Bucks Green Christmas Horse Bridleway Custom

While most folks are slaving over hot stoves or opening their presents, the locals at the Fox Inn at Bucks Green have quite a different event on Christmas Day each year. A horse walks through the bar at the pub preceding Christmas lunch, perhaps in order to preserve an ancient right of way, though nobody seems to know the origin of the custom for certain. The horse is usually treated to carrots and sometimes beer (well, it is Christmas after all….) then after his visit lunch can be served. The horse walks in through the front door and follows a brick path right past the bar to the back entrance, where he meets his adoring crowd and has a graze on the lawn. Visitors are welcome either for lunch (which books up well in advance) or for drinks. And yes, somebody DID say “Why the long face?” when the horse walked into the bar, so that’s probably a tradition too!

Helpful Hints

They managed to keep the tradition going even in the 2020 and 2021 pandemic- videos on the Facebook link below! Also check the Facebook link for any updates.

Bucks Green is near Rudgwick. When we went the horse was a few minutes late so don’t panic if 12 noon comes and the horse isn’t in the bar.

Click here for the Fox Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/foxinnwestsussex/

and here for the website: https://www.foxinn.co.uk