The Crate and Apple

Someone from this business manages this listing.

704 reviews

#27 of 203 Restaurants in Chichester££ - £££, Bar, British, Pub

+44 1243 539336+ Add website

Hours

Sun

10:00 - 23:00

Mon

10:00 - 23:00

Tue

10:00 - 23:00

Wed

10:00 - 23:00

Thu

10:00 - 23:00

Fri

10:00 - 23:00

Sat

10:00 - 23:00

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What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.5

704 reviews

#27 of 203 Restaurants in Chichester

Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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PRICE RANGE

£11.00 – £26.00

CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

14 Westgate, Chichester PO19 3EU England

+44 1243 539336

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Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

Yes

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Details

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About

Our menu reflects our passion for the highest quality locally sourced produce. We are proud to support local suppliers and use seasonal fare whenever we can. Award winning Julie Hawkes and General Manager Lisa Napier Raikes work together to produce and deliver traditional British dishes with a twist.

PRICE RANGE

£11.00 – £26.00

CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.5

704 reviews

Excellent

474

Very good

119

Average

Poor

Terrible

Food/Holidays22

Chichester472 contributions

A family occasion ... table for 15 ... absolutely superb!!!

Jan 2020 • none

Do consider The Crate & Apple if you are looking to book lunch or dinner for a fairly large (or small) group ... The pub is very attractive, well maintained and feels much more trendy than most in and around Chichester. Our booking was dealt with efficiently and thoughtfully with Lisa (the Manager). As always Andy, the proprietor, was very accommodating and the food was extremely good and Aaron is a great barman. Bread, olives & balsamic were available on tables. Followed with most of us pre-choosing (much easier) braised beef, with horseradish mash and gorgeous vegetables plus desserts and cheese (great vegetarian option available too) . The welcome and overall atmosphere was everything we could have asked for and we felt the final bill for copious amounts of Prosecco, Wine, Beer & other drinks, together with the excellent food was extremely reasonable. The location of the pub for local hotels, shops and looking around the gorgeous Cathedral city couldn't be beaten. Many thanks

Written 6 January 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gary W

Waterlooville40 contributions

While waiting for my daughter

Oct 2020 • solo

Having dropped my daughter off to go shopping, I decided not to go Home and make the return trip but instead find a quiet pub and relax over lunch. With all the tables nicely spaced out and staff taking name and number I was shown to a table where I could take off my face covering. The polite and friendly staff took my order and brought over my drink and took my food order. A good traditional pub menu was on offer at lunch time and I ordered 6oz burger with fries, possibly expensive but good quality and adequate portion size. Good selection of drinks on offer. Overall a pleasant experience and leftest feeling full but chilled and relaxed, perfect for the situation.

Written 10 October 2020

robintT670GW

Thank you for your review. I am glad you enjoyed your recent visit. All of our produce is of the highest quality and sourced locally which is reflected in the price but also in the taste.. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Written 11 October 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Donny Darko

2 contributions

Exceptional Food; Competent Service

Sept 2020 • couples

This is only the second time we’ve visited the pub, but both times the roast dinner has been absolutely top-quality. It’s not the cheapest, but despite raising an eyebrow at the price of the roast the first time we visited, I can confirm it was definitely worth the money. The roast beef was both a generous portion and perfectly cooked (slightly pink). The vegetables with the roast were clearly quality produce; perfectly cooked. Can’t ask for more than that! Could probably do with an extra ale or two on tap, but they have an outstanding selection of gin cocktails to make up for it! Will definitely return soon.

Written 27 September 2020

robintT670GW

Thank you for taking the time to post a review of your recent visit to The Crate & Apple. I am glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with us an sampled the award winning Sunday roast. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Written 6 October 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Katie W

Chichester4 contributions

Could be better..

Aug 2020 • friends

Such a shame as I absolutely love this pub and have previously been very impressed. Maybe they have new staff or were struggling as very busy? I ordered a rump steak (£24.50) and wasn't asked how I'd like it cooked.. which was ok as I said, I would like it medium/rare (but was a bit surprised not to be asked). Was underwhelmed by the bread in the bread and olive starter (toasted thick slices bread). When the steak arrived, it was definitely more done than medium, but mostly I was disappointed that it was full of fat. I left it and waited until someone came to check on us, but no one came out. They were really busy in the garden and pub, but it was a bit disappointing that no one came to check on us for the entirety of our meal. I ate the chips and tomatoes as was so hungry and thought I'd catch someone's attention walking past to serve other tables but still no one came out. I haven't had this issue in the past, so like I said- hopefully it was a blip. Eventually when my friend had nearly finished her meal and I had eaten bits of the steak that I could, someone came and asked if everything 'had been ok with our meal.' At this point, it was clear that I hadn't been able to eat much of the steak and I said to the waitress that my steak unfortunately was overcooked and due to the fat, I'd been unable to eat it. Her reply was, 'Sorry about that, I'll let the chef know.' For £24.50 I was a bit disappointed by this response as I had basically had some tomatoes and chips for the price of it (although I paid half as it was a 'eat out to help out' evening). Perhaps a little more training is needed or a method to know if and when each table has been checked. Unfortunately it has put me off returning, which is a huge shame. My friend was very happy with her fish and chips meal.

Written 13 August 2020

robintT670GW

Thank you for taking the time to post a review. We value all feedback and act on it when we can. Obviously in this instance we have failed to deliver to our normal standard in both food and service. You are right that we were incredibly busy that evening but that is no excuse and I apologise on behalf of the whole team. It would be a shame if you did not return as I understand on previous occasions you have enjoyed your experience with us. We would like the opportunity to restore your opinion of The Crate & Apple and would ask that you call me on 07597383363 to discuss further.

Written 14 August 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

seb E

1 contribution

Quality of food poor for the price.

Feb 2020 • family

Pub has a great location as it's just round the corner from us, however now I wish we went to restaurant that has better value and better quality. We had a starter of brie and hazelnuts, very basic and simply tasteless along with some cracker thing that was so thin it was pointless. The main mushroom Wellington was very small and the carrots looked like they were yesterdays. The main also had a sauce but it was so dry it made the dish even dryer then it was already. Service not great, not natural and looked like they paid more attention to a wedding party then evenly spreading the service throughout all paying customers. Real shame as I heard lots of good things, but i would not waste your money.

Written 1 February 2020

Rpt101261

Hi Seb, Thank you for your review. I am sorry to hear that we did not meet your expectations on this occasion. We pride ourselves on not only the quality of our meals but also the service level. Clearly we have fallen short in this instance. If you would like to contact me directly to discuss in more depth I would greatly appreciate it. Tel: 07597383363 or email robin@crateandapple.co.uk. I look forward to hearing from you. Robin

Written 2 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

hannah c

1 contribution

Wedding reception -1/9/2020

Sept 2020 • family

Our wedding was postponed in May due to Covid -19. We rebooked for 1st September but had to radically change our plans. We were only able to have 10 adult guests present at the ceremony and due to restrictions on wedding receptions we had to be very creative. Lisa and her team were amazing. We were able to book a socially distanced table for all 10 guests, our menu choices were taken in advance meaning all guests chose their own meals. Lisa was fantastic at communicating and she met every request I had with patience and nothing was too much trouble. Lisa decorated the tables on the day and took all the stress away from me having to organise this on my big day. The food was simply stunning and the staff were great and so responsive. They had a lovely balance of being attentive when needed but also leaving our guests to enjoy the day. I really can not recommend the Crate & Apple more highly, and the team were just incredible. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make our day so special. Hannah & David

Written 6 September 2020

robintT670GW

Hi Hannah, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am so glad that we were able to accommodate you for your wedding reception. We thoroughly enjoyed having you here. I have passed on your comments to Lisa and the team. It is heartening to see all their hard work acknowledged. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Written 7 September 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Felix B

1 contribution

Slow service and poor food.

Jun 2021 • couples

I want to try and make this more constructive than a rant. Unfortunately the service was poor. Forgot to bring out our drinks order, had to chase them up. Also forgot to bring out the bill after asking x2. Food time was OK, approx 30 mins, however j did get the wrong order (ordered lamb madras but got chops). The food needed a bit of work. The lamb chops came with a poor selection of boiled potatoes and salad. The potatoes needed more butter (maybe garlic butter) and seasoning. The salad had 2 half grapes and 3 slices of old strawberry, with no dressing. There was also a white hair in the salad, most likely a dog hair. The lamb itself was great, the rest of the plate was very poor, especially for 17.50.... Overall, overpriced for pub food and poor service. I really hope you guys can work on this, and pubs need all the help they can get at the moment.

Written 12 June 2021

Robin T

Thank you posting a review. As you are probably aware a consequence of Covid has been a substantial increase in the cost of raw materials across the board as suppliers struggle to make back the losses of the last year or so. A portion of these costs have to be passed on to the customer and unfortunately that is the new reality that we find ourselves in as an industry. Compared to other Gastro pubs we sit firmly in the middle from a price standpoint. I apologise that you had to wait and that the service was not up to the standard you would expect. This last lockdown decimated the hospitality workforce and now across the industry businesses are struggling to find staff. This is not an excuse for the poor service but more of an explanation for what is happening generally at the moment. We are of course working hard to resolve all of these issues but you are exactly right when you comment that pubs need all the support they can get and some modicum of understanding from the public. Restaurants and pubs across the country have been closed for the best part of a year and it is unreasonable to expect them to be able to re-open and perform at pre-Covid levels with a limited workforce and increased government regulations surrounding service.

Written 13 June 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Andrea

London1 contribution

Lovely lunch

Aug 2020 • solo

Came here for lunch on a Sunday and had the Roast Hake with Parma ham. The meal was excellent and the wine selection also. The service was very good as well. They are dog friendly and just friendly in general. You will need to book in advance if you want to come here for a Sunday lunch as they are normally fully booked. Definitely recommend

Written 23 August 2020

robintT670GW

Thank you for taking the time to review your recent visit to The Crate & Apple. I am glad you enjoyed your meal with us and I have passed on your comments to all the staff. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Written 24 August 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lemon1000

Rustington21 contributions

Disappointing

Feb 2020 • friends

Went with a group of friends to this venue for the first time... wish I hadn’t! Very disappointed. No atmosphere...poor, expensive meal. 2 of us chose the beef burger.. both wish we hadn’t... the burgers were served balanced on small wooden boards which we asked to change for plates. My burger was overcooked and subsequently hard! The triple cooked chips were the best thing on the board/plate-£14.50 not good value. The others at the table ordered the Guinea Fowl and Hake.. and were underwhelmed. Saving grace were the desserts which were ok.

Written 18 February 2020

Crate_Managment

Thank you for your review. We value all feedback and appreciate that you have taken the time to post a review on your recent experience at The Crate and Apple. Firstly let me apologise for what was obviously a poor experience. We have high standards of food and service and we obviously have failed to meet them on this occasion. If you would like to contact me I would like to discuss further with you. My private number is 07597383363. I look forward to speaking to you soon. Robin Managing Director

Written 20 February 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jasmine38Chichester UK

Chichester1977 contributions

Christmas Lunch

Dec 2021 • couples

Our first time dining here and think also first time Crate & Apple offered an Xmas lunch. Rather ambitiously they provided three sittings at 12, 2.30 and 5. Consequently it was a bit chaotic when we arrived. We felt there should have been someone near the door to greet people and sort out their reservation rather than everyone trying to grab the attention of one of the bar staff. We opted for the 2.30 sitting which was the busiest and the place was full. We waited about 15 mins for our table to be ready. Price for 3 courses including amuse bouche, sorbet and mini mince pie and chocolates was a fairly reasonable £85 plus 10% service charge. Overall the meal was good but not outstanding. The ham hock terrine starter was unfortunately awful - wet, mushy and decidedly unmeaty, but there was no problem exchanging for the soup. The turkey roast, however, was good and plentiful and the Xmas pud was also tasty with a delicious vanilla sauce. Wine prices were not too steep either. Service was friendly and accommodating and it was clear they were trying hard to deliver a high level of service. For example, we ended up waiting quite a while for our main course and the manager or owner came over to apologise and gave us each a complimentary glass of prosecco. Will definitely revisit to give them a try in a regular situation.

Written 26 December 2021

Rpt101261

Thank you for taking the time to post a review and I am glad you enjoyed your experience with us. This was our first Christmas day service and the first time we have initiated sittings. There were some teething issues which we will iron out for next year. We did have some problems with guests arriving early for the 2.30 sitting and then having to wait while the tables were cleared and re-set. This is something we will definitely look improving for next year with more of a gap between the two sittings. The Christmas pudding got a lot of positive feedback. Our Head Chef Julie made it in the traditional method starting way back in September and I think that made the difference. We look forward to welcoming you back again, perhaps to try our new menu which will be launched in January.

Written 28 December 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Roo

44 contributions

Disappointed

Jul 2021 • family

We have been to crate and Apple for their roast dinners pre Covid and always rated it the best. We returned today and left disappointed. We ordered the crayfish starter which was nice and chicken goujons, chips and beans for our 2 year old and asked if this could be brought out with the starter as he was hungry. They brought it out and I cut the goujons to find raw chicken. I told the waitress who was very apologetic. I just dread to think how ill he would have got If he had eaten them. We then had a long long long wait for our 2 roast beef dinners. Which sadly did not live up to what they were in the past. We then wanted to get out as soon as we could and asked for our bill. We weren't charged for the kids meal but it wasn't until I got home had I realised I had been slapped with a 10% service charge. What service? Raw chicken or the long wait? Sadly raw chicken, slow service and a mediocre roast did not live up to with what we had experienced in the past.

Written 25 July 2021

Robin T

Thank you for posting a review and I am very sorry to hear about your recent experience with us. The service charge is added automatically when the system finalises the bill but if you would like to pop in or call us we will absolutely refund you for that. This last lockdown and Brexit combined has devastated the hospitality industry with a massive shortage of skilled labour and increased costs. We have not been able to operate at full strength since we opened in May. However this does not excuse the poor service you received and if you would like to contact me directly on robin@crateandapple.co.uk I would like the opportunity to make amends. I look forward to hearing from you.

Written 26 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SHaron R

Costa Blanca20 contributions

Would never return

Jun 2021 • none

We had a friends reunion, a party of six, average age 65 years old. After paying 399 pounds for a very average meal. My husband ordered gammon with duck egg, and got ham with a fried eggs on top. Five meals arrived together and mine had been forgotten so I had to eat after everybody else had finished. We did not complain we were enjoying our catch up after not seeing each other for so long. I do take enormous exception to the fact that after we had paid our bill and my husband phoned for a taxi we were told the wait for the taxi could be thirty minutes. We requested another drink and were refused as the bar manager had determined the party was intoxicated.. when we called for the manager he backed up his member of staff and when asked for the reason of refusing , she said one of the party when getting up to go to the toilet his chair had fallen back. we were not singing , we were not dancing, we were not being loud, and the bar was fairly empty. None of the other customers that I am aware of had complained. Average food, poor service, and insulted to boot. Needless to say none of the party will ever return.

Written 18 June 2021

Robin T

Thank you for taking the time to post a review. As I tried to explain to you on the night but perhaps you were too inebriated to follow the conversation, we are prohibited by law to serve guests when they are intoxicated. By your own admission you had spent £500 at the bar and in fact only had 10 minutes to wait before the taxi arrived. The supervisor in question acted as required under the conditions of our premises license. She was polite and courteous to you although you might not remember since you had at that point drunk a significant amount, but you were quite rude and loud in return. I am sorry you feel the law does not apply to you but unfortunately we are obliged to adhere to it even if it does seem ludicrous at times.

Written 18 June 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Lorraine S

Cranbrook65 contributions

Disappointing Sunday Roast

Nov 2021 • none

We visited Chichester for the day, travelling from Kent for the Advent Service at the Cathedral. I searched for a traditional Sunday roast and The Crate and Apple appeared to have so many great reviews and awards that we decided to book ahead and were so looking forward to our meal. Unfortunately the food did not live up to our expectations and we were so disappointed. We both ordered the roast beef - chewy meat, hard and barely cooked potatoes, and overcooked and watery cauliflower. What can I say? I cannot recommend a Sunday roast at this place.

Written 29 November 2021

Rpt101261

Thank you for posting a review. I am very sorry your experience was poor and not what you would expect from an award winning restaurant. If you would like to contact me directly on robin@crateandapple I would to make amends.

Written 29 November 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

keith

3 contributions

Not value for money on the food

Oct 2020 • none

Can I start by saying I do like this pub. Been here many times over the years and the garden is very nice and service generally has been top notch. Went for Sunday lunch yesterday (have eaten here on many occassions) but this time it wasn't so great. The Pork roast (£17) was 30% fat and 3 small potatoes with a small veg dish to share with 3 people didn't come up to scratch - albeit the pork scratching was very nice!. The ice cream scoop for £2.50 was very small and not worthy of the price tag. The Chocolate brownie at £8.50 was nice but no ice cream so was very dry, add an ice cream scoop at £2.50 makes this a very expenisive dessert. I should add the brownie did come with a small amount of caramel sauce which was equally sweet making the need for ice cream even greater!. The resturant is dog friendly which is lovely for owners but not for customers eating inside when they start barking at each other (the dogs not the customers), also I believe they should really be in the garden but thats my personally opinion. The garden has recently had a make over and looks lovely, nice sun trap down the bottom with a new enclosed area for people to sit and stay warm with the electric heating. However if you fancy a fag don't bother...this new covered area is NO SMOKING so you will have to stay cold and wet if you want a smoke. On the whole I still love this pub because it's nice but there is room for improvement. Having said that, the pub was busy and not a table to spare so clearly popular with the locals and within spit distance of the glorous Chichester Cathedral. To summarise, the pub has won a couple of awards for food in the past, specifically roast dinner and is trading on that fact to serve mediocre portions. They might need to up their game if I'm going to return for more and continue to win awards.

Written 19 October 2020

robintT670GW

Thank you for taking the time to post a review. We value all feedback as it helps us improve all aspects of the business. I am very sorry to hear that your experience was disappointing and did not meet expectation. Firstly let me begin by offering an apology. Obviously we want all of our guests to enjoy their experience and in this instance we have not succeeded. Since the Covid outbreak the price of raw produce has risen as suppliers try to claw back some of the losses they have incurred during the lockdown. Unfortunately we have to pass on some of the costs to the customer and since all of our food is sourced locally and of the highest quality the prices reflect that. We are proud to support local businesses and this is something we stand behind. Hopefully though as the world eventually returns to some semblance of normal the prices will revert to pre-Covid levels or close to it at least. The non-smoking rule for the Apple shed is purely for safety as the structure is made from timber, there are other covered areas outside that are available for smokers. Finally I would just say that I would greatly appreciate it if you could contact me directly to discuss the issues you have raised. Hopefully I can make amends. I look forward to hearing from you. Robin Owner.

Written 19 October 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sun_traveller_99

6 contributions

Yummy Sunday roast for two and four legs...

Mar 2020 • family

After a morning shopping in Chichester we looked up where we could get some lunch with our Fox Terrier and popped into the Crate and Apple to see if they happened to have a table for us. Although they had lots of bookings they managed to find us a nice table. The roast was delicious and the staff all very friendly and helpful. Plus not only do they accept dogs, they make them feel really welcome with lots of cuddles and a bowl of water. We will definitely be back!

Written 1 March 2020

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THE CRATE AND APPLE, Chichester - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor