Black Horse

We stayed here for 2 nights whilst walking the South Downs way , as it is midway and we were taking a day off walking . The whole experience was absolutely lovely . Our room was a good size and the bed enormous and comfy along with tea/coffee making tray , access to fresh milk, and bottles of water. All the staff were friendly and professional , Josh in the bar and G , Harriet and everyone serving or cooking , in the restaurant, we could not fault them . We ate dinner in the restaurant both nights , the food is delicious , the ‘ special’ of Dover sole on Saturday night cooked to perfection . Breakfast too was well cooked and plentiful together with a nice continental selection. If we are near Amberley again and looking for somewhere to eat or stay we would not hesitate to return . *** My husband adds …the beer is good too!*****

We arrived for dinner to meet friends who live locally . The food was excellent, very tasty and the service was efficient and friendly. We had our dog with us and we’re given a private room off the bar which was ideal as a number of us struggle to hear in a busy restaurant. We stayed the night in one of the first floor rooms which are beautifully furnished and quiet. The breakfast was served in a lovely room with a cafe vibe and could not be faulted . All in all a first class experience. We will be back

We stayed here for one night in mid-September and were more than happy with our choice of accommodation. We initially chose the Amberley Black Horse for the décor, the rooms and the location. It was a bonus therefore to find that a twin room was an option (not so easy to find anymore) and most importantly, they were dog friendly. There are few establishments that have stylish décor and are also happy to let canines enjoy such. (So many small businesses are missing out on a huge part of the market because they assume all dog owners will not respect their property. Some dogs come from very well-appointed homes, you know, and even have well-behaved owners!) The room was clean, the bed & bedding very comfortable, the ensuite small but perfectly formed. The breakfast (smoked trout, scrambled eggs, toast) was a perfect start to our day, made even better by the late sitting time – no rushing to get up early. (I see some guests have found this an inconvenience, but for my own part, it was a welcome change to be offered a leisurely start to the day.) The staff were very polite, professional and efficient. We did not meet the owners, but would defend their right to not bend rules ad hoc so that the staff are able to give everyone the same level of service that we were able to enjoy. (I would guess they are simply running a tight ship to maintain consistent standards as a good hospitality business will otherwise not be good for long.) Sadly, we could not arrange to dine in as we were meeting friends elsewhere in Sussex, but the restaurant looked lovely and was very busy the night we stayed. We did order drinks & nibbles from the bar in the evening though, which we could to take to our room, making a relaxing end to our day. We were able to take our dogs out via the garden for a walk before bedtime and again before breakfast, so they were quite happy. All in all, this was an enjoyable stay that lived up to its website image & description. (I note that most of the complaints are a result of not carefully reading and/or understanding all the information on the website, so don’t let these put you off.) We found it to be exactly as advertised: a tastefully decorated, busy, traditional village pub with a good restaurant and appealing rooms. The surroundings throughout are attractive and it was a pleasant environment to be in for our short stay. It is not a hotel nor a budget B&B, so those wanting that style of accommodation or a longer stay should probably look elsewhere. If like us though, you want a short break in a picturesque village, in accommodation that complements the surroundings, where the family dog(s) can accompany you and you can all enjoy a relaxed, late breakfast together (yes, well-behaved dogs welcomed at breakfast too), then the Amberley Black Horse is for you.

Nice hotel and staff. Good food. Breakfast menu could do with being explained a little better and also having to pay for teas and coffees as these were not included in the breakfast was not good. We were in a “cosy double” which was fine but would have been even better if they removed the chair and added a chest of drawers or some shelves.

Located about a mile from the station and close to the South Downs way in a very pretty village of thatched cottages. Check in is strictly not before 3pm. Loved our attic room. Gorgeous decor. Super comfy bed. Very welcome after hiking for a couple of days. Staff lovely. Evening meal excellent. Breakfast not included in our room rate so we skipped it and headed home early. Pub is upmarket with a 'Pig' hotel vibe. Would definitely come back for another visit as we're pretty local.

Mellow bar & restaurant, got there 9 mins before the kitchen closed, so didn't spend much time looking at the menu. Food good if a bit salty. Nice garden/breakfast room and a good outdoor area at back, lovely place to stretch out on a summer's evening. Staff helpful. Bathroom a bit cramped.

As a solo traveller, I stayed at the Black Horse for a calming get away break to unwind and de-stress. Both the pub itself and my room were beautiful, impeccably clean with great attention to detail everywhere I looked. The whole ambience from start to finish was thoroughly relaxing. It was like wearing a very cosy but sophisticated comfort blanket! Being located in picturesque Amberley with its stunning cottages, the 12th Century Church (the website there offers a great virtual tour and audio guide) and its historic castle was a bonus and I really did enjoy exploring on my walks around the village, though to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if I’d never ventured outside the doors of the Black Horse. I was a little apprehensive about dining alone. I needn’t have worried. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly and I felt very much at home. I loved the open kitchen where I could see the chefs working hard to prepare meals for what looked like a very busy restaurant. And then it appeared! A sensational locally sourced pork belly in a delicious jus with blackberries and chunks of apple sitting atop bubble and squeak ... I think there was cider somewhere but oh that crumb! I’m still trying to guess what it was made from. Afterwards I spoke to the chef, Tom, but he wasn’t giving away his professional secrets. Inspired by my fantastic pork belly dinner experience, the next day I decided to try the pork pie for a lightish lunch. It came served with Tom’s piccalilli. This was like no piccalilli I have ever tried, no mush in sight, but chunks of pickles in a delightful tangy mustard sauce. If there was jar of home-grown Piccalilli available to buy as a take-home – or even a Black Horse recipe book – I’d be in the queue to purchase. Thanks for a great stay and great food. Highly recommend.

The pub is beautiful, the food fantastic and the staff are lovely. We booked a room with a bath as we were walking the South Downs way and wanted a hot bath when we arrived. Unfortunately, there was no heating in the room until 8pm and the water was not hot enough for a bath. What tepid water there was ran out very quickly. The room was freezing in the morning as no heating. On checking out two other couples were complaining and one couple checked out after two days when they were meant to stay for three. They mentioned all the same problems that we had.

Stayed here whilst walking the South Downs way. A warm welcome by staff as we arrived. Room was very comfortable and Amberley is a beautiful village. The evening meal was excellent as was the breakfast. Nothing to fault it