Opened by Ray Dumbleton, then licensee of the Fletchers Arms opposite Angmering Station.

Originally the Cissbury Tap, it was purchased by Tony Hempson in 2003 and renamed the Caledonian Bar, reflecting his time as an ex-Flight Engineer with Caledonian Airways.

Since 2009, it has been under the new management of Dan Grispino and renamed the Valley Bar, with a definite sporting theme.

We are given to understand a new outside seating area has been created out the back.

"Back in the days when the Valley was a real autonomous shopping centre and its mostly rather aged denizens could literally buy almost anything in the King's Parade, this was a shoe shop. The Valley Bar isn't a pub, but it's a lot better than nothing". A much edited quote from Johny Rooke.

We know the inside has been updated and a covered garden has been opened out the back, entitled 'The Escape'. This will improve capacity, which is a bonus for an area lacking in drinking establishments.

 Time Line

A little bit extra

(?) Ray Dumbleton
2003 - Tony Hempson
2009 - Dan Grispino

Rate Beer web site claim that this pub was the first Tapco (over 10 years ago). The idea was, at the time, that a small retail outlet in a shopping parade would become a local bar. Was this the forerunner of the Micropub we're seeing today?