The George and Dragon ... Dragons Green
Telephone 01403 741320 · Map | Reviews
OS Map : Landranger 187 · Map reference TQ 139 235
Description
The George and Dragon is a small pub, usually decorated with flowers, in an idyllic setting. There is a large, grassy garden to the rear and Hall and Woodhouse beers are served from a small flag-stoned bar. No dragons last time I was there! The pub can be very popular for food at weekends.
Rather strangely, there is a gravestone, of the albino son of a former innkeeper, in the front garden. The grave is in the church but the gravestone was not allowed because of the inscription.
How to get there
By car
The pub is situated just off the A272, south of Horsham, about 3 miles from Southwater, and between Billinghurst and Cowfold.
Cycling
Why not hire a bike from Southwater
Cycles and visit this pub?
From Southwater country park, cycle towards the main road through the village. Turn left and head south. Turn right into Shipley Road [before the A24 bypass] and cycle for 1.7 miles [2.7 km] until the A272. Turn right ["Billingshurst, Coolham" - busy road] and after 0.5 miles [0.8 km] take the second right. The pub is approx 0.25 miles [0.4 km] on the right.
Suggested cycling routes from here
Visit Shipley, just south of the pub, and see the restored windmill which used to be the home of the poet Hillaire Belloc. It was also the location for the TV series 'Jonathan Creek'
Also nearby is the Countryman Inn
Return home via the quiet roads between the A272 - Dragons Green - Christ's Hospital - Southwater/Horsham. Visit the Bax Castle on the way!
Your reviews
Disclaimer: All reviews and ratings on this website are personal opinions by pub-goers. You may have a different opinion. Horsham Pub Guide publishes comments at our editorial discretion but we are not responsible for comments made.
Steve says: 
| 18-August-09
Pub number 4 in our cycle ride and time to move on to soft drinks but also time for lunch. This is a lovely pub with a really warm welcome. The food was great, just a little slow in coming out, but worth waiting for. I had spicy meatballs and they were great. We weren't the only lycra-clad people here; it seems to be a popular stop. Will definitely come back. This pub shared top spot with the Limeburners Arms for us. Next, on to the Queens Head...
Greg H says: 
| 6-August-09
Visited this pub on Sunday when on my way to the coast following a recommendation from a colleague. I wasn't disappointed. Lovely pub in a lovely setting with a really 'happy' atmosphere and a great garden for the kids [lots of broken toys though]. The only downside was that we just wanted a snack but the menu was mainly meals. Had a small portion of a main meal, liver and onions, and it was delicious. Limited choice of lager - my favourite tipple. Just one lager, Hopbrau, one I'd never heard of but pleasant enough. I would highly recommend this pub to others. Good food, excellent service, lovely garden but I would mark it down on choice of lagers and broken toys in the garden.
Jo says: | 29-July-09
What a shame to hear that Pete and Anne are leaving. They have made this one of the best pubs in the area, with a real welcome and excellent beer [I've never tried the food but it looks good!]. The George and Dragon, the Queens Head and the Boars Head are real pubs, as pubs should be. Let's hope they stay that way.
Pub landlord [to August 2009] comments | Peter and Anne Snelling | 28-July-09
After two happy years at The George and Dragon, we are bowing out at the end of August to spend more time with our family. A big thank you to all our customers that have supported us over the last two years and made running this pub a lot of fun and experience we will never forget.
It has been useful [and sometimes saddening] to read the reviews on this site. We set out to provide an excellent country pub experience and whilst we have achieved this for most people, there are always some people that can never be pleased. We have had no pretensions about being a restaurant or a gastro pub – the building wouldn’t lend itself to this – we provide good beer and good pub food at reasonable prices. It is unfortunate that, when a customer has a bad experience, they don’t say something at the time so that we can try and remedy the problem immediately. Like any pub, we have times when we are overwhelmed by the number of customers – for us this is on hot days when the number of lunches our small kitchen prepares escalates from 20/30 on a normal day to 120/130 on a busy day. Service will be stretched and won’t be as efficient as other days.
We have been fortunate in that the number of positive comments for The George and Dragon far outweigh the negative ones. We are leaving the pub industry but will continue to use pubs. I would urge your reviewers to think carefully before they place a review on this site. Have they had the strength of character to speak to the publican and to resolve the matter first? If they have and haven’t received appropriate redress then a poor review may be valid.
Peter Johnson-Ryder says: | 28-July-09
Dined in the George and Dragon, tried the ales and Stowford Press cider. Food was outstanding and lots of it. Best cheese board I have had for years. Staff were first class. Cannot wait to go back, great country pub!
Dan says: 
| 22-July-09
The food was awful and the service was terrible which was a disappointment as we had eaten here before and it was fine. It took ages for us to be served and the fish seemed previously frozen.
Doreen Yaxley says: 
| 11-June-09
Wonderful country pub but we were disappointed in the food. They ran out of potatoes so served up three Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire puddings, that were soggy with gravy.
Ben Murphy says: | 15-April-09
Came across this pub by accident and have to say that it is a testament to what a proper country pub should be. Love it
Older reviews
The Roberts family say: | 17-September-08
Friendly welcome from the hosts and lovely meal on our way to Gatwick which made a good start to our holiday. We were going to make a return visit on the way back but due to an 8 hour delay, due to a fire on board the plane, we would have got to the pub at 2 am in the morning! Will try to visit again next time we are in Sussex.
The gobster says: | 25-May-08
I only wish I posted this comment earlier. What a fantastic local pub. Full of character [that's Wazi]. We have been before with family but this time went with several friends, including a small baby. We couldn't fault the service and food quality [thanks again Chris!] and the staff catered well for a young family. We shall re-visit frequently.
Joanne says: | 15-May-08
Called in on this pub last weekend whilst on a cycle ride with my husband; it was a blistering hot day. What a great garden and great pub. A couple of negatives; they had run out of ice and there wasn't a great choice of snack food, we didn't want a main meal. Nevertheless, we shared a meal of scampi and chips. Big portions, good quality and good value, although we had to wait nearly 40 minutes for it, but it was busy. We will be visiting this pub again.
Mrs Jeffery says: | 4-May-08
My husband and I live in Christ's Hospital. We were out for a drive and stopped at this pub on the 26th April. Very friendly staff and a nice day. We had to wait for food but landlord kept us informed and it was worth the wait. It was so nice, we went back again on Sunday. It is now our regular pub at weekends.
Greg Brown says: | 9-March-08
Brilliant pub, full of character, good beer, fantastic value for money food and excellent, friendly customer service. We have taken several friends and family there to eat and they were all equally impressed. We travel 10 miles to get to the pub and are tempted to look for a house close by. A local of my dreams!
John Budden says: | 4-March-08
I left booking Mothers Day lunch almost too late and it was only through this website that I found the George and Dragon. I nearly didn't book because of an earlier review by Andy but am really pleased that I did. This is a gorgeous little pub oozing character. Andy is right in that it is cramped, but what do you expect from a 16th century building?!
The food was lovely. The portions are massive but the quality is also high for a pub, and without the high prices of a restaurant. The service was a bit slow and erratic but that added to the character and the enjoyment of our day. My mother felt really spoilt and thoroughly enjoyed her day. Thank you and well done the George and Dragon. We will return!
Peter Burdfield says: | 27-February-08
A fantastic pub. We were there on the 14th February. The food was excellent with a warm atmosphere, apart from a small group of diners who complained about everything.
Claire Mitchell says: | 27-February-08
Wow! We had our son's Christening party here on Sunday and it was wonderful. Anne and Peter made ourselves and our guests feel most welcome with drinks on arrival, gorgeous food and a huge log fire. We have had so many guests comment on what a wonderful time they had. We can highly recommend the pub for weekend food or a function. Thank you!
Amie says: | 20-February-08
The food was fantastic as usual. There were 20 very happy customers. Thank you! The happy and helpful staff made it.
Tom Simons says: | 17-February-08
On a visit from Scotland last weekend, I was absolutely bowled over by this beautiful pub - great food and great service. Shame we don't live nearer. I highly recommend the bacon roly poly.
Andy says: 
| 14-February-08
Extremely disappointed with the undercooked food. It was brought back to our table twice and was still undercooked, with the same vegetables which were completely dried up. Complete with a bad attitude from the owner and cramped conditions, we will certainly never go there again.
Pub score - No Good · - Excellent
