Sunday 12 May 2024

12/05/24 - The Pubs of Wittering, West Sussex

Missing Out on Rock and Roll Folklore


A walk between the Witterings......  

East Wittering - Bucket and spade shops. Topless men with tattoos, carrying boxes of Madri to the stony beach. The town sport seems to be endlessly riding a pony and trap up and down the High Street. Topless. With tattoos.

West Wittering - The beach is sandier, broader and the family patriarchs are fully dressed.

A pub at either end.

A walk between the two is found on Komoot. Along the English Coast Path, checking out more superb housing stock and considering why people who have curtains don't use them. Our favourite - a couple of old dodderers in one of the undeveloped original "shacks" breakfasting in bed in their PJs. I suppose if you have view, you should maximise it.

English Coastal Walking
English Coast Prom Walking

An optional loop of the Dunes at the estuary. Marked as National Trust on the map and plenty of instructions to not disturb the birds. Shade found as we walk up the estuary to loop back down Ella Nore Lane.

The Dunes at the Spit, Wittering
The Spit in sandy West Wittering

Chichester Estuary Views
Sailing on the Chichester Estuary

Pub 1: The Witterings. Centre piece of West Wittering Village, we catch it at opening time, waiting for the official scrape of the midday bolt in their suntrap garden.

The Witterings, West Wittering
Team Mappiman deciding whether its open or not
The Witterings
Our drinks show it is

A little of what you would expect from a holiday pub. Arbitrary rules, like only food ordered from the outside menu can be eaten outside. Food from the indoor menu must be eaten inside. Lunatics, who would eat a Sunday Lunch in the mid twenties sunshine, possibly needing protecting from themselves.

Onwards with the walk, where we head South back to the beach. A little bit more planning and I could have brought you tales of Marianne Faithful arrested in nothing more than a fur coat, mars bars and asking the question "Who would break a butterfly on a wheel"?

Redlands
Rock and Roll Folklore - Keith Richard's infamous Redlands

Instead, its Pub 2: The Shore Inn, East Wittering. We visited three times and its a proper little gold mine. A Good Beer Guide 2024 entry.... the full Sharps range and a couple of more interesting offerings from Hop Back and Langham Breweries. Possibly at least two cask hand pulls too many, based on the audience beverage preference.

The Shore Inn, East Wittering
East Witterings GBG 2024 Shore Inn

Friday evening saw a packed pub but with efficient service, encouraging outside table sharing with friends we hadn't met yet.

Saturday afternoon - a live band and all too much. Especially, when the drinks were served in plastic glasses. We legged it to the rather unique Pond Barn in Bracklesham Bay. I try and draw the line at plastic pints.

Sunday evening - a chance to see it once the tourists had gone and the local dog walkers felt confident to reclaim their local.

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Komoot

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