Recommend Me A Good Food Pub...North Surrey
Discussion
Lordbenny said:
As title suggests. I need to take some foreigners to a good food pub, beams, fire, good ale in or around Reigate, Dorking, Godstone, Epsom area. I've been to the Dolphin in Betchworth, White Hart in Shere, that kind of place! 
There are much better in the area than that. My favourites are:The William Bray, Shere (owned by ex F1 driver Julian Bailey)
The Running Horses, Mickleham
The Rising Sun, Epsom
Avoid the Dolphin at all costs. Although it is worth it for amusement at the perma-pissed landlady. Good pub gone bad.
The Jolly Farmers is fairly "gastro" but service from the college gals they seem to employ is variable. Food can be great or late, depending on mood. And whilst they may give actual food-miles on the cheese menu, they are not above substituting cheddar for mozzarella on the children's pizza - a crime even my 3 year old noticed. However the knickerbocker glorys are vast and lovely, and the food is deliberately local.
The food at the Running Horses is several decades out of date, but not bad. William IV was better, but have not been for a while.
The Stephan Langton in Abinger Common has survived the loss of the previous people to The Westerly in Reigate, and is still a good pub in a great location, but sadly has lost the prole baiting menu..."Charolais and chips" could fox a few
New-ish is the Grumpy Mole in Brockham. Not that gastro, it is aimed at 60 year old golfers who like a particular type of food, but decent service and the food is good, ham and turkey pie ...mmmmmm.
The Jolly Farmers is fairly "gastro" but service from the college gals they seem to employ is variable. Food can be great or late, depending on mood. And whilst they may give actual food-miles on the cheese menu, they are not above substituting cheddar for mozzarella on the children's pizza - a crime even my 3 year old noticed. However the knickerbocker glorys are vast and lovely, and the food is deliberately local.
The food at the Running Horses is several decades out of date, but not bad. William IV was better, but have not been for a while.
The Stephan Langton in Abinger Common has survived the loss of the previous people to The Westerly in Reigate, and is still a good pub in a great location, but sadly has lost the prole baiting menu..."Charolais and chips" could fox a few
New-ish is the Grumpy Mole in Brockham. Not that gastro, it is aimed at 60 year old golfers who like a particular type of food, but decent service and the food is good, ham and turkey pie ...mmmmmm.
Noger said:
Avoid the Dolphin at all costs. Although it is worth it for amusement at the perma-pissed landlady. Good pub gone bad.
The Jolly Farmers is fairly "gastro" but service from the college gals they seem to employ is variable. Food can be great or late, depending on mood. And whilst they may give actual food-miles on the cheese menu, they are not above substituting cheddar for mozzarella on the children's pizza - a crime even my 3 year old noticed. However the knickerbocker glorys are vast and lovely, and the food is deliberately local.
The food at the Running Horses is several decades out of date, but not bad. William IV was better, but have not been for a while.
The Stephan Langton in Abinger Common has survived the loss of the previous people to The Westerly in Reigate, and is still a good pub in a great location, but sadly has lost the prole baiting menu..."Charolais and chips" could fox a few
New-ish is the Grumpy Mole in Brockham. Not that gastro, it is aimed at 60 year old golfers who like a particular type of food, but decent service and the food is good, ham and turkey pie ...mmmmmm.
Shirley thats a list of places not to go!The Jolly Farmers is fairly "gastro" but service from the college gals they seem to employ is variable. Food can be great or late, depending on mood. And whilst they may give actual food-miles on the cheese menu, they are not above substituting cheddar for mozzarella on the children's pizza - a crime even my 3 year old noticed. However the knickerbocker glorys are vast and lovely, and the food is deliberately local.
The food at the Running Horses is several decades out of date, but not bad. William IV was better, but have not been for a while.
The Stephan Langton in Abinger Common has survived the loss of the previous people to The Westerly in Reigate, and is still a good pub in a great location, but sadly has lost the prole baiting menu..."Charolais and chips" could fox a few
New-ish is the Grumpy Mole in Brockham. Not that gastro, it is aimed at 60 year old golfers who like a particular type of food, but decent service and the food is good, ham and turkey pie ...mmmmmm.
That is because "good food pubs, beams, fire, good ale in or around Reigate, Dorking, Godstone, Epsom area" are very hard to come by !
At least one that is consistent enough to fully recommend.
As another thought, the Surrey Oaks at Newdigate has some of the best kept beer in the area (Ken regularly wins beerey awards) and is fairly quaint and beamed. The food is good, if not all that original or "up to date". Plenty to like though.
http://www.surreyoaks.co.uk/thepub/thepub.htm
For whatever reason, good "local" beer and food don't seem to co-exist in North Surrey. Or if they do the brewery soon screws them up with yet another temporary manager. Oddly, you can go to Croydon and find better pubs, or head south into the wilds of West Sussex and do the same.
It is annoying. We have two pubs in our village, and over the last 12 years they have both changed hands more times that I can count. At one of them, a few years ago, the temp landlord was hardly ever there and left a pair of 19 year olds in charge. I once heard one of them tell an older couple who had been waiting over an hour for the lunch "well, you did want your steak well done". No doubt rents, and pressure from the brewery makes it hard to make a living.
At least one that is consistent enough to fully recommend.
As another thought, the Surrey Oaks at Newdigate has some of the best kept beer in the area (Ken regularly wins beerey awards) and is fairly quaint and beamed. The food is good, if not all that original or "up to date". Plenty to like though.
http://www.surreyoaks.co.uk/thepub/thepub.htm
For whatever reason, good "local" beer and food don't seem to co-exist in North Surrey. Or if they do the brewery soon screws them up with yet another temporary manager. Oddly, you can go to Croydon and find better pubs, or head south into the wilds of West Sussex and do the same.
It is annoying. We have two pubs in our village, and over the last 12 years they have both changed hands more times that I can count. At one of them, a few years ago, the temp landlord was hardly ever there and left a pair of 19 year olds in charge. I once heard one of them tell an older couple who had been waiting over an hour for the lunch "well, you did want your steak well done". No doubt rents, and pressure from the brewery makes it hard to make a living.
To be honest I think you're missing a trick not going for The William Bray.
Food and wine are excellent (I'm a fussy bugger), plus it manages to avoid that 'Laura Ashley look' which infects all other Surrey food pubs.
John and Eve who run it are originally from The Rising Sun in Epsom, and are the reason that place (in a back street location with no parking) achieved the success it has.
Food and wine are excellent (I'm a fussy bugger), plus it manages to avoid that 'Laura Ashley look' which infects all other Surrey food pubs.
John and Eve who run it are originally from The Rising Sun in Epsom, and are the reason that place (in a back street location with no parking) achieved the success it has.
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