Our Traditional Pub

We look forward to welcoming our guests to the comfort of our pub. We offer a range of hand pulled ales, draught lagers, bottled ales, bottle ciders, wines, spirits, soft drinks, and hot drinks. So whether you’re looking for an afternoon cream tea, an afternoon curled up with a good book and pint, a pub quiz, or a night out with some live music we are able to accommodate you. For a full list of our upcoming and on-going events please see our events section.

We are a dog and family friendly pub, with dogs allowed in the pub at all times and non-residential kids welcome until 9pm, (due to licensing conditions). All we ask of children and dogs is the same as we ask of human adults, which is that everyone is well behaved and respectful of other customers.

Our pub offers a small separate room which can be hired out for meetings or events, a selection of games, a small book swap selection, free Wi-Fi, a real fire, large free-view TV, a darts board, (and 2 darts teams), and a secluded garden.

The hours for the sale of alcohol are:
Monday 11:00 – 23:30
Tuesday 11:00 – 23:00
Wednesday 11:00 – 23:00
Thursday 11:00 – 23:00
Friday 11:00 – 23:00
Saturday 11:00 – 23:00
Sunday 11:00 – 22:30
These hours may vary for specific events and dates.

 

History

The St Mary’s Gate Inn, (named after the St Mary’s Gate in Arundel Castle), was built in the 26th year of the reign of Henry VIII in 1525. Its original use was as a thatched farm building. Since then it has been owned by tradesmen as varied as a stonemason, a linen draper, and a wine merchant.

In March 1764 Henry Mackett, described as a Tapster, (or a keeper of Ale Houses), became the Landlord and this tradition is still carried on by Dermot and Lizzy to this day. The building has been altered over the years creating the Saloon Bar, (originally built to accommodate craftsmen building the cathedral next door), in the 19th century and the 5 annex guest rooms added in the late 20th century.

The two other letting rooms which have been part of the building since the 16th century housed Oliver Cromwell and his guardsmen during the mid-1600s, and legend has it that the ghost of Cromwell’s chief guard still roams and protects the rooms today.