The Black Horse

recently visited The Black Horse for a business lunch on a Wednesday, arriving at midday, and my first impression was one of genuine delight. Having frequented the pub many years ago, it was wonderful to see how sympathetically and beautifully it has been restored. The building has retained all of its character whilst being immaculately presented, making it a lovely place to spend a leisurely lunch. We chose to sit outside and, despite having booked for noon, service was unfortunately rather slow to get underway. Drinks took quite some time to arrive, and with colleagues conscious of afternoon commitments, we eventually moved ourselves to one of the covered outdoor tables. What truly stood out, however, was the team's knowledge and passion for the food. The staff spoke confidently about the menu and its provenance, which was one of the main reasons we chose to visit, particularly given the pub's well-earned reputation and its close association with Nutbourne Vineyard. The food itself took a little while to arrive, made more noticeable by the fact that several tables seated after us had already been served and were finishing their meals. Five of our six guests chose the burrata salad, which was clearly popular, but when our dishes eventually arrived, any frustration quickly disappeared. The food was exceptional—beautifully presented, fresh, full of flavour and exactly what we had hoped for. Whilst the service could certainly have been more attentive and better paced, the quality of the food, the stunning surroundings and the character of this beautifully restored country pub more than made up for it. With a little more polish on the service, The Black Horse would be very difficult to fault. I'll certainly be returning.