Worthing: the hot destination for cool beer

By Phil Mellows

Worthing perhaps conjures up for you an image of old folk in bath chairs, wrapped in plaid and wielding ear trumpets, a hurdy-gurdy chuntering away in the background as the sun sets over the pier, a dull place where people go to retire from life, heaven’s, or hell’s, waiting room.

In which case, you don’t know Worthing 2023. The somnolent seaside resort has experienced a big demographic shift in recent years as high property prices have driven people out of London and, indeed, Brighton, a dozen miles along the Sussex coast, to somewhere they can afford a home of their own.

This injection of relative youth and big city bohemia is making Worthing cool. And with cool comes an unlikely beer destination to add to your list.

Last month, the second Worthing Tap Takeover comprised no fewer than 17 venues, each hosting a craft brewer for the weekend. On my too-brief visit I could manage just half-a-dozen, chosen according to the brewers I was most interested in.

It took me to places I already knew, and places I didn’t. Award-winning micropub The Brooksteed (pouring Merakai) is an old favourite behind the station, while the Toad in the Hole (pouring Fallen Acorn – which has now, sadly, fallen into administration) I’d been to once before since it’s become a tap house for Hand Brew Co.

Hand is a refugee from Brighton, originally based at the legendary Hand in Hand brewpub in Kemp Town, where it continues to experiment with pilot brews. Most of its beers are now produced at a much larger facility, including a nice little tap room, out at west Worthing.

My visit took in another favourite spot, the Selden Arms (Burnt Mill) near the hospital. Except it is under new ownership, which could make you nervous, but in this case the latest custodians are the people behind the Hole in the Wall (some would say Brighton’s best beer pub, but I couldn’t possibly comment).

Not much has changed structurally, but what was a traditional cask ale pub is now opened out, modern and bright, with the excellent tap list you’d expect.

Beer No Evil (Duration) was new to me, a micropub-cum-craft beer bar I’ll be visiting again, as was The Goose (Deya), housed in a splendid seafront building and split over two levels.

If you need train beers, Bottle & Jug Dept is handy for Worthing Station and was pouring Pomona Island for the TTO.

And that’s just a taste of what Worthing has to offer. I’m a big fan of New Amsterdam, which seems to be doing everything right as a modern inclusive pub. Anchored in Worthing is a classic micropub that introduced me to the genre. And if you feel like staying over there are rooms at the local branch of brewpub chain Brewhouse & Kitchen, recently named in The Publican Awards Best Brewing Pub Company (I was head judge for the category).

I could go on. But you should find out for yourselves.

Photo © hehaden