The Black Swan Pub
One of the oldest surviving buildings in Pease Pottage, the Black Swan was known as the James King for several years in the 1980s and 90s in honour of one of the founders of the Horsham-based brewers, King and Barnes. When King and Barnes were bought out and closed down, the pub reverted to its original name.
The Black Swan is now one of more than 200 pubs owned by the Hall and Woodhouse organisation. Hall and Woodhouse closed down and demolished The Grapes, leaving the Black Swan as the only pub in Pease Pottage. The nearest non-chain pub is the Royal Oak Inn in Handcross, about three miles to the south.
Barry Ray’s Slaugham Archives website includes many old photographs of the Black Swan dating back more than 100 years.
Features
The Black Swan has been renovated and extended, with an olde worlde, timber-beamed theme throughout.
The pub features:
- Beer: a good selection of Badger Ales, as well as the usual range of wines, spirits and soft drinks.
- Food: The pub’s website states (in October 2015) that “we use regional food partners, typically from family businesses like us, who provide us with quality ingredients …” blah, blah. The Black Swan is operated by a large, centrally managed chain, so it offers standard pub grub from the standard Hall and Woodhouse menu rather than hand-crafted gastro-pub delicacies. The quality is usually pretty good, prices are reasonable, and the service is almost always quick and efficient. Just don’t take the ‘pub restaurant’ marketing blurb too seriously.
- A sizeable beer garden at the back of the premises.
- Car parking for up to 59 cars, including spaces reserved for disabled badge holders. Coaches are welcome by appointment. The car park can fill up when the pub is busy, but there are other places to park in Pease Pottage.
- Disabled access: a wheelchair ramp and an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities.
- Heated canopies by the front entrance.
- A function room.
- A free wireless internet connection.
- A defibrillator, located in a cabinet close to the main entrance.
- Piped music, if you like that sort of thing, and even if you don’t.
Opening Hours
- Monday to Saturday: 11:30am to 11pm
- Sunday: mid-day to 10.30pm
Meals are served:
- Monday to Thursday: mid-day to 9:30pm
- Friday and Saturday: mid-day to 10:00pm
- Sunday: not mentioned on the pub’s website, but used to be mid-day to 9:00pm
(Opening hours are correct as of May 2018.)
Christmas Opening and Menu
The Black Swan is usually open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, and closed on New Year’s Day.
The Black Swan usually offers a Christmas party menu throughout the festive season. For up-to-date details, phone the pub on 01293 612261.
Reviews of the Black Swan, Pease Pottage
Location and Directions
From the M23 (at junction 11) or the A23:
- Follow the signs towards Pease Pottage.
- Go past the motorway service station.
- Take the third exit (i.e. turn right) at the small roundabout.
- As you cross the bridge over the A23, you’ll see the Black Swan ahead of you.
Similar, but not Identical
The Black Swan in Horsham Road, Pease Pottage, is not the same animal as the Swan in Horsham Road, Crawley, about 3 miles to the north.
As of May 2018, the pub’s website describes the Black Swan variously as a “pub restaurant in Crawley”, a “pub restaurant situated in Crawley”, and “a Pub Restaurant in Old Brighton Road, West Sussex, UK.” Hmm.
Contact Details
- website
- blackswanpeasepottage.co.uk
- blackswan.crawley@hall-woodhouse.co.uk
- phone
- 01293 612261
- address
- Horsham Road, Pease Pottage, Sussex, RH11 9AJ