The Running Horses, Mickleham

My wife and I visited the Running Horses on a Friday night (we have been going there for 30 years)
Apparently it is under new management !
1) they have re-furbished the bar area, taken away the carpets which used to absorb the sound, installed new lights!
2) Lights far too bright !! The pub has lost all it's atmosphere
3) The Brakespeares beer was not up to standard. the beer is very expensive... at least they should try and keep it properly!
4) this pub used to be "buzzing" with people before the take-over, it was half empty that night
5) there was an unruly crowd at the bar, with one of them (with a very loud voice and a large beer-gut to match) swearing in the bar area. This is not acceptable in this country pub/hotel. The bar staff should have asked him to leave.

28 Mar 2015 12:16

The Surrey Oaks, Newdigate

If you are thinking of going to the recent Edinburgh Fringe Review which is touring the country... "The Fawlty Towers Dining Experience", don't waste your money.............. go to The Surrey Oaks, Newdigate instead! It is a sort of gastronomic Boot Camp. The waiter kept on encouraging us to speed up and leave.(A bit like the guests being removed from the table to be replaced by Lord Melbury in Fawlty Towers) He later also invited us to leave the table and drink our coffees standing at the bar! When that did not work, he sent over a lady to intimidate us. (she looked a bit like Olive from "On the Buses".) Unfortunately we surmised, too late, that the pub has been taken over by a new landlord!!! I have been going to this pub for the last 35 years and was shocked by the new unique dining experience..... and I wish they didn't keep asking if the food was alright. If they asked me one more time I would have told them the truth!

3 Oct 2014 22:19

The Prince Of Wales, Westcott

Changing hands this weekend.

18 Nov 2013 08:39