With the launch of Pop! Art in a Changing Britain exhibition at Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery and the new Festival 18 line-up at the Chichester Festival Theatre, now is the time to head for a spring break in West Sussex.
An ideal base for those wanting to the most of the cultural highs is The Crab and Lobster. A short drive from the city centre, this 350-year old restaurant with rooms is located in the pretty village of Sidlesham on the banks Pagham Harbour in West Sussex.
Running from March until 7 May Pop! Art in a Changing Britain explores how artists in the 1950s and 1960s responded to rapid social change. The exhibition celebrates Pallant House Gallery’s significant collection of British Pop Art, with major paintings, sculpture and its extensive holding of Pop prints. It includes seminal works such as Peter Blake’s ‘The Beatles, 1962’ (1963-68), Richard Hamilton’s ‘Swinging London’ (1968), Jann Haworth’s ‘Cowboy’ (1964). For more information visit: www.pallant.org.uk
Meanwhile, Chichester’s Festival Theatre launches its celebrated annual programme with Noel Coward’s Present Laughter, starting Rufus Hound. This sparkling comedy about sex, fame and the theatre itself – and a man wrestling with his own self-image – is widely regarded as Noël Coward’s most autobiographical play. Directed by Sean Foley, the play stars actor, comedian and presenter Rufus Hound in the lead role as Garry. For more information visit: www.cft.org.uk
Nature will also be putting on a splendid show at the pub’s close neighbour the Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve. The internationally important wildlife wetland site and tidal sheltered inlet comes alive during spring, featuring many species of waders and wildfowl including godwits, dunlins, pintails and brent geese. Smaller migrants such as sedge, reed and willow also arrive while warblers, blackcaps and chiffchaffs can be heard singing their spring song, while wheatears hop about the beach.
As well as being a great base to explore the area, the Crab and Lobster’s restaurant is another draw. Locally revered due to its adventurous menu, which has a real focus on fresh fish – there’s also a good selection of pub classics including fish and chips.
Typical dishes – Selsey crab and dressed crayfish sandwich; fillet of cod, celeriac mash, steamed cockles, pancetta and cockle cream; rhubarb and custard tart with rhubarb caramel and crème anglaise. It also has a fabulous wine list, which includes local Tinwood Sparkling wine (a local winery) as well as plenty of local ales.
Overnight stays start from £105 per room per night including a full English breakfast valid on all mid-week stay Sunday-Thursday until 28 March 2018. Outside the offer period the price is from £185 for mid-week or £195 at the weekend with a minimum two night stay.
The Crab and Lobster, www.crab-lobster.co.uk tel: 01243 641 233.
