News
News about local pubs, local breweries, cider and anything beer related
- Jodie At the Bedford
Wednesday 16 July 2025
Hot on the heels of the closure of the Malt Shovel comes the re-opening of The Bedford (back of Horsham railway station) under the ownership of the towns other great beer and Music Champion Jodie Munday.
As ever, Jodies focus is on building a 'proper' pub and will shortly see the re-installation of beer engines to supply (initially) three beer lines under the management of real ale enthusiast David. In the meantime Firebird Beers are being served from the barrel.
To the surprise of no-one Music is central to the pub theme and there will be live bands on Saturdays. However, the new layout offers a dedicated space for the popular pool table, the dart board remains, plus there is the quiet sanctuary offered by the side bar.
We wish every success to Jodie, David and their team - especially welcome in such a dark week for the Town
- Malty closes
Tuesday 15 July 2025
Unacceptable lease renewal terms have forced local legends Sam and Marie-Clare to announce that they will be leaving popular town centre pub The Malt Shovel at the end of July, their family home for twelve years.
The impact that the family has had on the local community, particularly the real ale and the music scenes, has been substantial so their departure would be a major blow to many.
A week of musical celebrations preceded the last day of opening on Monday July 14th. - Flying Trunk taproom opens
Saturday 28 June 2025
The new taproom and bottle shop (next door to the old one) is now open from Thursday to Saturday. Full details HERE - Branch Pub of the Year Presentation
Saturday 5 April 2025
The dark beer festival offered us the perfect opportunity to present the PotY award to the team at the Engine Room for the second successive year. In fact it was a double prizegiving as the pub also triumphed as our best cider pub. - Equinox 2025
Monday 24 March 2025
This years festival was another hugely enjoyable success. Thanks to everyone who came along and also to our amazing team of planners, organisers and helpers.
The votes are in for the beers of the festival winners who are:
Dark Beer of the Festival: Kissingate Brewery & Taproom - Choc Cherry Dipper Porter (4.5%)
Light Beer of the Festival: Nightjar Brew Co – Lost in Ikea (4.2%)
Cider of the Festival: Nuthurst Orchard - Passion Fruit Cider (5%)
The Runners up:
Dark Beer: Vocation - Naughty & Nice Chocolate Stout, Flying Trunk – Coffee Way Past Your Bedtime Stout,
Light Beer: Aleworks – All Day Succa, Orkney – Man O’Hoy
Cider: Bignose and Beardy - This Little Piggy, Bignose and Beardy - Barcombe Mad
The certificate presentation to Kissingate will take place at their Spring Festival on 17th May and we will send out a message about arranging travel to the taproom in the next few weeks.
Finally another massive thank you for a new record amount for the event, raising almost £1,100 with your donations to our chosen charity the Horsham & Crawley branch of the Samaritans. - 2025 Branch Pub of the Year announced
Friday 14 March 2025
Congratulations to The Engine Room Bar for winning our branch members vote of Branch Pub of the Year for the second year running and for also picking up the Cider Pub of the Year award!
Once again members were impressed by the ever changing range of beers and ciders, always kept in perfect condition and served by an amazing team.We hope to see you at their Dark Beer Festival on 5th April, from 1pm, when we will present their awards.
Runner up this year for Pub of the Year was the Malt Shovel in Horsham, with the White Horse in Maplehurst runner up for Cider Pub of the Year.
- Horsham Brewhouse rebranded
Friday 6 December 2024
The Horsham Brewhouse and Kitchen has had it's brewing equipment removed and the premises has been refurbished, rebranded and reopened as The Rock Craft House
- Harveys visit
Saturday 2 November 2024
Accompanied by our friends from the Western Sussex branch were fortunate to have the amazing Miles Jenner to take us on a fascinating brewery and local history tour of the Harvey's Brewery in Lewes.