Man arrested after van collides into Polegate's Harvester

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.