Observer series Pub of the Year 2019 winners announced

Tom Richardson, 37, and Ollie Boulton, 28, took over the countryside pub in May, 2017 to save it from closure.

They said: “Neither of us had run a pub before and it was a complete change of career for us both, but has definitely been worth the challenge.”

Early last year the pub underwent a complete transformation of the beer garden, with a major landscaping project. The garden now features a marquee with an outside bar and pool table with beautiful views over the South Downs.

A variety of different events are held throughout the year, with an upcoming Ballards Brewery Beer Walk taking place on December 1.

The duo said: “The Three Moles is not only one of the smallest pubs in the county, it is the only pub in the world called The Three Moles. Built into a hill at the side of the road, we are surrounded by stunning countryside in the heart of the South Downs National Park. We are a traditional countryside pub and are 80 per cent wet sales still which is pretty unusual for a pub these days. We serve pub-grub style food and do what has been described as ‘the best Sunday Roast in Sussex’ on TripAdvisor. Our motto, which is on a brass plaque above the bar, is ‘there are no strangers here, just friends we are yet to meet’.”

In second place in the Observer Pub of the Year 2019 awards – voted for by readers – was The Star, Market Square, Petworth. And third went to The Crate and Apple, Westgate, Chichester.