BadSaint in Littlehampton launches new menu – and this is what our reporter thought of the food

It’s the age-old cliché: Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier each year. But with so little else to look forward to in 2020, why not?

BadSaint in Littlehampton High Street has clearly had the same thought process with its latest seasonal menu, which has nods to the festive season – particularly on the cocktail list.

For those that have been naughty, there is the Krampus: a gin-based cocktail flavoured with green apple, strawberry and melon. And even Father Christmas himself is not whiter than white, if his namesake beverage is anything to go by; tequila, dry Martini, strawberry and lime take centre stage in Santa’s Sin. Flavour-wise, I found it to be more of a summer drink; the symbolism would have been clearer if the drink was a deeper red, to match the frothy white top.

My favourite? The Tequila Madness: gold and silver tequila with orange juice, grenadine and cinnamon.

Over on the food menu, things are looking a lot more hearty. Christmas gets a nod in the starters too, with that Boxing Day favourite, bubble and squeak, having its time to shine. The perfectly round disc of shredded potato, cabbage and onion could have been fried for longer, but had a good flavour and looked lovely, adorned with a egg which had been poached and deep fried. The crunch was welcome, but I would have liked the yolk to be runny.

A local recipe also finds favour – the Sussex smokie, a lighter cousin of the fish pie without the potato and topped with breadcrumbs. A small ramekin with enough bread to dip in it worked brilliantly as a starter.

For the main courses, there’s no mistaking the season: lamb shank and half an Aylesbury duckling in orange sauce being the star attractions.

I could have eaten about ten of the former. The meat fell off the bone, and was doused in a delicious gravy given a seasonal hit with cinnamon, cumin and red wine that was soaked up by the mashed potatoes below.

For dessert, it seemed only fitting to end the meal with something rich, too. And while the sticky date pudding had the potential to be cloyingly dense, it was anything but: a fluffy sponge soaked in delicious caramel.

Overall, a great evening out.