The Cat Inn — Restaurant in Mid Sussex

1 review

just now New Shame I can’t give a ZERO star rating!! We have never complained about the food as we were regulars at The Cat..however a few months back we had some food and it wasn’t good at all! We didn’t say anything as we went there regularly and knew the staff well. After at least 6 months we decided to give it ago again and was hoping for a good lunch…this time but it was even worse, it was so bland and no flavour whatsoever. When we complained to the Manager Andrew, he was so rude and disrespectful to us he then put his hand on my husbands arm and said “look” my husband didn’t give him a chance to speak after grabbing his arm and said to him don’t touch me! my husband then offered to pay for some of the meal and certainly for the drinks but Andrew basically told us to leave. Sadly I do not feel this is a Michelin rated pub as it was supposed to have been some years ago and I honestly feel that this pub is very overrated for the service and their quality of food, and you can get a lot better for a lot cheaper in the other local pub just a few steps away around the corner as well as the other amazing pub and food in Turners Hill Which is where we have been eating regularly over the last year or two. This pub is on a seriously downward spiral and it is time for the owner to give it up and as you can clearly see on other peoples one star reviews about this place and Andrews awful attitude in his response to his customers if there is a complaint. Andrew does not have any customer service or people skills whatsoever and for such a lovely pub in a lovely area, this really needs to be taken over now by a proper landlord that will serve consistently good food and serve a much better service and also better caring employees. As far as we are concerned we feel Andrew is so behind times and old-fashioned with his menu service and times have moved on and yet the menu is still pretty much the same as it has been for the last seven years, whereas other pubs we go to in the local area who do much more different food on regular intervals and they give a much nicer service & experience. In fact the chicken had so much almost boiled fat on the skin that my husband actually spat it out and threw it in the bush for the birds !!! So Andrew if you want to see how awful your food was then I suggest you take a Quick look on your CCTV at my husband doing this!! And it was supposed to be nice crispy skinned chicken. I have now started to make a formal complaint to Michelin about...

Some close friends recommend the Cat Inn as they are foodies like us. It was my birthday week so hubby booked us in for dinner and an overnight stay, followed by breakfast. There was parking available upon arrival. The Inn is seeped in history and atmosphere. As soon as you enter the saloon there is a wonderful fire going. We were greeted by Lisa who was very welcoming. Lisa took us to our room (4)and what a lovely room. All the little extra thoughts and attention to detail were much appreciated. The coffee and teas were a varied range and good quality. A large bathroom fully kitted out with towels , robes and flannels. The bed was extremely comfortable with lots of pillows and a lavender pillow spray to help sleep. Now to dinner… Ashley greeted us and such a lovely friendly person. We were placed by the second fire place to eat.

We are real foodies so the review is quite detailed for our fellow foodies!

My husband had the forest mushroom soup followed by the steak and ale pie. I had the rib eye followed by the cheese board. I had never tasted Baron bingod or Balcombe blue cloud. What can we say! Hand on hearts the soup was creamy and deep in flavour delicious. The pie was so tender and tasty and packed full of meat. How we all wish a pie could be & should be but never is. Hubby was commenting at nearly every mouthful 😆 I have had 1000’s steaks in my 59 years from renowned steak restaurants including the Coal Shed. My rib eye quite honestly was the best I have ever tasted. It was melt in the mouth, it was deep in flavour and one didn’t really need a serrated knife to cut through it was so tender. Medium cooked to perfection. The selection of Sussex and local wines were very impressive. Breakfast: I have never described a breakfast as pretty or quaint! I wish I had taken photos! The table had individual pots, jars, vessels etc all filled with little portions for two of corn flakes, muesli, the sweetest tasting blackberries, raspberries, blueberries & strawberries in one bowl. Then the apricots and prunes in two other glass pots. Greek yoghurt and the famous tiny Tiptree jars. A lovely glass jug filed with OJ. Our full English cooked breakfast was perfect portions and not overloaded. The coffee was very good too. Thank you to all the team at The Cat Inn. We are working out when we...

Oh wow. I almost don't want to write this review because The Cat Inn is so good but also a small local pub with only 4 rooms and I want to be able to come back again without everyone else discovering it.||We stayed for a Saturday night in Room 2 (after kindly being bumped up from the slightly smaller Room 4 which we originally booked) and enjoyed an afternoon pint in the bar by the fire and then evening dinner. Having a night away without the kids is a once-a-year-treat and this was our favourite venue yet.||First up, the staff are lovely, welcoming and attentive. Through our stay we saw and spoke to 6 members of the team and they were all great.||I'd recommend Room 2. It is spacious with a little sofa area, big bathroom with bath and rainstorm shower-over and a huge comfy bed. It was on the first floor but quiet and felt very private due to the shape of the old building & the eaves of the roof. We had a brief look in at Room 4, which was up a further small flight of stairs and had similar decor and styling. It was smaller, but still with ample bathroom with bath/shower.||The pub feels cosy with a fireplace and 'nook' corners. It was busy but not heaving on Saturday afternoon with locals. We had been for a winter walk locally and loved coming in from the cold. The pub welcomes walkers but encourages wellies to be left in the entrance hall. Dogs are welcome and we saw 5 or 6 in the bar area throughout the afternoon, all well behaved (I think they all knew there was a jar of dog treats hidden behind the bar).||After the warm welcome and the fab staff, the next best bit was the truly delicious dinner on Saturday night. The pub was full and then fully booked again for Sunday lunch the next day. Which given its January, speaks volumes about how good the food is! ||We are already planning on when we...