Beach House Park — Attraction in Worthing

1 / 1

WARNING TO DOG WALKERS

This is a very pleasant park which we use quite frequently when walking from the Lyndhurst Road car park to the sea front with our dogs.

This is not primarily a review of the park, however: it is a warning to dog owners to beware of two aggressive and dangerous dogs we encountered yesterday afternoon (around 3.45 p.m. on 31 May). On our way through the park, we noticed a man (aged about 30) with two dogs on leads (a dark brown French bulldog (probably male) and a medium-sized black and white dog, which appeared to be a cross of some kind – probably a pitbull cross or some other bull breed). The man passed us some distance away and joined a woman of a similar age with a small toddler. Shortly afterwards the French bulldog ran away from them at high speed and made straight for our own French bulldog; to our great surprise and shock (particularly given that, in our experience, such behaviour is not typical of the breed), it attacked our dog. It was followed by the other dog, which joined in the attack. We were able to lift both our dogs out of harm’s way before any serious damage was done, and the aggressive dogs’ owner managed to restrain them, while muttering an apology. He then left the park with his family.

On this occasion, we managed to protect our dogs from serious harm, but it was a close shave; and someone less agile or less able to lift a dog (such as an elderly person, of whom a number could be seen in the park) might have fared less well. So please be aware of this if you take your dogs to Beach House Park.

As for the aggressive dogs’ owner, in the unlikely event that you read this, you need to ensure:

a. that your dogs are muzzled in public places;

b. that your (very young) child is not put at risk of injury by your dogs; and

c. that you try to learn how to keep them away from other dogs: not letting go of their leads would be...

Between Worthing Hospital and the coast road, Beach House Park is set out with multiple quiet, green garden spaces. You can easily find a place for some time for yourself, but also meet friends - or even get married- at the now very lovely Palm Court Cafe. Some of the now unused bowling greens are still waiting for their makeovers, but you get the sense that there’s a long term plan rather than just disuse. The carpark area North of the park gives little clue how lovely the gardens are. The best entrance is from Brighton Road to the South. Five stars for the park itself and Palm Court Cafe, but the temporary carpark overspill for the hospital loses it one...

Well worth a stroll around. There is, I think, the only memorial to carrier pigeons, possibly in the UK. Remembering their service during both WW1 and WW2. The gardens are well maintained. Although the tennis courts are now being used as a car park. There's a delightful bistro - Palm Court Pavilion, smack in the middle which is useful! There's currently a vegetable plot reminding us how open spaces like this were used, again during WW1 and WW2, to grow additional food. Depending on the time of year this park is closed at night. The car park is accessible via Lynhurst...