The Bax Castle ... Two Mile Ash
Telephone 01403 730369 · Map | Reviews
OS Map : Landranger 187 · Map reference TQ 148 272
Description
The Bax Castle is situated right next to the Downs Link bridleway [cycle railings are provided to lock your bike to - nice idea] and has been Sussex Country Pub of the Year more than once. It dates from the 15th century [formerly a weaver's cottage - the weaver was called Bax, hence the pub name] and is a free house serving several real ales, including Fullers London Pride and local beers from W J King and Co.
Large open fire in the winter. Good food and nice garden with children's play area.
Pub picture: Simon Markham
How to get there
By car
Two Mile Ash is a small hamlet, south of Horsham, between Christ's Hospital and Southwater.
Cycling
From Southwater country park, follow the Downs Link bridleway towards Christ's Hospital. After 1.2 miles [1.8 km] you can see the pub across a field on your right. There is an entrance directly from the bridleway [which avoids a tricky bend on the road to the main pub entrance].
From Horsham town center, take the Worthing Road [B2237] and turn right at the Boars Head pub [stop here on the way back!] Follow the road round to the left, under the A24 and past Christ's Hospital entrance on the right. The pub is on the left 2 miles [3.25 km] from the Boars Head.
Suggested cycling routes from here
There are several bridleways just south of the pub through Marlpost wood. There is a bridleway from Southwater Street to Christ's Hospital. Try the Downs Link bridleway to Rudgwick.
Visit the Queens Head at Barns Green or cycle along the Downs Link south towards Partridge Green, to the Windmill at Littleworth, and the Fountain in Ashurst.
Your reviews
Disclaimer: All reviews and ratings on this website are personal opinions by pub-goers. Horsham Pub Guide publishes comments at our editorial discretion but we are not responsible for comments made.
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We went Friday evening as it was my birthday. We were the first in the restaurant but had to wait 30 minutes for our starters. My daughter ordered rack of lamb which was served raw and cold. My wife had beef Wellington which was tough even though it was supposed to be fillet steak. My daughter sent her meal back and refused anything else. Plates were cold. No cranberry sauce for my chicken. I could go on. We complained to the manager who seemed to be oblivious. All in all, bad service and poor food in our experience. Shame as the pub is in a good location.
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We visited this lovely pub on Sunday. We had a great meal, friendly staff and great service. They were really busy but we did not wait long for our food.
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We went to a Sunday lunch here in February this year. We waited nearly an hour for the food, which is not good when you're with a toddler. When it did eventually arrive it was pretty horrible. Service was friendly but inadequate. Disappointing as it's in a great location and the garden's large and excellent for kids. Great for a summer drink with the kids but we'd say go somewhere else for food.
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We received rubbish service. Waited in the restaurant for service, eventually went to the bar and were told that the barman was on his own. Food was great but not what we ordered because it was someone else's meal!
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We went to the Bax to try the Christmas menu. They had traditional Christmas food with other options and mince pies and coffee to finish. Food was piping hot and service was fantastic. The best Christmas dinner we've had for a long time.
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I have just visited the pub for lunch and tried their new menu. Great choice of 'winter warmers', as they have called it, to take the chill off the colder days setting in! They have recently employed new staff (last time I visited with a friend one evening and we were greeted by a rather sombre young lady who was closing early - about 9:30pm!). I was told she has now left and the pub would definitely not be run that way again! Which is good because this is a lovely little pub and the staff are very welcoming and chatty. I will continue to use this quaint little pub, even if they have been unfortunate to receive a couple of bad reviews...but we cannot all be perfect all the time!
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Me and my wife go here most Sundays with our two grandchildren after walking up the Downs Link and must say, regarding the last comment, the food was lovely as usual! Vegetables taste and look fresh, portions are fantastic for what you pay and the meat is also very tasty. I normally have the beef but chose the lamb instead and it tasted as good as my wife cooks (don't tell her though!). It was an extremely busy day but we still got great service and great food and, to be honest, if it's that busy they must be doing something good. Keep it up Bax, we'll be back next Sunday!
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What happened? I reviewed this pub on 7/8/07 and revisited yesterday. The Sunday Roast was simply appalling in my opinion. We were presented with a plate of vegetables which had been done in the traditional English fashion (boiled, boiled, and boiled some more for good measure), two soggy roast potatoes, and a rather dry slice of pork that looked like it had been cooked on the Saturday and warmed up by pouring hot gravy over it. This is the fourth time I've been to this pub but the new management seem to think that it's still 1973 and that all people want is a pile of mediocre food. The only decent thing about the food was the puddings but these seemed bought in from a baker elsewhere; there were teenage kitchen staff busily squirting aerosol cream on the puddings. I'm sorry but the food scores 2 out of 10 (the last time I reviewed this pub, I gave it 8 out of 10 for the food!). They really could do better.
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Six of us arrived at 9 pm last Thursday and were greeted with "we are closing at 9.45 tonight as we have had a quiet evening". We stayed despite this unfriendly welcome and, sure enough, the lights were turned off at 9.45. I can see no future for this pub whilst being run like this.
Older reviews
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My wife and I went into this pub on Saturday 22nd August, after a long walk, in the hope of finally trying the food. Based on our previous experience and our comments on this guide, we felt the pub deserved another chance. Well, we were given a menu, there were available seats, and we were looking forward to trying the food. However, we only wanted a bar snack and we were told that we could not have what we wanted. We were shown two pages of the most expensive food on the menu and told that this was all they could offer on a Saturday evening at 6.30. It's a bit like going to the pub on a Sunday afternoon and being told we cannot offer Sunday roast. Instead, we went to the Queens Head which gave us an outstanding pub snack.
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I came across the Bax Castle last week when cycling the Downs Link route. What a pleasure it was to discover such a traditional country pub, or one of very few, directly on the whole route from Guildford to Shoreham. I do hope they advertise that fact on their website! The bar staff were very welcoming as was the pint of Thatchers cider (rather than the more commercial Strongbow, Magners etc). Also, full marks for the bike stands; it would be good to see more establishments with these as well as car parks!
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The new landlord and landlady have turned this place around and have managed to get rid of the bad reputation. It is a well kept and clean pub that is ideal for families and people from all walks of life because you will get treated with respect from friendly staff. We have not tried the food but it looks outstanding, and good value for your money. However, the waitresses only delivered food, not one of them cleared the tables during the 2 hours we where there. Secondly, as it was busy they had someone helping behind the bar but she could not sell alcohol. Our other feedback is that there was no toilet paper in the ladies, the bar area was cluttered with beer glasses with only one person working, and the queue was from the bar into the garden.
In the pub's favour, there was a mobile drinks cabin outside, which was a good idea if you only wanted a drink, but the queue was no different. We can only assume that, despite the nice day, the pub did not expect to be bombarded with so many hungry and thirsty people. Shame! This is the second time that my wife and I have witnessed this. Great pub when it is quiet but they don't seem to be able to cope when busy. Otherwise, it is a good pub.
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Every day, myself and my dog walk over the fields from Southwater to Christ's Hospital and always stopped off for a quick pint at the Bax. Last year started good with the relief staff (mother and daughter) but the pub was taken over by another relief team, which was not so good. Recently, we popped in on a Saturday at 5 pm after walking the dog, had a couple of beers, looked at the menu and thought 'need to come and try the menu again'. Great pub for food, great pub if you want to walk the dog and grab a couple of beers. Full marks! Must add, my wife says it is much cleaner in there now!
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Lovely friendly welcome. Had Sunday lunch, which was very reasonable and absolutely delicious. Vegetables were real, i.e. fresh from someone's garden/farm instead of a freezer or tin! Enjoyed visiting here on two more occasions since. Unfortunately, last time they were completely booked up so couldn't eat. However, lovely pub with a lovely atmosphere and food!
Thank you for all your great comments and continued support for the Bax Castle. We look forward to times ahead and with all your help we will make this pub great again.
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Went there yesterday for the first time since the new owners took over. Super food, very attentive service and lovely atmosphere, compliments to the chef! The Bax is back!
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We have been using the Bax Castle since Glenn, Chris and Debbie have taken over. It is very warm and welcoming when you enter. The atmosphere is friendly and it is a traditional old-style country pub. We would highly recommend you visit and try out the menu (you won't be disappointed).
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I visited the pub a few years ago and found it a warm and friendly place. My ancestors have a connection - William Bax and John Bax lived in Two Mile Ash and Itchingfield in the 1790s and John died in Two Mile Ash in 1823. I would love to know if he lived in what is now the pub! If anyone has any ideas, please let me know by making a follow-up comment. And best of luck to the new owners - it is an ideal location!
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My wife and I visited the Bax Castle last Wednesday after a long walk with our dogs. We had heard that the Bax was a dog friendly place to have some lunch after a nice trek on the Downs Link. We were not disappointed as there were two open fires to keep the dogs warm while we ate some lunch. The food was very good and reasonable prices throughout. We both had the homemade burgers which were excellent. Even the dogs had a treat from the friendly landlord (dog treats are ready available for all well-behaved dogs). I would recommend this place to anyone and will certainly go again. Good luck to the new landlord.
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I went to the Bax yesterday for Sunday lunch with my husband and our two daughters. We have never been here before but thought we would try a new pub and see what we thought. We had a lovely time and a delicious dinner! The new owners are very friendly and welcoming and the service was great. The pub had a lovely open fire and the locals were also very friendly; one nice gentleman let my girls take his dog out for a little walk outside, which was a winner for them! Very clean and efficient, friendly country pub, great food, good service and friendly staff. Good luck to the new owners; I am sure they will make it a success. We will definitely be returning.
I would like to introduce myself, Glenn and Chris. We are the new owners of the Bax Castle, which means we are here to stay! We are bringing back home-made traditional food, warm open fires, and most importantly a very clean pub! We would like to welcome everyone to the Bax...which is back!
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Have not been in the pub for about 6 months and visited on Sunday 2nd November. There is a new landlord who has been there for nearly 2 weeks. Seems really friendly, food is reasonably good value for money, hope he can get rid of the bad reputation the pub once had. The new landlord is hoping to do a lot to the garden in the summer and to deck out the front by the doors to make it more inviting to customers.
Pub score - No Good · - Excellent
