here having not been here since before lockdown, the food was excellent as always, a friendly welcome as before and all Covid safe. Our dog very much enjoyed meeting the pub dogs too so he throughly enjoyed his evening, as did...

They say the harder the place is to find the better the place which is true here too. Considering we brought our pet rabbit on a lead of course to this pub the staff were very kind and considerate.outstanding food lovely garden too. Especially deserts

We ordered a three course take away meal from the The White Lion in Thakeham as an Anniversary treat for my wife and I. We knew the White Lion was great place to eat before the lockdown so we were looking forward to see what...

We have had a takeway each of the past three Saturdays and have been delighted on each occasion. The food is plentiful, tasty and - where appropriate - hot. Would definitely recommend.

Just had the Takeaway Sunday Roast during COVID-19 lockdown.... amazing. So easy to order and pay over the phone. Arrive, pick up your order. Back home, 20 mins in the oven.... perfection!

The White Lion was recommended to us by Oakford Homes on the Abingworth Meadows estate and what a recommendation! A fantastic little pub tucked away in Thakeham with a great range of beers and lagers with a brilliant range of home made food. The dinners...

I've been to this pub to eat several times now and the level of service, quality of food and drink is amazingly everytime. On this occasion, I selected the vegan burrito option for my main and I was immensely impressed with the taste the presentation...

What could be better after a delightful dog walk than a delicious lunch, friendly service and great beer! Having eaten here a couple of times now, the food and service has been consistently good. There is plenty of choice, to the point where it is difficult to choose what to order as a main course! The deserts are exceptionally good too - Today the Black Forest desert with Baileys cream was a true indulgence and absolutely delicious! Thank you for a lovely afternoon.

Restaurante en un edificio con mucha historia en la campiña británica. Aprovechando un viaje de trabajo paramos a mitad de camino y pudimos comer una hamburguesa contundente. Estaba, en mi opinión, muy hecha pero en general estaba muy bien.

Feels like a locals pub and we aren't locals. Staff are really friendly and took to the teasing we gave them! Staff were very patient, as 3 of our party were held up in traffic, didn't phase them at all.It was a bit difficult to read the specials board, and thank goodness for cameras on phones. Again a member of the team took the photo for us, just no issues with anything we asked for.Food is very good and good size portions - ribs were especially good! Wide selection of specials off the main menu, though there is a good choice on the standard menu. The only thing I was surprised about was the vegetarian choice, when I looked on the website it seemed quite wide, but on the night it was a little limited.This was quite a drive fr all of us as it was in the middle of where we all live so took over an hour to get to, I would say it was worth it!

We pre-booked a table on a cold evening and fortunately the table was well inside and away from the outside door - so lovely and cosy.Good attention to service with drinks but slightly slower with dishes being served at the same time.They catered well for vegetarians and really wish I had chosen a veggie meal as the publicised fish pie was on hand. - a real disappointment and had obviously been reheated numerous times as all the fish had disinterested!. I was very disappointed but pleased my guests were happy with their dishes and wish I had tried an alternative.As we are new residents of Thakeham with numerous visitors we are hoping that the next visit will be a better experience.

My uncle lives nearby so we visit it at times when we’re visiting. Guaranteed decent meal in a cosy village pub, never disappointed with the food quality.

Lovely charming pub, great food and really good atmosphere. My steak could have been slightly rarer and the service wasn’t bad considering how busy it was.

We arrived for dinner, the pub is small and quaint.

Looking after the neighbours dog gave me the opportunity for a long walk and re-visiting one of my favourite pubs.Always a pleasure to go there ,lovely old village pub with 3 bars , staff are friendly and on the ball,good range of real ales and ciders.An extensive menu and the food has always been of a high standard. I have a feeling I will be borrowing the dog on a regular basis.

We were staying nearby and stumbled across this pub. Great atmosphere lots of spaniels (one more from us) food was fabulous home cooked and hot! Great beers and wine we will be back thanks

We had a very good meal special the lamb it was in the high standard the service was good it’s a local pub in a beautiful village mostly use by locals lovely people very welcoming it was good