1962: This is Henry Barker, landlord of the Gardeners. Henry was a private investigator for 18 years before taking over his first pub in London.

He took over the Gardeners in January 1961. "I like it very much here: it's not as hectic as my previous houses and I have a nice all-year-round clientele."

His favourite beer was draught Red Barrel, adding that he keeps a good cellar as he informed the reporter of the Worthing Gazette.

1999: Fred Courcher, landlord of the Gardeners, won planning permission from Adur Council to open a 28-seater restaurant in a 1962 railway carriage.

The carriage itself is is currently sitting in a siding at the privately owned Watercress Line in Alresford, Hampshire. Mr Courcher plans to transport it by road and lift it into the back garden with a 250-tonne crane. The previous owners were the British Army, who used it for Special Operations training. Hopefully, it will be in place by July.

Left: The carriage in situ, as viewed from inside the pub.

After complaints from the council, the railway carriage has to be removed. There had been much bickering between the landlord Fred Courcher, and Planning Officer Dereck Wade. Mr Courcher had hoped to shave 85 centimetres off the height of the carriage and end the 2-year planning dispute.

Apparently, the council had permitted an antique Pullman carriage, but the landlord used a taller 1962 standard British Rail carriage. Mr Courcher offered to remove the wheels and bring it down to the required height, but the planning office insisted that it was completely.

Note, the wheels are in a trench underneath.arriage.

The pub closed last year (2008), but partners, Mick Day and Maggie Treacy, both in their 50s, decided it deserved a second chance.

Maggie had worked in many pubs in Worthing and was eager to avoid being tied with a large brewery where they had little control over pricing and supply.

The former train carriage, still on site, was converted into toilets until it could be removed, and they also added decking to the southern side of the building.

Time Line

A little bit more

1856 - Thomas Ide - Beer House (Gardeners Arms)
1877 - Charles Gaston
1894 - William Isted from Frederick Miles
1888 - James Bourne to Herbert Spencer Cook
1890 - Mr Bingham
1900 - 1906 James Grant
1938 - 1948 Willaim Payne
1951 - Alfred Gardner
1953 - Mr & Mrs S Heald
1961 - 1964 Henry Barker (leaving)
1967 - Mr S Banstead
1976 - 1999 Fred Courcha
1981 - Building extension to Public bar
2013 - Mike Day & Maggie Treacy
2022 - Closed and for sale
2023 - Re opened
2025 - Closed

2013 - CAMRA pub of the year Adur & Arun