please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Closed yesterday - the end of lockdown.
No sign of life. Just a sign saying 'see you soon'.
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Loud small kids playing in the pub, around 8pm last night - with their parents! Badly in need of a refurbishment, and improved management.
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On wide South Street (with ample parking + Waitrose), this pub - with probably the best position in town - is totally underperforming for two main reasons.
Inept/untrained staff and no investment. Everything is tired, including the toilets. Certainly, the gents are in a third world state - outside!
Nearby, the two West Street pubs - with their recent refurbishments - leave this tired relic of a pub sadly wanting.
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Needs a makeover - to attract custom from the massive new Waitrose, next door.
Particularly as Waitrose provides 2 hours free parking!
Fine beer garden with Ranmore Common views, with decking at the rear.
Still has an almost 60s type decor though.
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We visited Dorking yesterday and because of traffic chaos due to roadworks parked in the public car park nearly opposite the Spotted Dog. After finishing our shopping we had lunch in the Dog as it looked inviting and indeed it was. The staff were efficient, friendly and welcoming and the food form a straightforward menu excellent with good sized portions. The Spotted dog will be our preferred lunch stop when we visit again.
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Yes - a fantastic chance for a South Street pub to make a fortune. Next door to a multi-million pound new Waitrose - probably the biggest in Surrey.
Sadly, the management and staff are amateurs - probably don't know they're only holding the place until the obvious refurb, and new operators.
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This pub has new management - although the jury is very much out on them. In the middle of October, a new/very large Waitrose supermarket will open next door to the pub - which will, presumably, become a type of waiting/meeting/holding location for supermarket customers.
Food is served in the pub and, also, in Waitrose (which will have an underground carpark) - and in a few surrounding cafes. Whether the pub and/or the new management will be able to cater for its new role remains to be seen - but initial observations of the new bar staff indicate a degree of inexperience.
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Can somebody PM me when this lazy landlord and his 'backpack' has vacated the pub, thanks
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went in on a busy w/e night...staff were attentive which was good...the beer was ok too...however they had some sort of geriatric band going and whether they had brought in the clientele or the clientele attract that sort of band I dunno...either way the clientele were mostly 45+ with easily a few 50yr olds acting and dressing as if 30....not in any way a criticism, just an observation..if it floats your boat, then go for it....would visit again if on a pub crawl, but would avoid a session
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A beautiful pub, wonderful garden and atmosphere, good food, very good infact at reasonable price. sadly the let down of this pub was the foul-mouthed most disgusting creature i have ever set my eyes on.....female lol if you can call that female!!!!!!, stroppy, filthy, and just generally unapproachable and unpleasant, every other word was a swear word and i cant understand why a pub would have her behind the bar,bright punk red hair and wearing what looked like pajamas,sad because otherwise this pub would be a cracker....wont be going back there!!!!!!!!!!
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How did this place get a 6.5 out of 10 rating? It's difficult to understand because it's so very average.
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First visit. Indifferent pint of the product pretending to be Youngs ordinary. Lovely garden but atmosphere somewaht spoiled by two women behind the bar loudly calling a TV celebrity scum and "women like her give us all a bad name...."
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Well, don�t know about the music but we had a bad experience here. Proudly took my boyfriend�s parents for a sunny day out to what we thought was �the best pub in Dorking� (as reviewed here) and many of the recent comments we experienced
Walked in to find a stroppy, unhelpful, unprofessional women behind the bar, well I don�t know if this was the landlady described below or not, and frankly I don�t care as this will be our last visit
When eventually (wasn�t even busy) the drinks were �slammed down� in front of us and after noticing the scruffy interior, dead plants, unsafe chairs and dirty tables, we proceeded to the garden area, yes the view is great, but that�s no accolade to the landlords
After sitting in the Garden we noticed the constant foul swearing from one particular local scruffy crowd and the staff do nothing, in fact condone this behaviour even with children in ear shot. The tables where filthy ashtrays piled high with dog-ends and filthy, umbrellas and rubbish just thrown around in the quote.. �best garden pub in Dorking� and the staff just lazily ignore it all
Utter, utter laziness from the management and staff
I politely made a comment to the person behind the bar and was told �if you don�t like it, go somewhere else�. When I stated that we would write to the brewery we were , (with expletives) �told where to go�, this in front of my new boyfriends mum and dad
Utter disgrace to the pub industry, especially during a recession, this pub will not last long with these lot in situ!
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Spent a very agreeable Sunday afternoon listening to live music in the garden, apparently they run diffent groups/duos every Sunday throughout summer. Very talented duo playing well known favorites
Lovely atmosphere and everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Would definatley go again.
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The below comments all seem a bit petty tbh, I consider this pub to be my local and the reason for this is that I find all the staff and patrons (and land lady) to be warm and friendly people, sure it won't be everyone's cup of tea and there is no law to say that you have to like everyone but this seems like a personal vendetta. The cleanliness is perfectly acceptable and this is an oldie world pub not some minimalist venue for sipping flashy cocktails and admiring each others personal grooming habits. In summary, a warm friendly pub with great garden and views.
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Clearly the poster 'Realopinion' is the ... LAZY, LOUD, CHARACTERLESS WIFE mentioned here who can�t even reply intelligently, attempting on several occasions below to sweep up the hideous women�s attempts at managing a �no brainer� job, to run a pub!, not rocket science is it!
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Who are you then? No i'm not the wife actually but its pretty clear that you have a personal vendetta against her. Whats wrong with people being loud its a pub not a libary. There is one thing i agree with you on and that is how good the staff are. In what postion are you the criticise the running of a pub, have you run a pub before? I thought the use of this website was to give reviews on the pub not to be offensive about the manager, clearly i'am mistaken. In reply about my intelligence i suggest you think more about your own considering you don't even know who i'am.
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Clearly the poster 'Realopinion' is the ... LAZY, LOUD, CHARACTERLESS WIFE mentioned here who can�t even reply intelligently, attempting on several occasions below to sweep up the hideous women�s attempts at managing a �no brainer� job, to run a pub!, not rocket science is it!
Many locals, not just myself, have dumped this dirty pub due to this lazy women but full marks to the staff though for sticking with this odious women, but I guess its call a job!
Again ...
If this is the 'best pub�, what the hell are the others like!
The interior is old, worn, drab, stools and chairs are ripped , stained, dirty and unsafe!
The interior smells stale and absolutely filthy, the toilets are filthy, the garden is a disgrace (for what they claim to pride the pub with)
The Beer/Lager is flat for the most expensive pub in Dorking!
And that�s all before you meet the manager and his lazy, loud, characterless wife.
Clearly they took over the pub in an effort to get a pension rolling in, guess what chaps, you need to work as well, only redeeming feature of this pub is the STAFF who try to make up for the managements laziness
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disagree with last comment entirely, characterless wife HAHA you must be joking. yes the furniture does need to be updated but i didnt realise poeple went to pubs for the art of the place. The beer is most certainly not flat i suggest you see a doctor about your taste buds. One final last comment, the garden is the BEST pub garden in Dorking it has the best views of Ranmore and a beautiful selection of flowers, above all it is tidy and well kept. In my opinion i dont think the pub will miss your custom.
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Don't get it! .. "The best pub in Dorking" ? Are you serious?
If this is the 'best pub�, what the hell are the others like!
The interior is old, worn, drab, stools and chairs are ripped , stained, dirty and unsafe!
The interior smells stale and absolutely filthy, the toilets are filthy, the garden is a disgrace (for what they claim to pride the pub with)
The Beer/Lager is flat for the most expensive pub in Dorking!
And that�s all before you meet the manager and his lazy, loud, characterless wife.
Clearly they took over the pub in an effort to get a pension rolling in, guess what chaps, you need to work as well, only redeeming feature of this pub is the STAFF who try to make up for the managements laziness
Avoid, there are better run cheaper pubs in town!
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Because the previous reviewer said this is the best pub in Dorking I went back (I have been there before, but some time ago) for another look.
Yes it's certainly a pub and someone has done a good job in cleaning it up. The beer is OK, I didn't try the food. The staff are OK, you get served but not with any great enthusiasm.
The best pub in Dorking? I don't think so.
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what a load of bull written below, by far the best pub in dorking. Really friendly atmosphere, for those who have actually spent time in the pub will already know this. Amazing beer garden. Definatly worth a visit.
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TWG has got this just about right, it's adequate. They've spent a lot of money on decking at the back (presumably for smokers). The staff are, a bit like the pub, adequate but don't seem to have their heart in it. The beers are well kept but in relation to the price you pay the food is pretty average. Speaking of averages I wonder how this the Spotted Dog has managed to get such a relatively high rating?
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I'm afraid that what ostensibly appears to be a pleasant old exterior that promises similar charm on the interior is somewhat deceiving. The Spotted Dog is essentially quite bland once you venture towards the bar, and a rethink on decor mightn't do it any harm. Perhaps the situation is somewhat compounded by the lack of characterful beers (only the standard Greene King offerings and Youngs Ord on - although I've always found them to be kept well).
In fairness however it is not a bad place and certainly isn't difficult to tolerate on a short visit as part of a crawl. One can perhaps divert attention by indulging in the odd game of darts for a while. But I would personally struggle not to tire of it if I were to remain there all evening. Satisfactory, but unmemorable.
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Slightly characterless pub inside, but has a modern wooden terrace with a nice view of the Surrey hills above the town roofs and distinctly old-fashioned gents toilets out the back. Three real ales on including a reasonable pint of Courage best.
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I was wrong (last post); its well open. Had a drink there today - they're only fixing the roof. Nice beer garden, in the lee of Boxhill.
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Passed by last week. The pub was closed. No sign/note saying why ?!
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Understand that the big Aussie Manager has gone to The Royal Oak on the way to Blackbrook. Only place I have been recently with outside toilets, always busy
anonymous - 18 Oct 2007 14:18 |
best pub in dorking
anonymous - 31 Jul 2007 16:50 |
hello my name is evan
i am from australia on the magnificent sunshine coast the owners of this really good pub are the kindest, funniest people you will ever meet, they offer warm hospitality to all and even have a good meal to boot ,and they just so happen to be my aunty nell & uncle roy as well so drop on in and tell then evan sent u .tooroo
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My mother-in-law says that the food is excellent, especially the Sunday roast; perhaps she was the lone lady Anonymous referred to on 25/2/07.
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Entered the pub to be greated by a convivial londlord. Had a couple of pints of a well kept Youngs and a great ham, eggs and chips. A sign of a good pub, in my opinion, was a lady having lunch on her own. Standard pub interior with a nice garden. Will return.
anonymous - 25 Feb 2007 12:29 |
Dave, are you sure you went to the right pub? I had absolutely no problems with "yobs" in the pub and didn't really see any violence or bloodshed.
An all round excllent pub with great atmosphere, excellent food, an impressive beer garden and great beer.
Brilliant
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This is a really terrific pub, the landlord has done a good job on the pub. He's gotten rid of the younger people and it really is a family pub now, escpecially with the immaculately kept beer garden, cared for by the landlady. A great place to take the kids on a nice summer weekend. Plus, the important part, the beer is terrific, he really does make sure the beer is wonderful.
Boose - 19 May 2005 14:24 |
The Spotted Dog has become an excellent local with lots of regulars both young and old the land lady makes excellent food and the garden which she does herself looks fantastic in summer!! The land lord runs a tight ship excellent friendly staff and the beer well what can i say i haven't tasted batter yet! he keeps the scum out so you can enjoy a nice beer and enjoy the company.
lou - 27 Feb 2004 12:21 |
Apparently, Spotted Dog has gone Over 21's (ie. to keep the thugs and yobs, out!) Thank goodness. Good beer and food quite good as well. Great beer garden in the summer!
James Best - 31 Dec 2003 11:16 |
Sadly, The Spotted Dog is gradually going downhill once again. Thanks to the closure of The Jolly Butchers (on Dene Street), the yobs have moved into this pub to make it a really nasty and violent place. I really feel for all the retail businesses down on South Street, as soon or later, their shop window will be smashed, graffiti will be scrawled on their premises and blood will be shed inside and outside of the pub! Surrey Police take note, please.
Saying that, the beer is good and the beer garden is lovely. Although, the Aussie landlord, cannot string a sentence together without an expletive - shame really!
Dave - 5 Dec 2003 18:38 |
The Spotted Dog has transformed itself over the last couple of years from a druggys hangout to one of the towns most popular pubs. Good, simple, cheap food served in the afternoons.
Harry - 13 Dec 2002 14:55 |
