Red Bar and Lounge, Dorking

Don't be deterred by the odd-looking exterior or slightly less than chocolate box location. It was formerly a 'Stan and Hilda' type pub which changed hands a number of times in the last few years. You know the kind of thing: at 10 o'clock they've the lights on and the Hoover out, since all punters have long since departed at the cheerlessness of the place.

Fast forward to 2012 and it's a lovely, chilled, and welcoming space, without being up it's own a**e as so many of Surrey's gastro establishments seem to have become.

It has recently(ish) been refurbished and has a lovely courtyard with modern furniture, and the inside is airy, yet cosy. The coffee looks good, and it seems popular as a squashy-sofa kind of meeting place for local business people. A space for friends.

Local ales (Shere Drop etc) are on tap, plus it has Aspall's Cyder on draught as well - my benchmark of a classy establishment. Interesting (and reasonably priced) cocktail list, too.

A substantial lunch can be had for less than �10: The club sandwich may seem expensive at �7-odd, but it's the size of your head, and there's no scrimping on the quality of ingredients. My burger weighed in at �9.50, and was all meat, well-grilled, in a sourdough bun with lots of salad and chips.

Staff are friendly and polite, plus it's dog-friendly as well, with a water bowl thoughtfully provided in the courtyard area. Doggie snacks are available too.

This place is a real find and easily my favourite in Dorking.

Highly reccommended.

7 Sep 2012 14:07

The King William IV, Mickleham

I'm only mentioning this place as a warning.

There is far, far, better value to be had locally, at either The Running Horses or The Stepping Stones.

For a start, there is nothing on the lunch menu for less than �10. No bowls of chips, bread-and-olives, sandwiches... Nothing.

A burger and chips is my benchmark dish trying anywhere new, since I think that if they can get that right, everything else ought to follow.

Oooh nooo... For �10.50 I'd expect more than a teeny-weeny burger (heavily 'padded' with breadcrumbs), in a stale, cheapo bun clearly procured from Asda, with scant salad and greasy
chips which tasted like last Sunday's leftover roasties cooked in stale oil.

Looking around the table, there seemed to be much scrimping / use of left-overs too: even 'G. the Gut-Bucket' couldn't finish his �9 baked potato with sausage, bacon and tomato topping, and having tasted it, I'm not surprised.

I'd lived in the area for four years and previously never ventured in: now I see why.

Plus points are that it has a garden - well-screened with trees to soften the noise of the A25 below - also pints of cider are cheap. �3.40 as opposed to �4-odd elsewhere, although it may be that the barmaid got her numbers wrong.

If in the area - I'd go elsewhere.

5 Sep 2012 22:41