Probably the most remembered picture of the Henry Arms is the one above from 1991. The landlady suggested to her husband, Ray, that there wasn't enough support for the troops in the Gulf War. Ray, rising to the challenge, painted the frontage with the Union flag.
(It's only a Union Jack if it's seabourn).

Money was also raised by a donation of 5p on each pint, to go towards the Gulf Fund. Only one person complained about the new face of the pub.

Right, the pub as it stands today.

There is little known about the history of the pub. The 'New Inn' was reputedly established in 1830. We suspect it was a much different building, an inn being a place to rest horses, supply food, and, if needed, a bed for the night. It would have been simple and functional. The older structure in the back car park looks original and may have been the stables.

1893 is the first printed mention of the pub. A bequest from the Henty family in 1926 may have sparked a rebuild into what we see today, less the later extensions.

Not such a good boy! This is Scamp, a nine-year-old Alsatian with his owner, pub landlord, Dick O'Connell. Scamp is supposed to be the pub's guard dog, except on one Monday night when he didn't stir during a robbery.

The thieves broke in through a side window and stole £300 from the fruit machines. Police were of the mind that the robbery could be connected to another the same night in nearby Mike Smith Flooring, where the raider broke in through the roof and stole petty cash.

Mr O'Connell said, "We haven't really given him a telling off, but in future I think I'll give him some of our beer every evening, the customers all say it keeps them up at night!"

August 18, 1988, saw the arrival of the Wurzels, a popular music group with a strong West Country theme and appearance. They were there to open the new 30-seat restaurant area at the pub, an ambition of Ray and Lesley since they took over two years ago.

Up until this point, all meals had been at the bar, but Lesley was keen to point out that bar snacks would still be available. "Our aim has been to create a warm and old-fashioned atmosphere," said Lesley.
The restaurant was furnished in oak, and the décor the palest of pink with maroon velvet curtains. They are looking forward to the change in the licensing laws to take advantage of the longer hours.

New hosts to the Henry are brother and sister team, Austin Power and Breda Traynor, who aim to revive the Henry to its full potential. They will be assisted in their task with their respective spouses, Renee and Tommy, keeping the business firmly in the family.

Part of their aim is not to be over ambitious, Freddie Feest, writer for the Worthing Herald, paid a visit and wrote a review. He notes the menu is very modest in cost and includes steak and kidney pie and bangers and mash, solid staples for £3. Homemade chilli on rice is to look forward to as well as quiche with jacket potatoes.

The Carlyle Family: Chef Andrew, sister Emma, father Vernon, brother Andrew, and mother Carol. All recently arrived from Cornwall to run the Henty Arms.

Vernon, a Cornish man, and his wife Carol are the landlord and landlady, whilst the rest of the family are gainfully employed. Son David is the number one chef, while Andrews runs the bar. Sister Emma helps her mother in the cosy restaurant.

Although only being resident for a month, Freddie Feest, on one of his visits, was pleased to report that on Saturday every table was

Originally, it was thought to have changed from the 'New Inn' to the Henty, after the brewery supplier, George Henty and Sons Ltd. The Ferring History Group has identified the New Inn as the 'Henty' in 1855, some 38 years before George Henry started his business, which later became Henry and Constable.

An article in the Worthing Herald (2003) shed new light on the subject. A meeting of the Henty Society, a worldwide literary group which reads, collects, and researches the life of George Alfred Henty, met up at the Henry Arms (where else!) It was revealed that a bequest from the family in 1926 was made to the pub, which would now feature the Henry family coat of arms.

To be honest, we've read so many variations of the story that it's lost its clarity. Basically, the Henty's owned large amounts of land in Ferring and Tarring, Two brothers, possibly family members, set up a brewery in Chichester; the pub, no doubt Henty owned and supplied, would of course take their name.

The Henty coat of arms feature six circles representing the six banks the family ran, and the three rosettes symbolise the three family generations. The image on the left is the 2020 restored version of the sign, created by Alun Powell, professional Worthing artist, signwriter and restorer.  Sadly its no longer on display, replaced with a much cut down modern symbolic version.

Time Line

A little bit more

1830 - The New Inn
1911 - 1943 Frank Newman
1943 Alice Newman (Widow)
1964 - 1967 James Ayerst (3 years only)
1967 - H Bishop
1985 - Dick O'Connell
1986 - 1991 Ray and Lesley Reeves
1993 - Under new management - unnamed
1996 - Vernon & Carol Carlyle

1893: A dead body was found in a cornfield between Goring and Ferring, the field was the home farm of Edwin Henty. It was taken to the New Inn for a coroners inquest. The dead man cause of death was defined natural causes.

Has a children's fenced playground out the back.