Shepherd and Dog, Fulking.
I have been to the Shepherd and Dog in Fulking many times over the years and I keep coming back. I think it must be the quirkiness of the layout. It’s higgledy-piggledy. It looks as if it has spread out over the years and has now become a cosy, quaint rambling pub. It’s a great addition to my Historic Pubs of Sussex.
Table of Contents
Key Info
As usual on these reviews, we were not paid to do it, we paid for our own food and drink out of our own pockets and the staff had no idea we were reviewing! Therefore, I feel our review is exactly as you would experience when visiting the pub.
The music that greets you when you enter is not offensive or loud, it’s a pleasant sort of background music. The bar is, once you find it with its unique layout, well stocked with real ales – some local, some from further afield and it has an excellent wine list too! With a good worldwide selection of whites, roses, reds and even a dessert wine, the obligatory Sauterne.
Inside
This time I sat in the cosy restaurant with its inglenook fireplace and garlands of hops on the ceiling. Before in high summer, I have sat outside and the view of the South Downs rising steeply behind it is quite breathtaking.
Menu
The mid-priced menu has something for everyone and I went for the line-caught cod in batter with hand-cut chips. When it arrived – extremely quickly I might add as it was a quiet Monday, the presentation was marvellous, as you can see in the photo. To explain this oddity to those who don’t know, in the olden days, proper British fish and chips were served in an old newspaper. This led to the British phrase ‘today’s front page, tomorrows chip wrapper’. You can’t do that anymore, probably due to health and safety, but they had the next best thing.
The food was and exactly to my taste, crispy batter on the outside with moist crumbly white cod on the inside. The chips were indeed hand cut and there were more than enough to satisfy my appetite. I paired a Monsant Catar Tinto with the fish. I tend not to hold with tradition and have white wines with white meats; usually, I tend to go for something reliable or completely off the wall.
This was the first time I’d tried this Monsant from Catalonia and I was suitably impressed. Some may consider it a little heavy at 14% to accompany fish, but let’s face it; everybody’s taste buds are different. I would say never feel obliged to match the wine with the meat colour. If you want something else instead, go for it! It’s better to drink something you want than sit and drink something you feel you should.
Obviously, menus change over the seasons but every time I go to the Shepherd and Dog, I always find something that works for me on the menu.
The pub is especially popular with cyclists and walkers, thanks to its location.
A spring, just outside the pub
Information About the Shepherd and Dog
Prices: Mid-Range up to £17 for a main. See the full menu here. The menu had notes on gluten, vegetarian and other dietary requirements.
Where / Directions: Click on the map to get Google directions
Shepherd and dog, Fulking
When: 7 Days a Week, Lunch 12-4, Dinner 6-9
Website: http://shepherdanddogpub.co.uk/
Useful Books
To reiterate, I don’t do paid reviews and I only include pubs that have something notable about them. However, If you know a pub that you think would make a good addition to this list, for historical or quirky reasons, leave a comment below in the ‘Post a Comment‘ section right at the bottom of the page. If it looks interesting, I will do one of my stealth visits and the review will be posted here. Not every pub makes the cut – perhaps three quarters do for various reasons. And the various reasons for a pub not making the cut are; bad service, bad food, bad experience and just plain boring..!
For the rest of my Historic Pubs of Sussex list, see below
The Duke of Cumberland Arms – Henley
All prices correct at time of writing.
If you are looking for Historic Pubs in Surrey, click here.
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