Purchases Bar, Restaurant & Accommodation

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#15 of 203 Restaurants in ChichesterEuropean, British, Vegan options

What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Purchases Bar, Restaurant & Accommodation

Review

At a glance

Opens in 25 min

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Website

+44 1243 771444Improve this listing

About

Travelers' Choice

2024

Independently owned Fine Dining restaurant serving Modern European dishes, with the best cocktails, wine bar with seating and a wonderful outdoor garden area, very popular with the theatre crowd perfect for a light snack or that special meal. Now offering luxury bed & breakfast.

Features

CUISINES

European, British

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegan options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Non-smoking restaurants

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

31 North Street, Chichester PO19 1LY England

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Opens in 25 min

Sunday

11:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Monday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Tuesday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Wednesday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Thursday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Friday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

Saturday

11:30 AM - 11:00 PM

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4.5

976 reviews

Excellent

707

Good

165

Average

Poor

Terrible

Mark J

18 contributions

Perfect!!

Apr 2024 • couples

Tried a few weeks back on a Saturday lunch time but they were full so pre booked this time. What a lovely meal every course was perfectly presented and had such a good taste. The actual restaurant is very well decorated and spacious so you don’t feel like you squashed in and it was very quiet so nice to be able to talk normally without shouting , the staff we also very pleasant and attentive. Surprisingly for a restaurant on the higher end of what’s around Chichester the prices are very fair and having tried most of the other restaurants this place is at the top. About the third time I have eaten here and definitely not the last.

Written April 13, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are pleased to read that you had a lovely lunch here on Saturday and glad you booked in. Its always best to reserve a table to avoid dissappointment. We think our menus are good value too. We like that we have the set menu and a la carte and our lighter menu. Between all the pages there is something to choose from for every taste. We are glad you will be coming back, we look forward to seeing you soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written April 17, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Stephanie M

Chichester92 contributions

Consistently above the average.

Jul 2024 • friends

Been coming here for years now, had a lunch sitting on Saturday just gone and every time its better than most restaurants in service & food quality. It can be as expensive as you want it to be, had the £18 salmon and crayfish salad and left feeling very full as there was plenty of seafood. The wine list is always good and the servers let you taste when in doubt (unlike other restaurants) The female server on Saturday afternoons with the dark hair is friendly as always, always goes above and beyond.

Written July 1, 2024

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are very pleased to read that you enjoyed your salad and your wine. We love our hot salads, they are good for any weather condition!! We are glad that your server looked after you as well as we pride ourselves on our customer service and friendly atmosphere. We thank you again and look forward to seeing you again soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written July 3, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Denia1956

West Sussex747 contributions

Outstanding place to go when visiting the Goodwood Revival

Sep 2024 • friends

Booked a table here after a long day at the Goodwood Revival. We were seated in a very plush decorated comfortable small room at the rear, Service was exceptional, food was outstanding from the set menu, I had the Confit Duck Croquette followed by the Sauteed Pork Cutlet, we had a carafe of the pinot grigio rosé, very good. The restaurant was very busy with people from all over the world attending the Revival. and I must state again, the service was amazing. If you have not been you need to go! We will be back

Written September 9, 2024

Dan Bullock

Hi there. Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are pleased to read that you had a great time here at Purchases and the service and food were exceptional. We love the Revival as, as you say we have people coming to dine with us and stay in our accommodation from all over the world. It's a really nice buzz in the restaurant. We are glad that you found us and that you will be back at somepoint soon. Many thanks again. Purchases Team.

Written September 11, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sara P

6 contributions

Gone down hill!

Jul 2023 • family

I feel really sad to have to write such a negative review about a small establishment that I use to rate as a 5* restaurant! I can only hope that they read this and act on the comment to improve the standard for future guest. I booked Sunday lunch to celebrate my husbands birthday, without writing a weather report I will just say the standard of the service was one of a Wetherspoons! In fact that would be an insult to Wetherspoons as you would be served within the 25mins to receive your first drink albeit I had to go and ask for service from the garden! Our starter finally arrived 45mins after WE asked once again to place the order! When it arrived it was delicious, but then hence another wait for the main, it took so long we had to ask for more bread to fill the gap. When the main finally arrived it was barely luke warm, we ate it without mentioning as we were so hungry by this point and couldn’t bare the thought of another wait. We didn’t bother with dessert. We do enjoy a leisurely lunch but not such long waits for the food to arrive. The Bill including drinks was on a par with the @ivychichester which is I must say 5* service 5* food Please purchases bring back your standards as other local friends have commented on same experience and like us will find hard to return!

Written July 10, 2023

Luke Arnell

Good Morning Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We can only apologise for your bad experience last Sunday lunch time. I am truely suprised to read such a bad review and being compared to a Weatherspoons is heart breaking news! I know we had a couple of front of house sickness last Sunday and obviosly it is hard to cover at such short notice, which is why the service time maybe have been longer than usual. We can only say we are very sorry you had to wait so long and I am sure you meal would have been replaced should you of said but as you say you had to wait. We really do try very hard to give 5 star food and service and a majority of our reviews reflect this. Sorry to read that you may not return, we really do hope you do give us another try and we can make your dining experience top quality. We thank you again for your feedback. Kind Regards The Purchases Team

Written July 15, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mobile92391

London2 contributions

Despite good food and wine, an awful dining experience

Dec 2023 • couples

Having already asked - and been reassured twice that no-one needed our table after us, we looked forward to a leisurely dinner at a restaurant which had come highly recommended by several people. What a disappointment. We arrived on time and were shown to a lovely table. We ordered cocktails before our meal, and were only halfway through them when our starters arrived. Less than five minutes after our starters had been cleared away, our main courses arrived. Furthermore, when ordering the main course, I had asked the maitre d’ to replace the vegetables with extra potatoes - unfortunately, this was completely ignored. So instead of a lovely leisurely meal, our meal ended after fifty minutes. We certainly didn’t feel like dessert after having been rushed so much. When complaining to the maitre d’, he “felt sorry we felt the way we did”, but offered no apology. When we asked for the bill, he brought it without the optional service charge, as if he was doing us a favour!!!! In summary: no apology, and nothing to try to make amends. We have no intention of returning to Chichester in the near future, so this was a most disappointing end to what had been a pleasant journey to this part of Britain.

Written December 6, 2023

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are sorry to read that you feel you were rushed . We try to be efficient as possible with our delivery of food as we are concious that sometimes people are wanting the starter and main close together and then have a break between the main and the dessert. If you return to Chichester please request on ordering that you would like the food in stages as normal kitchens operate the starter to be cleared and the main is delivered quiet soon after. Also we are open all day and evening from 10.30am to 11 pm and the bar is always available for a cocktail at the bar before sitting down at the table. With regards to the extra potatoes, we can only apologise that your request didn't happen automaticly but we could of brought out additional potatoes to be served seperately. With regards to an apology I can only imagine that it was the servers jesture to take the service off as a way of saying sorry. Apologies that this didn't come accoss in words. We are pleased to read that you enjoyed your food and drink over all and thank you again for your feedback. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written December 14, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

TravellaDachsund

Littlehampton19 contributions

Bad Service at a Birthday Lunch

Aug 2023 • couples

I’ve visited Purchases several times before and generally found the food very good. Last time I visited I was served very a minuscule bony fish and hard samphire, but I did think the restaurant was worth another try as I hoped it was a one off. Firstly, the service was terrible (Friday lunch, restaurant not busy). It took 10 minutes to be given menus, and a very long time to get served. We paid the high service charge on the bill but it was very undeserved and I regret that now. The lack of tablecloths or mats meant the very wet glasses our drinks came in leeched water all over the table. This was ignored by the staff until my partner requested it was cleared up, at which point the waitress came, gave his place a cursory wipe and then turned her back and walked off, ignoring the puddles all over the rest of the table! Had the service been better we would have stayed for coffee and dessert but we had frankly had enough. The bar staff are very friendly and helpful to be fair, but.the wait staff could do with some more training. Not a cheap lunch at £70 for two courses without alcohol for two so I expect better. I think next time it will be The Ivy for us as another reviewer has said too.

Written August 5, 2023

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave a review. I have been investigating your lunch visit and we did have a full restaurant on that day but perhaps wasn't nocited from the conservatory. Also we had a front of house menber off sick that day so we were doing our best, a member of staff down. I can only apologise that you had to wait for menu's. Our service charge is optional so we could have removed it off the bill had you requested that. We hope that you do give us another try but understand if not. Thank you again for your review. Kind Regards The Purchases Team

Written August 10, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Ray C

Surbiton4 contributions

Huge disappointment

Aug 2024 • friends

Having known of, but never been to Purchases, was looking forward to our first visit. They claim to be a fine dining venue. I eat out a lot in good restaurants and sadly this came nowhere near to being a fine dining experience. Disappointment all round. Service was lazy, slow and indifferent. The A la Carte Food was mediocre, overpriced, barely warm and in some cases not an accurate reflection of the menu description. Maybe the pre theatre set menu was better value, I don't know. But for our party it was disappointment all round. I doubt we will return.

Written September 1, 2024

Dan Bullock

Good Morning Ray Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. I wonder if you would be able to contact the restaurant and speak to a manager/supervisor regarding this review as I need to know what off the menu you ate and find out who was lazy and slow as we thrive on our customer service. I can only apologise that this was the case and look forward to speaking with you at some point when you have a bit of time to discuss. We look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written September 5, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John Stanley

3 contributions

Need to ‘pull their socks up’ !

Feb 2024 • business

We have been to this restaurant many times but though the atmosphere is great , sadly the service today ( 23rdFebruary 2024) was very sloppy indeed ( and remember this is an expensive venue with service changes added to the final bill,automatically) . We were half way through our main course and still waiting on two glasses of red wine. I finally had to get up and find someone at the bar area to ask again for it as there wasn’t a waiter or waitress in sight! Forgotten of course. When it came to getting the Bill , again every waiter seemed to have vanished from the room . Nobody supervising the restaurant! Eventually I got the Bill but then surprise, surprise all the waiting staff had disappeared again, so difficulty in paying. Not good enough but still a service charge added and a bill on a modest set lunch for two of over £90 ! They need to pull their socks up or lose clientele in a competitive field.

Written February 23, 2024

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. Sorry to hear that you had slow service last Friday lunch time. Unfortunately we had a situation occuring which took a couple of the waiting staff off the floor on and off. It was out of our hands I am afraid but we are really sorry for your experience and do hope that you will return as our customer service is generally top notch. Apologies again and we do hope you will come and visit us again. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written February 27, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

andrew834

Stroud22 contributions

Disappointing

Jun 2024 • friends

Nothing spectacular- pretentious We were seated in what looked like a tent at the back of the site right under speakers with a loud dull repetitive beat. We asked for the sound to be turned down and this was refused. Quite a basic meal for 4 of us cost £250 for an evening of unwanted musical displeasure.

Written June 16, 2024

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. I am sorry you think we are prententious! We are very proud of our lovely restaurant and people come here for the ambiance and the back ground music. Especially on a sauturday night when our garden is full of customers enjoying cocktails. We simply can't turn the music off as they come here for the vibe. Our staff running that senction did try to turn the music down a bit but sorry if it was not to your satisfaction. Apologies you thought the food was basic as we think of ourselves as a five star fine dining restaurant. Thank you again for your feedback, we will pass on your comments. Many Thanks Purchases Team

Written June 20, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sandy B

8 contributions

A superb lunch.

Oct 2023 • couples

As we arrived early we started with a drink at the bar. A lovely cocktail made by a friendly and obviously experienced bar person. The restaurant was comfortably busy and had a relaxed atmosphere. The food was superb, we were offered a choice of sultana or rosemary and sea salt home-made breads, we had starters of country pate followed by beef wellington. Both dishes were faultless. There was a very tempting dessert menu but we settled for an espresso martini. The bill was fairly high but reflected the standard of food, drink and service received. I would have no problem recommending this restaurant and will certainly return.

Written October 20, 2023

Luke Arnell

Hi there Sandra Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are very pleased to read that you had a superb lunch here at Purchases. You made an excellent choice choosing the Beef Wellington! That is our signature dish so glad you enjoyed it. Our chefs make our homemade bread fresh every day for our guests to start their dining experience. We will pass your kind words to our chefs that you had a faultless time here. We thank you again for your feedback and look forward to seeing you again soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written October 20, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Paul T

Waterlooville460 contributions

Little Gem in Chichester

Oct 2023 • couples

We recently visited this restaurant and were very impressed when walking through the restaurant to our table, the waiter handed us both food and drink menus. The food menu was based upon pre Theatre Dinner and covered two or three courses, the menu was varied and covered for all tastes, the staff were very friendly and active, amazing atmosphere, service and food was excellent. We had the two course option which arrived piping hot and everything fresh. We would certainly be returning, and would highly recommend a visit to anyone looking for a restaurant in the area.

Written October 25, 2023

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your set menu lunch and that our Purchases team looked after you. Our set menu is a great choice and we do try to cater for all tastes! We do also offer the al la Carte menu for lunch and dinner and also our lighter menu. Thank you for your kind words regarding our service, atmosphere and food. Our whole team really try hard to create all those to a five star standard so we are very pleased that this was noted. Please do visit our website were you can find our Christmas set menu which might be of interest to visit over the festive period. We thank you again and look forward to welcoming you another time soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written October 27, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kelly W

59 contributions

Wonderful

Aug 2024 • family

Friendly and helpful service from the moment we arrived til we left. One of our party had a wheelchair and the team seamlessly helped. The staff were so passionate particularly at the bar, where a member of the team kindly let us try some of the cocktail syrups that they make on the premises. We ordered limonchello spritz after trying the Purchases own limonchello and it's well worth a try! All the food was delicious. Highly recommend!

Written August 16, 2024

Luke Arnell

Good Morning. Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are pleased that you had a delicious lunch and that our super friendly, accommodating staff looked after you. We are passionate about five star service so we are proud that this was recognised. It's also great that you enjoyed your limonchello spritz, you'll have to return and try one of our many other cocktails!! We thank you again and hope to see you all another time soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written August 20, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Murmeltier

46 contributions

Super night out

Feb 2024 • family

Birthday celebration at Purchases. Service was excellent as usual, as was the food, pork cheeks were melt in the mouth and fillet steak perfectly cooked. Purchases has become our 'go to' restaurant. We have already rebooked for a couple of weeks time for another family occasion.

Written February 4, 2024

Luke Arnell

Hi there Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are so pleased to read that you had an excellent birthday celebration here at Purchases and you enjoyed the menu choices you ordered. Its really brilliant that this is becoming your 'go to restaurant' and that you have already rebooked for a couple of weeks. We thank you again and look forward to seeing you then. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written February 7, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sharon S

Christchurch182 contributions

Great pre theatre dinner venue

Feb 2024 • family

Needed somewhere close to the theatre for dinner before a show and having discovered this great venue it will become our go to place. Lovely welcome as soon as we arrived, and throughout we couldn't fault the service by any of the staff. Beautiful restaurant, great ambience with lovely music at just the right volume. We had 2 courses off the set menu and all the food was delicious and beautifully presented. The pork cheeks just melted in your mouth and I asked if different veg could be served with the trout which they happily did. Will be back.

Written February 9, 2024

Luke Arnell

Hi there. Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are very happy to read that you enjoyed your pre theatre dinner here and we hope that you continued to enjoy the rest of your evening. We are pleased that you enjoyed all of your food and that our highly trained staff looked after you. We do our very best to adapt dishes for specific needs, allergies and tastes. We thank you again and look forward to seeing you again sometime soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written February 12, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

John B

19 contributions

Not up to expectations

Aug 2024 • couples

We booked a pre-theatre meal and looked forward to the Cornish Sole as shown on the website. The preprinted menu instead showed Bream which is not a fish of the same quality. The waitress assured us the website was up to date but clearly not. We opted for battered haddock but both were overcooked and not as good as the local fish and chip shop. On this occasion the quality was not commensurate with the price paid so we will think twice before coming again. As usual the service was excellent but the food not up to expectations.

Written August 27, 2024

Luke Arnell

Good Morning Thank you for spending the time to leave us a review. We are sorry that the website is not up to date to show that the Cornish Sole has been replaced with the Seabream. We had to make a change to replace the Sole as we were not receiving the quality that we would like to serve so we made a decision to replace it with a fillet instead as we are much happier with the better standard. The fish and chips is a very popular dish here so we are surprised to read that you felt it was overcooked and you didn't enjoy it. If you had asked your server they would have been more than happy to remake the dish or replace it with something else. We are very keen for our customers to leave here satisfied with everything. We are pleased to read that the service was excellent and hope that you give us another try in the future. Thank you again and we hope to see you another time soon. Kind Regards Purchases Team

Written August 29, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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PURCHASES BAR, RESTAURANT & ACCOMMODATION, Chichester - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Name: Purchases Bar, Restaurant & Accommodation
Uploaded: 2019-04-18T07:21:57.307Z
Duration: PT32.034S
Description: Independently owned Fine Dining restaurant serving Modern European dishes, with the best cocktails, wine bar with seating and a wonderful outdoor garden area, very popular with the theatre crowd perfect for a light snack or that special meal. Now offering luxury bed & breakfast.