A 39-year-old man from Maidenhead was arrested after a flatbed van crashed into the front of the Horse & Groom Harvester in Polegate late on Wednesday night, 28 January 2026.
Incident Details
- Time & Location: Emergency services were called to the scene on High Street, Polegate
, around 11:30 pm following reports of the collision. - Damage: The vehicle, described as a highway maintenance-style van, caused substantial damage to the building's exterior and several outdoor benches.
- Injuries: The driver, who was the only person in the van, sustained minor injuries. No injuries were reported inside the pub, which had recently undergone a refurbishment in December.
Legal & Arrest Status
Sussex Police arrested the driver on suspicion of the following offences:
- Driving while unfit through drink.
- Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test.
- Assaulting an emergency worker.
The suspect remains in police custody as of Thursday afternoon. Despite the damage, the Harvester Horse and Groom confirmed in a social media post that it intended to open as usual on Thursday.
Family2Family honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service at presentation ceremony
SECAmb and SCAS appoint new group chief executive to provide ‘clear, inclusive leadership’
Attestation ceremony welcomes new cohort of police officers to Sussex
Hailsham Football Club will build new facilities
Birling Gap to re-open a week early
East Sussex Recruitment and Skills Webinar
Man in life-threatening condition after crash in Newick
Magnificent Motors returns to Eastbourne
