The Crab & Lobster

Birdwatchers flock to this 17th-century inn turned restaurant-with-rooms overlooking Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve. Recent sightings have included spoonbills, spotted flycatchers – and a pair of trusted Guide readers on a return visit. Bedrooms, decorated in pastel hues, have harbour or countryside views. Two are in adjoining Crab Cottage, with a lounge and kitchen. If you stay at the inn, our readers recommend Room 1, which is excellent, with a powerful monsoon shower over the bathtub. Room 2, reached via ‘a twisty staircase’, is under the eaves and lacks headroom. At dinner, based on locally sourced ingredients, ‘the food was brilliant. I had monkfish with crab risotto on the first night, stone bass in a mild curry sauce the next. The puds are a delight.’ At breakfast (from 8 am on weekdays, 8.30 at weekends), more fresh fruit would have been appreciated. The manager, Mark Vincent, and his staff ‘provide exceptional personal service’. Owners Sam and Janet Bakose also have The Halfway Bridge, Lodsworth (see entry), while chef Clyde Hollett oversees both kitchens. (Peter Anderson, MG)