Surrey


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where"><strong>WHAT? WHERE?</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Grape Variety, Dorking" class="wp-image-46574" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-FB-02.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Possibly the ultimate combination of eatery &#8211; a coffee shop by day and wine bar by night &#8211; The Grape Variety, in the heart of Dorking, achieves that tricky beast of being all things to everyone. The Grape Variety is fast becoming Dorking&#8217;s coolest venue for night-time cocktails and wine, with a fabulous menu of charcuterie and cheese sharing boards to accompany the drinks. As well as being a popular spot for after-work or pre-theatre drinks and eats, The Grape Variety also holds regular wine tastings. It&#8217;s also available for private events (early morning networking event, perhaps).</p>



<p>By day it&#8217;s the perfect place to grab a bite &#8211; whether you&#8217;re meeting friends for brunch, lunch, or coffee and cake, or fancy finding a quiet spot to crank up the laptop for a spot of work. They serve fabulous coffee from Dorking&#8217;s own <a href="https://www.heartworkcoffee.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Heartwork Coffee</a>, too, so a big cheers to that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE VIBE</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027.jpeg" alt="The Grape Variety, Dorking" class="wp-image-46566" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-027-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Think urbane cool. There’s a relaxed industrial vibe going on here with exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors and tables made from recycled timber. Gorgeous vintage light fittings &#8211; and I really do mean gorgeous, they&#8217;re quite the talking point &#8211; are are focal point, and when the days and nights are darker they&#8217;re dimmed to create warm and intimate glow. </p>



<p>The venue is set over two levels, with a cosier vibe in the upper section at the back. It&#8217;s here that you&#8217;ll find the wine, too &#8211; a clever Coravin wine machine that dispenses wine by the glass, stocked with a collection of more unusual wines so you can test and try before you buy. There&#8217;s also a floor to ceiling wine shelf.</p>



<p>Oh, and the view from the front window, looking up to Denbies Hillside, is to die for.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042.jpeg" alt="Coffee and cake at The Grape Variety, Dorking" class="wp-image-46569" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-042-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The menu is simple with a choice of savoury goodies like quiche (cheese, bacon and onion or smoked salmon), sausage rolls, spinach and ricotta rolls, and a pie of the day, plus paninis. They come served with a glorious salad, and with most things on the menu priced under a fiver it&#8217;s incredible value.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1493" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057.jpeg" alt="Food at The Grape Variety, Dorking" class="wp-image-46571" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057.jpeg 1493w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057-800x535.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057-1000x669.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057-400x268.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057-768x514.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-057-785x525.jpeg 785w" sizes="(max-width: 1493px) 100vw, 1493px" /></figure>



<p>I visited midweek for a catch-up with Muddy Surrey commercial manager Sam. We were there for a few hours &#8211; a combination of work meeting and social catch up &#8211; and so can say with certainty that the coffee is excellent. We had a quick lunch &#8211; smoked salmon quiche for me and the sausage roll for Sam &#8211; both of which were delicious, and followed up with some sweet treats which included the double chocolate chip brownie and the lemon and pistachio slice. All very nice, thank you very much.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re feeling more virtuous than I was, there&#8217;s also a choice of fruit smoothies which I&#8217;m told are excellent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>KID-FRIENDLY?&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023.jpeg" alt="The Grape Variety, Dorking" class="wp-image-46564" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/The-Grape-Variety-Dorking-023-788x525.jpeg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Oh yes! There&#8217;s plenty of space for pushchairs, the menu includes baby chinos, and what child doesn&#8217;t love a big fat juicy chocolate muffin. After 7pm however, when the lights are dimmed and the café turns wine bar, children are not allowed</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>AND DOGS, TOO?</strong></h2>



<p>The same rules apply to dogs &#8211; they&#8217;re very welcome until 7pm but in the evenings it&#8217;s best to leave Fido at home. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DISABILITY ACCESS</strong></h2>



<p>The venue is split level, with five or six stairs leading to the upper floor where the bathrooms are also located. A ramp is being installed here to allow access. There&#8217;s also a small step up when you&#8217;re coming in the front door.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OUT &amp; ABOUT</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46576" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/03/Dorking_Kate-Chapman_5279-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Dorking is a pretty Georgian market town with lots of independent shops and a treasure trove of antique stores. <em>Picture credit: Kate Chapman</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>Lots on your doorstep here, not least the lovely town of Dorking at all it has to offer. Read our guide to Dorking <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/surrey/dorking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and find out why it was voted third in our <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/best-places-to-live/surrey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Places to Live</a> poll.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/denbies-hillside" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denbies Hillside</a> &#8211; which you can see from the front window &#8211; is also really close and a fabulous place to walk, and <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/box-hill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Box Hill</a> is also only a few minutes&#8217; drive in the car.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Brunchers, lunchers and coffee and cake munchers! There&#8217;s space for prams and buggies, so it would make a good meeting spot for mums or grannies. It&#8217;s also a great place to spend a few hours working &#8211; with great coffee to keep you going.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> While the lunch options are great, this is not the place to come if you&#8217;re after a three-course lunch.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> Coffee are priced around £3 each and the lunch options are around £5 each.</p>



<p>The Grape Variety, 272 High Street, Dorking, RH4 1QT. Tel: <a href="tel:01306888200">01306 888200</a></p>


Review: The Grape Variety, Dorking

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