BUOYED by some positive recent visits, PubSpy decided to venture back to Worthing to try out The New Amsterdam. Opposite PubSpy alumnus The Corner House, the pub opened last year and is presumably engaged in a rivalry with the boozer opposite. What PubSpy found was a reliable pub with warm decor and passionate punters.

A PUBSPY fact: did you know New Amsterdam was the original name for New York?

So where better to open a pub called New Amsterdam than the bustling metropolis of Worthing?

Maybe that is a bit mean. The pub is in arguably the best part of town, a roundabout with two boozers, a Lidl, and a Waitrose.

So this week I decided to finish off Worthing’s Fab Four and pop into New Amsterdam.

From the outside I was not sure what to expect.

The solitary smoker staring me out made me worry I looked like too much of an outsider. Perhaps I should have made more of an effort to blend in.

After all the frosted windows prevent passersby from seeing in, so I could have been walking into anything.

But I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped inside.

The decor was warm and the mood lighting just right. Had I not been going with Mrs PubSpy, it would have been a great spot for a date.

The smattering of locals seemed happy enough in their circles. One man sat in the corner was even watching a film on his iPad.

Disorientated by an array of craft beers on offer, we settled for two pints of Heineken. When in New Amsterdam, after all.

The barman had all the moves. “Whose round is it?” he asked as he plonked the beers down.

When I raised my hand, he simply shrugged “Unlucky”. The man was a natural.

Still I could not help but notice how out of keeping the clientele were with the staff.

The barmen were certainly trending with their well-trimmed beards. One had his beanie perfectly crimped.

But the punters were the usual pub fare, a flurry of gilets and fleeces. In a country supposedly divided, it was nice to see everybody getting on.

Eyeing up somewhere to sit I was drawn to the plush booths, truly the kings of pub seating.

So we sat ourselves down and started sipping.

The booth had everything: comfy cushions, a sturdy table, and a bottle dripping with candle wax.

There was even a selection of boardgames above.

Not wanting to start a fight over Trivial Pursuit, we decided against challenging anybody else to a game for fear of things getting rowdy.

But Mrs PubSpy pulled out a Nineties trivia game and tested me on my useless knowledge.

After correctly answering a question about who wrote the terrible 90s hit Pretty Fly For A White Guy, I decided to get another Heineken out of shame.

I do not drink to forget many things, but this situation called for drastic measures.

Luckily the reliable bearded barman was on hand to help.

All I had to do was shoot him a look and voila, two more pints. The man was psychic.

Settling back into our seats, my ears pricked up as a group of six sat themselves in the opposite corner.

They were engaged in a fiery discussion over the Labour leadership contest.

All of a sudden it felt like I was in revolutionary France as shouts of Rebecca Long-Bailey and Keir Starmer filled the air.

I decided to duck into the toilet until things calmed down.

The room was surprisingly big, with maps of England and Holland adorning the walls.

But in terms of function I had to dock a few points.

The cubicle had two locks but neither worked, forcing me to stand right up against the door to block potential intruders.

The door swung a little too close to the toilet too, meaning I had to straddle the bog to get out.

But a bit of acrobatics never hurt anybody.

Making a break for the door, we nodded coolly to the bartender and stepped outside. The New Amsterdam certainly deserves its place in Worthing’s Fab Four.

New Amsterdam High Street, Worthing Decor Four stars Warm with some great mood lighting Food and drink Four stars A wide selection of drinks and the burgers looked tasty, Price Three stars Two pints set us back just over £8. Atmosphere Three stars A little muted but nothing unexpected on a weeknight. Staff Five stars Reliable and good with their banter.