'Lost' Horsham pubs

Spotted the latest bit of sacrilege yet ?

www.pub-explorer.com/wsussex/pub/olivebranchhorsham.htm

Yes, the dear old Green Dragon is the latest Horsham pub to lose its identity and has been re-invented as a gastro-pub called the Olive Branch. :'(

In my formative drinking years Horsham offered a wide range of taverns - most with bar billiards - for a regular pub crawl, but one by one they've become eliminated..............

I've seen these get knocked down:

Black Horse Hotel; Gardeners Arms; White Horse, Roffey; Alexandria, White Hart; Swan, Bell, Anchor, Lynwood Hotel

And these "reinvented" as something inferior:

Star (Fitzalan); Michell (Maltshovel); Coot (Merry Monk); Fox & Hounds (Boars Head Tavern); Hurst Arms (Black Jug).

These have been recently closed: Queens Head; Boars Head Tavern; Kings Head; Horse and Groom (becoming a Japanese restaurant); the Nelson (first pub I ever drank in).

We've acquired the Lynd Cross - a Witherspoons focal point for weekend drunken hooligans and vandals - and the Sussex Barn within the northern town development.

The only pub in Horsham still with a bar billiards table is Ye Old Stout House. Keep flying the flag, fellas. :-/

[Matt]

Personally, Im thankful for the changes. Ive grown up in the town/area and through family have spent a fair bit of time in the pubs to say the least

The Green Dragon nowadays took the overspill from the Lynd Creche so the drunken yobs went in there. Therefore, it may be a name lost, but in truth, the pub was lost a long time so a re invention could be just what that part of town needs.

The Horse and Groom-glad its gone. Ok a sushi bar isnt to my taste but it adds to the variety of the town.

The Crown and The Mitchell-they all have a new identity allowing others to come out and enjoy the town.
Ok the Star in Roffey and the Cock in Southwater have changed. These pubs (both my old locals!) were dire with trouble on a regular basis. The only reason they were kept in check was down the Bill and Chas

I love having a pub crawl in town with my mates...Bar Vin, 52s, Piries; or if im drinking with my Dad Im in the Stout, the Bear, Mitchell. Different folks, different strokes.

Theres nothing stopping the landlords/managers getting bar billiards tables in. Unfortunately, the sport is not profitable for a manager but moreover, bar billiards needs an overhaul if its to appeal to the masses. This unfortunately, will alienate a fair proportion of the existing playing personnel.

Hmm, you're young aren't you ? ;D

I lived in Horsham from the age of 4 till I got married at 20. It was a lovely old market town with lots of charm until it became Sun Alliance City (yes I used to work for them 30 years ago). I still visit the old lanes and alleyways (and traditional-style pubs - there was one on every street corner) in my dreams.

The massive redevopment of the town centre was only the start - an infrastructure is now in place to serve a town two or three times its size - which is was it will be in 50 years time. You may be around to see it, fortunately I won't be.

My lamentations of lost times are down to the fact that the town had a wonderful variety of bar billiards venues where you could go for a bit of practice.......White Hart, Michell, Green Dragon, Queens Head, Horse and Groom, Bell - I've played b'bs for all of them at one stage or other. Really happy days.

Crawley's the same. When they booted the bar billiards out of the Windmill there was no where left locally to go for a game. We got a table put in the Black Dog but that only lasted a couple of years before the regular fights in the other bar (Pool clientele) made it intolerable.

You are correct in what you say about the game as it stands will never appeal to the masses: We have had debates going on the "General Bar Billiards Discussion" board. It's a good subject and one which could benefit with someone like yourself reopening the discussion.

Happier times at the Green Dragon...............

Well, seems it was a doomed venture, as the Green Dragon only lasted 3 years as the Olive Branch restaurant:

www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/local/update-crompton-s-at-the-olive-branch-in-horsham-closes-1-5592167

A sign of the times, I'm afraid........

I would imagine the building is 'listed' which would save it from the clutches of property developers.

Looking forward to a reopening as the Green Dragon, with live music as with the Malt Shovel, Queens Head, Tanners etc - and of course, bar billiards !