The Fountain — Restaurant in Chichester

I had a bad experience here today. I just popped in for two drinks with my mum. We ordered our drinks and when I went to pay (with my card) the bar lady looked down at the card reader ( which was off) and looked up at me, blank faced, and just said " my card reader is off"... and I was left to think, well what does that mean? I looked around and there were no signs to say it was cash only. And that was my response to her, I said "there's no sign saying you're cash only and I have no cash" And she replied "don't worry about it then" ...???...which left me confused. I said "should I go and get some cash and come back and pay?" Because I was uncomfortable with the thought that I was just taking drinks without paying for them. And she replied " yea, that would be good..." Very nonchalantly like she honestly didn't care. Luckily my mum had a tenner and I was able to come back to the bar and pay. It was a very confusing exchange. If it was cash only there should be signs, and if there was a bit of a miscommunication, perhaps they could have been a bit more politeness given from the bar ladies side of things. I actually ended up talking to another customer who had the same conversation with the bar lady who said she was very rude to her. Overall, not a very...

Five stars because it is what I expected and a little bit more. It is not pretentious, it is an old English pub that serves food. It has not become totally food oriented; so many pubs now are restaurants in disguise. It is possible to go in and just have a beer and a random conversation, I have chatted to complete strangers about molecular biology, the weather, technology and music (I avoided politics and religion!) In the last year. I have sampled the food a few times and have never been disappointed.

On my visit today I found one particular lady behind the bar to be patient beyond the call of duty. She was listenning to the rantings of an elderly chap, she managed to look intetested in what he was saying at the same time as serving several other people. A gifted lady!

I will be returning in the near future to sample some food in a comfortable...

Absolutely disappointed. Had to wait ages for a member of staff to appear at the bar. Had to wait ages for our burger and chips so yes i had to order another 2 beers while waiting for our food. No central heating as the radiators weren't on as broken. The power points also not working had to ask bar staff if there was anywhere I could charge my phone and she replied yes but in the kitchen! Eventually the landlady appeared. My god did she look rough. Looked like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards she looked that scruffy. Her hair looked like it never seen a come or brush. Put it this way I've been better pubs than the fountain. I won't be returning as I don't like the...