A la Colthard/The Pig on South Downs

I have visited this restaurant several times and yesterday went there with an old friend in the advertising industry who knows his food and wine.

From the moment we arrived at the attractive hotel in Madehurst near Chichester he was impressed. There was a mix up with the booking dates (my fault!!!) but we were seated by the window of the large conservatory on a day when rain was forecast.

After Negronis we both ordered the same: white crab with pickled cucumber and a pork chop.

The white crab salad was delicious with the pickled spicy cucumber offsetting the locally sourced meaty crab.

Given the hotel’s name pork was a sensible choice but as a meat it can be bland.

This was served with a light tangy sauce of citric crême and was again delicious.

My friend ordered a mellow Tuscan red which was perfect for the pork.  The bill came to just under £100 and I did not begrudge one penny of it.