insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 03 - May 2015 | Page 57

FOOD+DRINK

PUB GOURMET IN CHICHESTER

The Blacksmiths
Anticipation grew as my sat-nav led me down the home stretch to The Blacksmiths on a
rainy April morning. Anticipation not because I was ready to tame my mist-induced frizzball
of a hairdo, but because I had heard The Blacksmiths near Chichester was a place to go out
of my way for. BY DONNA MARTIN

The newly renovated pub welcomed us
into a warm setting, with wide plank wood
floors, a large bar area and the lovely restaurant
beyond. The Blacksmiths has been refurbished
and redesigned to provide a vibrant and warm
atmosphere, including three beautiful
bedrooms for a cheeky escape from the
ordinary.
As we entered the bar area, we were
warmly greeted and were shown to our table in
their main dining area. The restaurant had an
airy, yet comfortable feel and was full of happy
diners engrossed in quiet conversation
between mouthfuls of wonderful looking
cuisine.
The menu made the most of traditional
local produce, affording genuine freshness and
quality. Some of the many options included
Sussex beer battered fish and chips, venison
cranberry sausages, and a variety of steaks.
After perusing the menu (which includes
classic lunch fare such as sandwiches and pub
bites, as well as more exciting a la carte
dishes), my dining companion and I decided to
share a few: seared scallops with pea purée,
crisp pancetta, pea shoots and vincotto; and a
salad of beetroot, pear, walnuts, watercress

and goats’ curd. The portions were just right
and beautifully presented, and the flavours
fused in sublime harmony. The scallops fat and
succulent, and the salad was fresh and full of
flavoursome ingredients.
For my main I decided on the sautéed
gnocchi with cherry tomato sauce, green
beans and pesto. My guest went straight for
the lamb leg steak with butternut squash
purée, boulangere potato, kale and red wine
sauce.
The gnocchi was definitely homemade
some of the freshest I’ve ever had ( 2FVƖ6