The Victory Inn, Staplefield

The Victory Inn, Staplefield is a traditional country pub in a picturesque setting, which has become known for its excellent home-cooked food.

The evening menu has starters including gambas pil pil, stuffed mushrooms, and smoked haddock rarebit. Mains include Stilton and walnut shortcake, Goan fish curry, and home-made burger and chips, with sharing platters of tapas or seafood also on offer.

The mains, sharing platters, and some of the starters are also available at lunch, along with ploughman’s or hot and cold sandwiches. There are plenty of vegetarian options for both lunch and dinner. The pub specialises in fish, with a regularly updated specials board. All desserts are homemade.

Last year, review website thesussexreview.co.uk called The Victory “a great little food pub that shines especially in the summer. Looking at the competition nearby, this is easily the best of the bunch.”

And on customer review site beerintheevening.co.uk, pub-goers said it was “consistently good – recommended”, and a “great little pub, well worth a visit”. One reviewer said

“The idyllic surroundings were made even better by the excellent service and delicious food. The staff was cheerful and talkative and all five of our meals and puddings were very good… We are disappointed that we didn't discover this pub earlier.”

On restaurant-guide.com, one customer wrote: “We've always enjoyed the excellent food there… Seafood is a particular speciality - the skate and monkfish are the best I've had in England - perfectly prepared and presented. I recommend anyone to try it and you won’t be disappointed.”

The Victory is on Warninglid Road, Staplefield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EU. Contact them on 01444 400463 or janepedgrift@gmail.com.