Emsworth
Emsworth is a town in Southern England.
Get in
Emsworth has a train station on the South Coast Line between Portsmouth and Chichester
Havant is located nearby with better connections to London. Local busses run regularly to Emsworth from Havant Bus Station. Emsworth is just off the A27 main road between Portsmouth and Chichester, there is a small car park in the centre of town.
Get around
Emsworth is very small and easily covered on foot
See
- The pleasant Town Square is quaint and lined with nice independent shops, pubs and restaurants
- The Harbour offers a nice place for a stroll, It is usually home to swans and ducks, it is also surrounded entirely by a Promenade, offering a nice walk and views over Chichester Harbour.
- St James' Church on North Street is a nice little parish church.
- Emsworth Museum is above the fire station on North Street and has a few small exhibits on local life, opens irregularly.
Do
- Emsworth Food Festival. This ever growing festival is one of the South Coasts best kept secrets. It takes place at the start of September each year. The town comes to a stand still as all available space is given over to local and not so local producers. There are huge varieties of foods, wines and beers, the focus is on small independent producers, although some larger wine producers, and brewers offer wine tastings in the main tent. 55,000 people visited in the 3 days the festival was on in 2007.
Buy
- All you can carry away from the Food Festival.
- Local produce from many of the independent shops lining the main square
Eat
Emsworth is a culinary treat for such a small town. It has two of the regions best restaurants, some of the best Oysters in the country and a great Food Festival, so food should be an important part of a visit.
- Oysters are the traditional speciality of Emsworth, it even supplies them to the Queen.
- Sausages O'Haglans on the main square produces award winning sausages, you can sample them at the excellent Sussex Brewery (see Drink section), as well as traditional varieties they serve many other types, including a game platter (Venison, Wild Boar, Pheasant & Pigeon, highly recommended)
- Restaurants
- 36 on the Quay, South Street (On the Harbour side), ☏ +44 1243 375592, info@36onthequay.com. This Michelin Starred restaurant is regarded as one of the finest in this area of Britain. As it overlooks the Harbour it is no surprise that fish is the speciality, but fresh ingredients feature throughout. A real Treat and a reason enough to visit Emsworth. Also offers accommodation £45.95 Three Course menu.
- Fat Olives, South Street (On the way down to the harbour), ☏ +44 1243 377914, info@fatolives.co.uk. High Quality food in lovely surrounds. Featured in Egon Ronay's Top 200 mains from £13.
- Mother Kelly's, 20 North Street (On the road leading to the Station), ☏ +44 1243 375859. A great traditional Fish and Chip shop, Take away only. It may not look like much but this is the British national dish at its best circa £5 for Cod and Chips.
Drink
Emsworth has a great array of traditional piubs for a small town.
- Sussex Brewery, 36-Main Road (On the main road on the way out towards Chichester), ☏ +44 1243 371533. Serves some of the best Bangers and Mash around. Extensive menu including a game platter, locally sourced. Also offers standard pub menu. The front bar is a traditional pub that still puts down sawdust on the floor, a rare find.
- The Ship Inn, 24 High Street (On the main Square), ☏ +44 1243 377151. Good traditional pub serving local bitters, Southwick Ales are certainly worth a try.
- The Coal Exchange, 21 South Street (On the way down to the Harbour), ☏ +44 1243 375866. Nice traditional pub near the harbour
- The Lord Raglan, 35-Queen Street, ☏ +44 1243 372587. Another great traditional watering hole.
Sleep
- The Brookfield Hotel, Havant Road, ☏ +44 1243 373363, bookings@brookfieldhotel.co.uk. The plushest Hotel in town, just a short walk to the centre. £70-90.
- Jingles Hotel, 77 Horndean Road, ☏ +44 1243 373755, info@jingles-hotel.co.uk. Pleasant Hotel on the main road to the centre of town. £39-58.
- The Thatched Cottage Bed and Breakfast, River Street, Westbourne, ☏ +44 1243 374733, tomandjill@onetel.com. Charming Traditional B&B £30-45.
- The Crown Hotel, 8 High Street (On the main Square), ☏ +44 1243 372806. Right in the centre of town, recently spruced up good pub/ hotel £65-90.
Connect
Go next
- Chichester is a charming Cathedral City just a few miles along the road
- Portsmouth the home of the British navy has seafaring attractions and a regenerated city centre.