The Hop Sun, Haywards Heath

Visited 01/07/26. Visited previously 05/12/21. Cask choices of the Jaipur Kashpur IPA and the Jaipur on the Union IPA from Thornbridge, their own Stayed in my Lane pale ale and a couple of ciders from Black Pig. Keg offerings of their own Rotations IPA, Atemporal pale ale, Elves en Regalia pale ale and the Emergency Chairs lager. Away keg offerings of Bongo an IPA from Only with Love, Amarillo a pale ale from Three Acres, California and IPA from Sierra Nevada and Sound an IPA from Lakedown. Bare boarded tap room for the Heathen Brewery. Bar counter is at the rear on the left-hand side of the venue. Some tall tables with tall stools around the bar counter with regular tables at the front of the venue. A single screen was showing the tennis with commentary on my visit. There is a function room on the right-hand side of the venue that was closed for a private function on my visit. There is some seating outside at the front also. All told a very pleasant venue with a good beer range based on the average for HH.

Heathen Brewery tap with most of the seating and the brewing vessels in what must once have been the alleyway and rear yard (all now covered) beside the original building (which does also house another bar). Three cask ales on, but their own Red IPA was on the strong side so I went for one of the guests - Bird from Hand (£5.10) - but the more extensive craft keg selection looked interesting too.

Dear me, this place is grim. On a bitterly cold day, the customers were corralled into a covered yard next to what I'd assumed was the actual pub. My pint of keg Heathen Session IPA went down as quickly as I could manage, given the cold hands and the fact that it wasn't really that great. Several more keg offerings were available from a hatch servery, with a Burning Sky beer available on cask. The sole positive was the friendly service from the young barmaid clad, like the rest of us, in a hat and coat. By some margin, the worst pub experience I've had in many years. I won't be back.