An 1866 village pub still retaining its original two bars, the Murrell has an historic interior identified by CAMRA as being of regional importance. Walls and ceilings are decorated with old pictures, craft tools and local memorabilia, many of which relate to former landlord and local historian Mervyn Cutten. In the right-hand Public Bar the rare game of Ring the Bull can be played. Pub opens at 10.30 on Fontwell Park race days, and closing may be later if busy.
Historic Interest
Built circa 1750 as a farmhouse by William Murrell (1718-1791), yeoman. A pub since 1866. A blacksmith's shop was next door, where the car park now is.
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
A pub of real character retaining two little-altered bars and a number of old fittings.
Built c.1750 by William Murrell as a farmhouse, it became a pub in 1866. The public bar on the right incorporates the former Bottle & Jug and was itself once two small rooms. The bar counter front-left is interwar with an an older curved counter rear right. Between the two sections of bar-back (not that old) is the cellar entrance where a brick arch proclaiming 'Merrell Tap' is a recent addition. Other features of interest are the front-right fireplace, dado panelling (full height on the rear wall), two high-backed settles and the rare pub game, Ring the Bull.
The saloon bar on the left is a later addition; it leads into a vestibule where the etched panels have clearly been repositioned. There's an unusual early postwar semi-circular counter resembling a barrel with hoops and staves plus more old fireplaces, dado panelling and high-backed settles.
A pub of real character still retaining two little-altered bars and a number of old fittings. Built c.1750 by William Murrell as a farmhouse and became a pub in 1866. The public bar on the right is an amalgamation of the Bottle & Jug (exterior door remains) and the public bar, which was itself two small rooms sometime in the past as there are two fireplaces. The bar counter on the front left of the public bar is interwar with a newer top; and there is a curved old bar counter in the rear right area. The two sections of bar back are not that old but are intact as a fridge is situated to the right of them. Between the two bar backs is the entrance to the cellar that in recent years has seen a brick arch added with the wording ‘Merrell Tap’. The fireplace on the front right has a wood surround and copper interior with a log fire. Both wood block and bare wood floors; old dado panelling. In the rear section is a brick fireplace of recent vintage; full height old panelling on the rear wall; two high-backed settles, darts and the rare pub game of Ring the Bull. The saloon bar (Stable Bar on exterior door) on the left situated in an addition to the original building leads into a vestibule with a ‘Public Bar’ and ‘Private Bar’ etched panels i.e. clearly repositioned. The unusual just post-war semi-circular bar counter is constructed to resemble a barrel with hoops and staves. There are two old fireplaces, old dado panelling and two high-backed settles.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 2 regular beers.
Murrell Arms, Barnham
Always from Fuller's stable
Changing beers typically include: Dark Star (varies) , Dark Star - Hophead , Fuller's (varies)
Source: Regional
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