Carn and Izzy at The Frog & Nightgown (©Alan Wright Photography)
Thanks to its tranquil location near Faygate, The Frog & Nightgown remains a hidden gem for many in the Horsham District. However, the pub attracts visitors for its traditional charm, large beer garden and wood-fired pizza. AAH met Carn Wallace and Izzy Howard, who recently took over the tenancy of the free house…
Izzy met Cornishman Carn while spending a summer working at The Old Success Inn in Penzance. They both then worked at Mackerel Sky, a seafood bar in the fishing village of Newlyn, before Izzy returned to her home town of Horsham after lockdown. Carn joined her, with the couple seeking new role in hospitality.
Carn said: ‘Cornwall is wonderful in the summer, as it’s always bustling with tourists, but it’s hard to find year-round employment. So, we moved to Horsham after the second lockdown. I joined the team at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Tristan, while Izzy came here, to the The Frog and Nightgown. When Tristan’s closed, I joined her at the pub. Lewis Gatt, who owns the pub, was running the place largely by himself. During Covid, it became busy, as people sought out rural pubs with large gardens. There’s a lovely trail to the pub from the new Mowbray estate and that brings in visitors too, while for people living in town, we’re one of the closest pubs that can provide a rural escape.
‘Before our arrival, the pub served sandwiches and pizzas, but Lewis had wanted to improve the menu for some time. He gave me the freedom to broaden our food offering and over the past three years we’ve steadily made changes. Lewis has other interests and his passion for cars is well known. He was looking for somebody to take on the lease, leaving him time to focus on other things. So, six months ago, he asked us if we would be interested, as we were already helping run the pub and understood what people love about the place.
‘It was an opportunity too good to turn down. We had always said that we would love to run a pub and had ideas we were keen to introduce. So, it was an instant decision. We have opted not to live here though, as we had already settled into our own house nearby. We are happier this way, as we can step away from work sometimes. However, we’re determined to make introduce our ideas and be a success at The Frog & Nightgown.’
The Lily Pad at The Frog & Nightgown (©Alan Wright Photography)
THE LILY PAD
Rather than making wholesale changes, Carn and Izzy have built on the things that make The Frog & Nightgown such a charming destination. Lewis introduced many car meetings and these have continued, with classic and vintage vehicles a regular sight. The pub also drew crowds during the summer’s World Cup, with matches shown on a big screen, creating a vibrant atmosphere in the garden. Similarly, regular quiz nights and live music performances hosted in a marquee have attracted new faces to the pub. Carn and Izzy have also utilised The Lily Pad, a purpose-built addition that attracts a younger crowd with its alpine-inspired ambience.
Izzy said: ‘Lewis built The Lily Pad, but often used it to store cars and tools, whereas we’ve been able to open it up for events and larger groups. We are trying to make it feel more like part of the pub, and open it up to events and functions. We already have someone who wants to use it for Yoga classes! It has a different feel to the traditional charm of the pub, which we would never want to compromise.
‘People love the main bar, as it’s quirky and traditional. It feels like you’re walking into a cottage and drinking in someone’s front room, and people love that. The other aspect often commented upon is the name. We believe there’s only one other Frog & Nightgown in the country, in Newport, Wales. Our pub was originally called The Royal Oak, but we are told that a previous landlady changed the name to that of a fictional pub in a radio show (Ray’s a Laugh, a BBC Radio Show popular in the 1950s). She loved the show and thought it suited the pub!’
Wood-fired pizza oven (©Alan Wright Photography)
FAMILY FRIENDLY
As a free house, Carn and Izzy have ensure the pub serves a wide range of tipples, including Harvey’s Sussex Best, Surrey Hills’ Ranmore, IPA from Gun Brewery and cider from Haywards Heath-based Orchard Pig. Staples include Hell’s Lager (Camden Town), Guinness and Beavertown Neck Oil, while the pub also has a guest pump, which has recently served Landlord (Timothy Taylor) and Tongham Tea (Hogs Back Brewery).
When it comes to the menu, it’s the wood-fired pizzas that make the pub a popular venue for families with children. Pizza options range from Margherita (£13) to The Goat (£17), with vegan cheese and gluten-free bases available. Other mains include beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips with chunky chips and crushed peas (£17.50); Beef burger with two 3oz smashed patties, friend onions, candied bacon, American cheddar and rosemary-salted fries (£17); and a tender chicken schnitzel with garlic and chive Jersey tomatoes, rocket and Parmesan salad, and roasted cherry wine tomatoes (£17). We also ordered a fresh market fish dish – lemon sole – served with potatoes swimming in butter, cream and herbs, with tomatoes on the vine. The pub also has bar snacks, including The Frog & Nightgown sausage roll (£8), pulled-pork loaded fries (£11) and crispy chicken wings with buffalo and blue cheese dip (£9.50).
Carn said: ‘We make a great pizza and they attract lots of families. So, it’s other areas of the menu that we’re been expanding. In summer, the pub is family-focused, with children running around while parents socialise. In winter, the dynamic changes and our guests come for Sunday roast instead. We are looking to introduce new dishes, especially on the Specials board. Being Cornish, I have a strong background in seafood, but despite West Sussex’s reputation as a culinary county, it isn’t renowned for great seafood. That’s something I would like to change. Looking forward, that’s just one way we’d like to influence the menu and change the pub.’
Further information: Visit The Frog & Nightgown, Wimland Road, Faygate, RH12 4SS. Visit: www.thefrogandnightgown.co.uk
First published in AAH Magazine on 1 October 2026. Words by Ben Morris, Photos by Alan Wright Photography.