The Fox Goes Free

In Charlton, at the foot of Levin Down and a mile from Goodwood Racecourse, The Fox Goes Free brings three reasons to visit under one roof: a village pub, restaurant, and inn with guest rooms. The property retains oak beams, fireplaces, and other features of a traditional country pub. From the garden, the South Downs landscape frames a meal that can easily stretch into a leisurely afternoon.

The kitchen centers on seasonal home cooking and local ingredients when available. Its offerings include British pub favorites, fish dishes, savory pies, and a Sunday roast that changes with the season. The bar serves cask ales, cider, selected wines, and spirits. The pub also hosts tastings, quiz nights, and community events. Reservations are recommended, especially on race days and during Goodwood events.

Bed-and-breakfast rooms make the Fox a practical base for exploring the area: Goodwood House, the motor circuit, West Dean Gardens, Chichester, and the Weald and Downland Living Museum are all in the wider region. The pub describes itself as roughly 400 years old and preserves local history that includes the first Women’s Institute meeting in England, held there in 1915. For a countryside getaway, the appeal is being able to eat, sleep, and set out for a walk from the same place.