THE RISING SUN, NUTBOURNE

Some landlords go to great lengths to recreate the rustic atmosphere of an authentic English pub. They may source well-worm wooden tables for dining areas, accentuate exposed brickwork, foster cosiness through warm lighting, and promote historic sentiment through utilising dark wood panelling.

However, such artificial simulation would even come close to recreating The Rising Sun in Nutbourne, which has gradually earned a reputation as a genuinely traditional English pub through a distinct lack of change!

Manager Alice Sheil said: ‘Regan Howard has owned the pub for almost 45 years and little has changed in that time, in terms of décor. It’s like a time machine, full of interesting features and characters. Regan is quite a character himself and the pub reflects that. There are always interesting conversations and unusual scenes – it’s not uncommon to see horses tied in the garden during the summer.

‘That’s part of its charm, and why The Rising Sun attracts people. We have many regulars from the villages of Pulborough and Storrington, but also welcome visitors from London, seeking out a traditional pub after touring the vineyards at Nutbourne or Nyetimber. As the pub hasn’t been modernised to the extent of many others, it has even attracted attention from social media influencers! I joined the team two and a half years ago and immediately fell in love with the place. But while most things haven’t changed, we have introduced modern payment systems, as we were still using a pen and paper for bar tabs when I arrived!’

TINY TABLE

Regan arrived at the pub with then wife Janice in 1982. He had bought the pub with a friend, the late Paul Barron, with the two partners selling their homes to fund the venture. They had ambitious plans and later joined forces once again to buy a nightclub in Ashington, although Burlesque proved a financially disastrous venture.

The Rising Sun had space to accommodate both of their families, although eventually Paul took on The Eagle in Arundel, leaving Regan as sole owner of the Nutbourne pub, often called The Riser. Regan retired in around 2009, with sons Tristan and Oliver successfully taking over the pub for a decade. However, circumstances brought Regan back into the pub seven years ago, with Tristan continuing to help out too.

Regan said: ‘When we first moved in, it was much like it is now, although the pub was largely divided into two, with a saloon bar on one side and a lounge bar on the other. Many features survive from that time, such as the rustic wooden blinds, the old cigarette machine, and the metal plaques in the atrium, including one that harks back to when the pub was owned by the Henty & Constable Brewery of Chichester.

‘When we constructed the new bar, a local carpenter used elm from his own property, while the panels above the bar are old floorboards ripped up from the White House, a historic house in the village. Some of the table tops were previously kitchen doors, and one even has an etching of the pub’s logo. It’s shorter than the other tables, as I was cutting two inches off each leg, but was interrupted halfway through and ended up cutting the same leg twice. So, I had to cut four inches off all the other legs too!’

‘Perhaps the biggest changes we’ve made are in the kitchen. When we arrived, the pub had a small kitchen with a serving hatch. We converted a cellar into the new kitchen, while a derelict goat pen became the dining room. We were fortunate, as we started serving good food at a time when few pubs were doing it, long before the Gastropub boom. We’ve had many good chefs over the years, but Tom Leach is doing a fantastic job and also makes superb cocktails, so contributes to a great atmosphere in the evenings!’

SPECIAL SERVICE

In recent years, the menu has expanded its variety, with tantalising Specials adding spice to the usual array of pub classic. Tom and his team work with Alice to create new menus for autumn/winter and spring/summer, while its lauded Sunday roasts (options include sirloin of beef, pork loin, home-made nut roast, and roast of the week) are available all-year-round.

The current (winter) menu includes a selection of burgers, and reasonably priced pub classics including ham, egg and chips (£16.50), beer-battered fish and chips (£18.50) and chicken Caesar salad (£15.50). Sandwiches are available at lunchtimes, including prawn & Marie Rose sauce; brie, bacon and cranberry; and cheddar cheese with caramelised onion (all £10).

On the main menu, starters include crispy squid with a mango chilli purée (£9.50) and ham hock terrine with pickled mustard seeds and warm bread (£9.50). Mains include slow-roasted lamb shank with a rich Bourguignon sauce, horseradish mash and parsnip crisps (£26); oven-roasted cod loin with an orange and fennel risotto, sauté greens and a chicken butter sauce (£25); and wild mushroom and stilton tagliatelle with a creamy spinach sauce (£21). During our visit, we enjoyed a beautiful pan-roasted chicken supreme with a wild mushroom and tarragon sauce, roasted new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. We also loved the moules marinière from the Specials board, with fresh mussels served in a creamy white wine, garlic and onion sauce.

Desserts are also made in-house and include warm chocolate brownie with ice cream, and profiteroles with Bailey’s cream and fresh strawberries (both £7.50). We opted for a soft, comforting and delicious sticky toffee pudding (also £7.50).

CHANGING HABITS

As a free house, The Riser also serves good beers, with a carefully-curated wine list, which includes options from its neighbours at Nyetimber & Nutbourne vineyards. Other bottles are sourced by local wine merchants, Hennings of Pulborough.

Alice said: ‘The menu has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. That is down to Tom’s influence and he loves presenting customers with new dishes on the Specials board. I dine out regularly too and will often pass on ideas for Tom, who loves the challenge of creating his own version of a dish. Although there’s no TV – it’s not that kind of pub – We regularly host live music and quiz nights, and put on special menus for occasions such as Valentine’s or Mother’s Day, while we always go over-the- top with the décor at Halloween and Christmas! But the best time to visit is in the summer, as we host barbecues in the garden, which is enormous and looks beautiful when the sun is shining.

Regan is optimistic for the future, although admits that these are challenging times, with pubs having to adapt to shifting drinking and social habits.

He said: ‘We’re lucky in some respects, as Nutbourne is an affluent area and people living and visiting often have the funds to dine out. I’m also fortunate in that I own the pub. Many landlords and managers are struggling, as they have rent to pay on top of the bills. If I was in that situation, I doubt this place would be busy enough to cover the outgoings, especially with the rising cost of food ingredients and the taxes on alcohol. The government could make life easier by reducing the burden of VAT and rates. That would allow pubs and restaurants to employ more people, while also maintaining historic buildings such as The Rising Sun, which has been a hostelry since 1836. Without change, we will sadly see many more pubs disappear.

Further information: Visit The Rising Sun, Nutbourne, RH20 2HE. Tel (01798) 812191. Visit online at: www.therisingsunnutbourne.com

Originally published in AAH (All About Horsham) Magazine on 1st March 2026. Words by Ben Morris. Photography by Alan Wright.