The Dragon ... Colgate
Map | Reviews
OS Map : Landranger 187 · Map reference TQ 229 327
Description
Hall and Woodhouse pub with two bars, an open fire, and a large garden sheltered from the road. The garden is great on summer evenings after biking through St Leonard's Forest - when you know that you only have a short trip back to Horsham!
I recommend the Steak and Tanglefoot Pie together with a pint of Pickled Partridge in winter months.
Update September 2007: The Planning Inspectorate have upheld the decision by Horsham Council to refuse pub redevelopment. The development application was originally submitted by Hall and Woodhouse but is opposed by local villagers.
How to get there
By car
Colgate is between Pease Pottage [near Junction
11 of the M23] and Roffey [north Horsham].
Cycle from Horsham centre up Kings Road to Crawley Road roundabout near the VW garage. Continue along Crawley Road to the traffic lights at the top and go straight ahead. The pub is on the right after 3.5 km / 2.2 miles [on the way to Pease Pottage and J11 of the M23] The road to Colgate is mostly quiet but it is narrow in places and some cars can be travelling fast.
Suggested cycling routes from here
If you are new to off-road biking and want somewhere to go that is near to Horsham, then you cannot beat St Leonard's Forest which has several bridleways and tracks. The Dragon is ideally situated and there is a great long, fast bridleway about 0.3 miles / 0.5 km west of the pub at 'The White House' . This bridleway connects with Hammerpond Road on the east side of Horsham and then with another bridleway which comes out on Hampers Lane off Comptons Lane.
Alternatively, come out of the pub and turn right and after 0.3 miles / 0.5 km on the left is a [mainly downhill] bridleway that comes out on the A264. Straight across the busy road is a route that brings you back towards Faygate.
Another route is the bridleway between the B2110 [Handcross - Plummers Plain road] and the forest which has lots of variety and a great [yikes!] downhill section.
Your reviews
Carol Dodson says: 
| 18-March-08
We found the Dragon after walking through Buchan Park and Holmbush estate. What a lovely meal, steak and tanglefoot pie. Glad that pub development has been turned down, it would spoil it. All this pub needs is a makeover and some tlc.
Alan Sloan says: 
| 28-May-07
Good to hear the music is coming back next week - all we need now is a bit of a piano for the honky tonk. Hope we only get the acoustic stuff though - the place is a bit small for amplified sound.
Andy Clark | 5-April-07
Hall and Woodhouse have launched an appeal against the refusal for the extensions to the pub. This is now with the Planning Inspectorate Bristol, so we just have to hope that they turn this down as well. The publican at the moment Tristian is leaving on 16th April. He will be missed as he has pulled the pub out of the doldrums.
Martyn Jepson says: | 11-February-07
The application to turn the pub into a 150-seater factory pub has been turned down and the pub will continue to serve the village as it should!
Older reviews
Andy C says: | 18-December-06
Once again, Hall and Woodhouse have applied for planning permission to turn this quality country pub into a 140 seater restaurant, a sad waste of a great little pub.
Andy C says: | 28-March-06
Hall and Woodhouse were turned down by Horsham Council
re their plans to change the pub. It will stay for the moment as a
traditional country pub. The new publican keeps good beers and the new
chef has a very varied menu. The food is very good. Well worth a
visit..
Kevin C | 30-May-06
Remember the famous Acoustic Music Night held every Tuesday, last year. Well, its back! This time to be held on a Sunday. The first one will be Sunday 4th June 2006 at 8pm. Everybody welcome.
Andy C says: |
28-December-05
Hall and Woodhouse want to ruin this warm friendly pub by extending it and turning it into a one bar 170-seater eating house, the loss of a traditional country pub.
Andy H says: | 22-October-05
A warm and friendly pub, with attentive efficient staff. Asked for food out of cooking hours, and was accommodated with cheesy chips which were delicious. Beer is good, well worth a visit - will return soon.
Kevin says: |
5-May-05
Excellent beers and friendly staff. Tuesdays for great acoustic evenings.
Pub score 
- No Good · - Excellent
