"I’d identified this pub as a lunch stop due to its varied food menu and association with the esteemed Dark Star brewery. On arrival we found that it’s no longer owned by Dark Star, and hence no longer the brewery tap, but that proved to...Not Be A Bad Thing as it’s now an unpretentious free house but still featuring several of Dark Star’s excellent ales as well as others from Harveys of Lewis (six quality real ales in all, iirc), as well as the usual lagers and ciders. Lunch choice was exceptional, with a really extensive menu of “traditional pub favourites” plus sandwiches, open sandwiches, various things on toast, a huge combination of toppings for focaccia melts, hot dog and burger options, a number of veggie choices. What impressed us was the ability to have many/most dishes as standalone snacks/starters, or as a full meal with chips, salad etc, while the main courses could also be had in small or standard portions. My wife had an avocado, bacon and cheddar focaccia melt with proper chips; I had a bratwurst hotdog with beef chilli, cheese and jalapeño topping. Quality and quantity was excellent and prices were extremely reasonable eg you can have a plain burger for The whole lunch, with two very filling meals, two soft drinks and two ales came to less than which I think is unbeatable these days. Ale-wise, I had two great new taste new experiences via a pint of excellent Dark Star Partridge best bitter, followed by a Dark Star Eastbourne Star winter ale which was superb. Needless to say, my wife drove as we continued our journey. We ate in the no-frills front bar, which is a high ceilinged Victorian room (the pub was once the Station Hotel); there are several other more atmospheric eating areas in the long side bar and a room beyond that. While some parts of the pub are in need of a little maintenance and tlc, it’s very obvious that the new owners (Mick Barry and daughter Rachel) are very serious about the choice and quality of their ales and food. We were just passing through, and the pub was relatively quiet on a Tuesday late lunchtime, so I hope the local community get behind them and give the Partridge the success it deserves."
