The 'Becket', as it's known locally, was built in 1911 along the lines of the Tudor revival Queen Ann style, reflecting the other buildings on this busy crossroads.

It has been said that in the 1940s, it had its own bowling green. In 1968, a £20,000 refit was undertaken in a medieval theme, which included a portcullis in the bar. It was described at the time as Worthing's most luxurious pub. In mid-2011, the pub underwent another refit, costing £500,000, which was paid for by the brewery. Unusually, a section on the north end of the building was removed, returning it to its original external design of 1911. The large roof sign was also reinstated.

The Bowling Green: This rare picture taken from an upstairs window of the pub, clearly shows the bowling green in situ on the east side, it's now a car park and children's play area.
The green was opened in 1924 by Earl Winterton VI in June of that year and was built by R.R. Wentworth-Hyde.

The bowling green lasted until 1957 when the brewery decided it wanted to turn it into a car park. Earl Winterton was not best pleased and fought its closure to no avail. Fortunately, the club was able to move over to Field Place, where they still exist today.

1967 Plans had been submitted for major alterations to the pub, which may explain much of its current, more open layout:

"Extensive alterations to be made to the Thomas a
Becket public house, West Tarring, were approved by Worthing Licensing justices. The alterations involve a new block of toilets, extension of the present public
bar to convert it into a salon bar, conversion of the present lounge bar to a dining room, conversion of the existing dining room to a public bar, and general improvements to toilets in the public bar.

The present off-licence is to be changed into a children's room and the club room will be turned into the new off-licence. Outside toilets at the Thomas a Becket, which are used by the public, will disappear, and the justices said they would like the corporation to consider replacing these facilities. The application was made by Tamplins Brewery Ltd."

The public toilets were moved north across the junction onto a small plot of land opposite. These were later closed due to complaints of 'cottaging'. Its now a car park.

Right 1984: Ginny Gravelle began her career at the Thomas a Becket when she became a barmaid in July 1982, but soon progressed and took over managing and running the business without any training or experience in the Christmas of that year.

In August 1983, she opened the restaurant now called Barnaby's: a carvery which specialises in good food at a very low cost. Her three children help out. Andy, her son, is the full time barman, daughter Ann works weekends in the restaurant and 12-year-old Adrian likes to do odd jobs. 20 other staff work in the business with two live-in.

Taken from the Worthing Herald's 'Women in Business'.

1995 Worthing Herald: "Claimed to be the biggest transformation of one of Worthing's best-known public houses, the Thomas a Becket, but it is not the intention of owners Labetts to turn the 'Becket' into a noisy and futuristic disco/karaoke centre. instead, they are investing many thousands of pounds to achieve the revival of a traditional pub atmosphere.

Hosts, Paul and Alison Read, have been overseeing the transformation work and can't wait to open the doors on Thursday (9th November) and show off all the improvements." - " There is no separate restaurant. There will be plenty of space, many tables, and one will even be able to eat in the renewed conservatory." Jazz, folk, country, and quiz nights are planned.

Internally, the once large and very long bar has now been divided into three sections, but has managed to keep an airy atmosphere throughout.

A small 'reading room' has been built within and furnished with comfortable dark red leather chairs, resembling a gentleman's club; otherwise, the rest of the decor is very modern and clean-cut. There is a large dining area and outside seating and a large car park.

Time Line

A little bit more

1919 - 1934 Albert Matthews
1934 - W. H Matthews (son of above)
1931 - AE Matthews
1968 - Donald Hodson.
1967 - Refit and some rebuild
1975 - Gerry and Joan Stoel
1984 - Ginny Gravelle
1995 - Paul & Alison Read
2010 - Ryan and Heather Mayo
2011 - Lisa and Jonny Farrell
2012 - 2015 Paul Stephens
2015 - 2017 Annette Patnell
2018 - Stacy Croft