Nestled in the rolling hills of the South Downs lies a diddy commuter town which lives and breathes quintessential Britain, and it also happens to be home to the winner of the Great British Pub Awards 2022.
Findon put its name on the map thanks to the success and accolades won by The Gun Inn. Named the Overall Great British Pub of the Year & Marstons Pub of the Year, it was praised for its charm and character, dating back to 1619.
Sally Harris, the pub’s lessee, a former art teacher added her own creative touches to the multi-roomed interior and a pretty garden under an ivy-clad wall. They also put on a number of themed nights such as ‘French Night’ with a prix fixe three-course meal, including a complimentary glass of vino; a quiz night; and a specialty Sunday lunch.
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But what can you find on the menu at the UK’s best pub? You’ll find the likes of burrata with wild garlic pesto, watercress and croutons; asparagus, potato and wild garlic frittata and mojo-rojo sauce; and slow braised lamb belly with purple sprouting broccoli, potato croquette and salsa verde.
Attractions
You won’t be surprised to hear that this quintessentially British village is home to few attractions. Set in the rolling hills of the West Sussex countryside, a focal point of the area is the Cissbury Ring.
Now owned by the National Trust , the ring is located on the most historic hill on the South Downs. Excavated during the Victorian era, the ring is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is designated a Scheduled monument for its Neolithic flint mine and Iron Age hillfort.
According to the National Trust, radiocarbon dating on material from all Britain’s flint mines during the 1970s showed that mines in Sussex were the earliest in the country. During the early Bronze Age Cissbury appears to have been used as a ritual burial ground.
During the Second World War, a large anti-tank ditch was excavated around the entire hill and anti-aircraft guns were positioned across the highest part of the ridge within the fort. Later in the war the north slope of Cissbury Hill was used in military exercises in preparation for the invasion of Europe.
History plagued by the Black Death
Findon is steeped in centuries-old history. From its 11th century church parish, Neolithic Cissbury Ring, and brush with the Black Death.
As the Black Death ravaged populations across Europe in the 14th century, Sussex villages including Hamsey and Exceat were completely abandoned. Findon suffered a similar fate as the once thriving village was left empty until people decided to resettle centuries in the 16th and 17th centuries, according to SussexLive.
Food & Drink
Apart from being home to the number one pub in the country, the tiny village of Findon also has some other crackers on offer. The Coffee Camp is the top rated cafe in the vicinity, boasting a perfect score on Tripadvisor.
Starting off as a mobile coffee van (more specifically, a 1961 VW split screen panel van called Tallulah), The Coffee Camp served up steaming cups of Joe at corporate events and weddings before finally getting a permanent spot in Findon in 2018. The cafe has now cemented itself as a hub of the local community, bringing specialty Colombian roasted coffee and artisanal pastries to the masses.
For an intimate and elegant dinner, the Sylvan Oak serves up British and European grub with a modern twist. Find the likes of White crab meat with sweet pea panna cotta and pink grapefruit; Seared scallop and king prawns sambal pawpaw and pear chaat masala puree; and Chicken breast Valdostana with morel mushrooms, broad beans and smoked leeks, and a thyme veloute on the menu.
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How to get there
You can catch a train from Victoria Station to Horsham, before getting a bus directly to Findom, which will take around an hour and fifty minutes. Or for a scenic drive, it’ll take just under two hours.
See more accommodation options on Booking.com and Hotels.com . You can book UK and European trains – including cheap Eurostar tickets – on Trainline .
Great British Pub Award 2022 winners:
- Great British Pub of the Year – The Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex
- Admiral Pub of the Year – The Dartford Sports Bar, Dartford, Kent
- Best City/Urban Pub or Bar – Strait and Narrow, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
- Best Country/Rural Pub – The Three Hills, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire
- Best Pub for Dogs – The Bellflower, Garstang, Lancashire
- Best Pub for Entertainment – The Saddle Inn, Chester, Cheshire
- Best Pub for Families – Ye Olde Bridge Inn, Oxton, Nottinghamshire
- Best Pub for Food – The Shibden Mill, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Best Pub Garden – Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire
- Best Pub to Watch Sport – The Famous Three Kings, Fulham, London
- Best Sustainable Pub – The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire
- Community Hero – The Lion in Treorchy, Wales
- Greene King Pub of the Year – The Greene Oak, Windsor, Berkshire
- Marston’s Pub of the Year – The Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex
- Punch Pub of the Year – The Red Lion, Guildford, Surrey
- Star Pub of the Year – The Red Lion, Shepperton, Surrey
- Stonegate Pub of the Year – The Old Windmill, Coventry, West Midlands
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