The Six Bells, Newdigate

Eight of us went for a stroll on Good Friday morning and phoned mid-stroll at 11am to reserve a table for lunch at 12.30. We arrived, were made welcome, served drinks and had our food orders taken. All this was done smoothly and efficiently. Despite the pub being busy, the food arrived in a commendably short time. The portions were generous, well presented, nourishing, tasty and, compared to some pubs we have visited recently, good value for money. We were replete by the time we finished the main course and, remarkably for us, couldn't manage the puddings. All in all, an excellent dining experience. The manager and staff are to be commended.

21 Mar 2008 19:17

The Seven Stars, Leigh

Half a dozen friends and I rolled up at this pub at 10am on Saturday 16 February with the intention of going for a 5 mile stroll before returning for lunch. There was movement inside the pub so we knocked for attention and asked to reserve a table at 1pm and permission to park 3 cars in the car park. Both requests were courteously agreed. We then went for our stroll.
On our return we were met with a roaring log fire, a nicely prepared table and a refreshing selection of beer, cider and soft drinks. The food was varied and excellent and we all succumbed to the temptations of the dessert menu. And we were grateful we did so: my bread and butter pudding was scrumptious. The landlord and landlady were helpful and welcoming, and their staff cheerful and well trained. Definitely a pub to return to another time.

17 Feb 2008 11:22

The Dolphin, Betchworth

Popped in for lunch on a wet Tuesday in February. The Young's Winter Warmer was excellent. The toad in the hole delicious and my wife thoroughly enjoyed her chicken salad. Good value too.

5 Feb 2008 15:37

The Frankland Arms, Washington

Visited this pub on Saturday 15 September 2007 lunchtime after an 8 mile stroll up on the Downs. My companion and I were quickly shepherded into the bar rather than the restaurant) area and promptly served with refreshingly cold drinks. We both ordered ham, eggs and chips which arrived in a few minutes. It was plain food but very welcome and it didn't take long for us to polish it off. It was good value for money.

21 Sep 2007 20:54

The Three Compasses, Alfold

With 6 companions I visited this pub today for lunch after a 6 mile morning stroll. The service was friendly and helpful and other customers were happy, cheerful and civilised. The food was very good value, wholesome and welcome for hungry strollers. The puddings were excellent. My bread and butter pudding was delicious. We shall return to this pub.

1 Sep 2007 18:08

The Crown Inn, Cootham

We visited this pub on August 07 Bank Holiday Saturday for lunch. It was splendid. The ham, eggs and chips were delicious. The puddings were to die for! I decided on bread and butter pudding for dessert and it was the best I have tasted in years. We shall certainly return.

1 Sep 2007 18:02

The George and Dragon, Houghton

I and a group of friends have been using this site for the last 6 years to select pubs in Surrey, Sussex and Kent to visit about once a fortnight. We usually arrive at 10 on a Saturday morning , go for a 4 or 5 mile stroll, and return to the pub for lunch. We invariably ask permission to park in the pub's car park. We have always hitheto been welcomed and have never previously been refused. That record changed on 28 August when we visited the George and Dragon. When I approached the pub to seek permission to park, a chap on the verandah of the pub simply shouted at me that we couldn't leave one car in the car park. I explained that we intended to return for lunch but he insisted that we move on. We did so without further discussion. We started our stroll a few miles down the road, found a superb pub (The Crown at Cootham) where we enjoyed a spelendid lunch - their bread and butter pudding is to die for - and had an enjoyable day. So we were grateful that the unfriendly welcome at the George and Dragon helped us find an excellent alternative that we would otherwise have completely overlooked. We shall certainly return to The Crown, but never again to the George and Dragon.

1 Sep 2007 17:55