The Halfway Bridge
Lodsworth, Sussex
Good Hotel Guide Review
Halfway between historic Midhurst and the antiques hot spot of Petworth, this 250-year-old inn is owned by Janet and Sam Bakose, who also have The Crab & Lobster in Sidlesham (see entry), with Clyde Hollett skippering both kitchens. And is it good? Not half, said our inspectors, who found a ‘near pitch-perfect Great British inn experience’. Bedrooms in Cowdray Barns, a converted stable block across a quiet country road, are joined this year by a new shepherd’s hut. The ‘barn’ rooms are a mix of rustic features and contemporary decor, perhaps a floor-to-ceiling window. Our inspectors’ ‘very comfortable room’ would have been improved by a ‘large-screen TV, dressing table/desk and full-length mirror’ but was supplied with fresh milk. The ‘comfortably cosy’ bar has inglenooks and beams. In dining areas, under parasols on the lawn, and in the new covered alfresco dining area, there is ‘pub-style grub’ that is ‘really well cooked with excellent ingredients’, such as braised lamb shank with mint and orange gravy. You can expect a ‘first-class breakfast’, too. The A272, which passes by, is so scenic, it has inspired a book, Ode to a Road.
Hotel details
Address
Lodsworth
Petworth
Sussex
GU28 9BP
England
Telephone
01798 861281
Bedrooms
8. In converted stables, 165 yds from main building.
Open
all year.
Facilities
bar, restaurant, in-room TV (Freeview), bar terrace, small beer garden, unsuitable for disabled.
Background music
‘quiet’ in bar and restaurant.
Children
all ages welcomed, extra bed £40.
Dogs
allowed in bar area and garden only.
Credit cards
Amex, MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from £135, singles from £95. Set lunch menu (Mon–Sat) £22–£26, à la carte £32. 1-night bookings refused Fri and Sat, when single occupancy is charged at full double rate.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
The Halfway Bridge
- The Good Pub Guide: 6 top pubs with rooms in Sussex
Information from the 2022 Good Hotel Guide.