Last Updated on July 31, 2016
Crab and Lobster – Fabulous Dining and a Comfortable Stay:
The Crab & Lobster hotel and restaurant is located in the picturesque village of Sidlesham near Chichester in West Sussex which has a history steeped in Saxon lore and Viking blood.
The latest incarnation of the hostelry is 350 years old and is a rather lovely wooden beam/open fireplace kind of place and I have been invited to review the hotel and restaurant for a night. I had a plan-I would start off by visiting Chichester with its glorious Cathedral, shopping and world famous theatre, then check in and have a meal at the Crab & Lobster’s two AA rosette restaurant. After a great night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast I’d clear my head with a walk down the road to Pagham Harbour nature reserve…however the weather intervened and rain stopped play…
The good news is that the rooms are large, clean and comfortable, stylishly blending the traditional with the contemporary and the bed was the most comfortable I have slept on for a long time.
The bathroom has a powerful shower, original wooden floors and plenty of room to loll around decoratively. With the weather as it was we worked up a healthy appetite with a brief kip and as the clock struck six headed for the bar…
A perfectly executed Bloody Mary and Campari Soda later it was time to focus on the restaurant’s modern British menu-I was excited because of the emphasis on local seafood-it would have been churlish not to have crab…and lobster-but there is plenty of meat and it’s all locally sourced.
Thai style Selsey crab cakes came with a mango, sesame and chilli jam. They were meaty, fresh and authentically spiced-crisp on the outside and but still moist and full-flavoured inside.
Selsey Crab and Tiger prawn cocktail, baby gem, cucumber, caviar and shellfish mayonnaise was a beautifully presented deconstructed take on the 1970s classic. The crab was a subtle mix of white and brown meat.
With a grown-up wine list and 30 wines by the glass there is plenty of choice at a variety of price points. We opted for the José Pariente Bodegas dos Victorias, Verdejo, DO Rueda Superior 2013. It was crisp, grassy and citrus with a good body and well-balanced acidity.
The highlight of the meal for me was the 1/2 Selsey lobster with black garlic butter, house salad and hand cut chips. The lobster was tender and oozing sweetness from the butter and black garlic.
Some really fresh John Dory came with herb new potatoes, seasonal greens and lemon caper butter. The deliciously crisp skin was a little over-salted but otherwise this was a perfect summer dish.
Stem ginger treacle tart with clotted cream ice cream was something of a revelation. The tart was lovely and loose tart with the spiciness of the ginger offset by the coolness of the ice cream and the sweetness of the fruit.
Vanilla yoghurt terrine, honey roasted figs, honeycomb and hazelnut granola was a beautifully constructed exercise in textural contrast and gradations of sweetness.
The great thing about staying overnight in a place with great food is that you have breakfast to look forward to on the next day. The Crab and Lobster has a breakfast selection of fruit juice, yoghurt, fruit, cereals or muesli, tea or coffee, toast and preserves followed by a hot dish.
The smoked salmon and eggs on a toasted muffin and poached natural smoked haddock with a free-range poached egg were simply presented and perfectly executed.
The Crab and Lobster is perfectly located if you are visiting Arundel, Chichester, the races at Fontwell or just want to mooch around the south coast. The restaurant makes it a destination in its own right especially if you are a lover of seafood!
FACT BOX
A night’s stay for two at the Crab and Lobster on BB basis costs from £165. A night’s stay for two in Crab Cottage on BB basis costs from £280. Main meals in the restaurant start form £16.50, starters from £6.75 and desserts from £6.95. For more information please visit http:/www.crab-lobster.co.uk or call 01243 641233.
What a fabulous place to visit. ! The room looks so inviting and the food look so tasty!!
I love the West Sussex area. So many quaint inns and really beautiful walking trails through the country. The bathroom at The Crab and Lobster looks especially funky…love the tiling and the hardwood floors. Also, love the name of the inn itself!
You had me at ‘crab and lobster’, the butter and black garlic looks phenomenal! I really like the style of the room too, especially the wooden floors.
this is such a lovely place! you know what I love the most? The fact that, looking at the interiors and rooms pics that you posted, I had some clue and idea for my home furniture 🙂
I love taking inspirations by hotels, Inns, B&B and this one is so stylish and cozy. thank you for sharing
That hotel is adorable, it looks so perfect like an old fashioned dolls house. What a great find, the food looks incredible, yum
The Crab and Lobster makes for a most enjoyable stay with lots of calories intake it seams 😉 If I get to Sidlesham, I’ll certainly try it.
I totally love the wooden floor in the room, that is always a plus for me. Not that it really matters, but somehow it makes me feel more like being at home rather than when there’s some dusty carpet on the ground 🙂
This place looks so charming. I love places like that! And that food… oh wow! I may need to take a trip to Chichester 😉
Ok, now I am seriously hungry. There are some nice examples of excellent plating as well. I want to eat the Thai style Selsey crab cakes ..now
I would love to try the ginger treacle tart! The room and public spaces look very cozy and inviting. This is clearly a great option for those spending time in the South of England – it’s pretty close to the South Downs Way.