Originally built in the 16th century and first named The Swan, the Inn was given on a lifetime lease to the well-known Sussex cricketer Jem Dean on his retirement. He re-named it "The Cricketers" in honour of his friends and drinking partners. "Joyous Jem", as he was known, was a celebrated all-rounder who played 112 times for Sussex between 1835 and 1860; he was a regular in John Wisden's United all England XI. Jem Dean was born in Duncton in 1816 and died there, in The Cricketers, on Christmas Day 1881.

The Cricketers has a bit of everything about it food-wise, it can truly be described as a bit of an all-rounder, from an excellent bar menu at sensible prices, through to the full 'a la carte' dining.

It offers choices like dolcelatte and red onion tarte with beetroot sorbet and honey cream or pan-fried chicken livers and crispy pancetta on watercress and spring onion salad, with roasted tomato mayonnaise, with mains such as roast loin of new season lamb with minted spinach and porcini canon and a woody herb and shiraz gravy, corn-fed chicken stuffed with parma ham, feta and purple basil with stir-fried summer greens, or grilled pork fillet on chorizo and apple frittata with blue cheese guacamole and home-made frites.