Surrey


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where"><strong>WHAT? WHERE?</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/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37.jpeg" alt="The Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright, Surrey." class="wp-image-53327" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-front-37-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s all in the name! Head to the large village green in Pirbright and you&#8217;ll find this charming pub overlooking the duck pond and cricket pitch. It&#8217;s had a major refurb in recent years and a tweak to the name, from its previous moniker of The Cricketers&#8217; Inn. </p>



<p>The pub is at the heart of this village which is in a handy spot between Woking and Guildford. Cricket has been played on this village green since 1780, and the pub gives a nod to this traditional English sport in more than just name, with quirky cricketing paraphernalia incorporated into the decor. (More on that later!)</p>



<p>But it&#8217;s not all about the cricket. Pirbright is a great place for walkers with acres of commonland and a big network of footpaths, originally created as a link between local farms and to connect them to the church in the centre of the village.</p>



<p>The Cricketers on the Green is part of the reliably good Grosvenor Inns family of pubs. <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/travel/uk/hotels-inns/review-the-kings-arms-egham-surrey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kings Arms</a> in Egham, the <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-stag-on-the-river-godalming-surrey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stag on the River</a> near Godalming and <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-queens-head-east-clandon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Queen&#8217;s Head</a> in East Clandon are siblings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe"><strong>THE VIBE</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/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02.jpg" alt="Dining room at The Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright, Surrey." class="wp-image-51299" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023/12/Cricketers-on-the-Green-02-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Boring old coaching house it certainly is not! The Cricketers on the Green is a stylish gastropub with several choices of where to dine. You enter into the handsome bar are with rustic flagstone floor and a large polished timber bar around which there are a collection of tall leather swivel chairs. </p>



<p>Off here to the left is the Pig Shed dining room &#8211; once the site of an old pig shed. There&#8217;s no sign of anything remotely piggy these days &#8211; except perhaps the confit belly of English pork on the menu. Warm and cosy, the decor is fun with an earthy yet opulent palette &#8211; think dark green walls, rich orange velvet seating and plush cushions. A striking floral wallpaper lines the beamed vaulted ceiling and a montage of pictures adorns the walls. Quirky nods to the inn&#8217;s cricketing history can also be seen in the decor with cricket balls and bats incorporated into light fittings. </p>



<p>On the other side of the bar you&#8217;ll find the slightly more formal Old Block restaurant and an elegant private dining room called The Cabinet Room, plus the Garden Room with heaters and a retractable roof. There&#8217;s an outside bar called The Dolly Bar by locals, a terraced courtyard garden, and the Yurt Café.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff"><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/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01.jpeg" alt="Food at the Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright Surrey." class="wp-image-53324" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-01-768x576.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Cricketers does exactly what a good gastropub should – and it does it well. Fresh and seasonal is the approach with as many ingredients as possible coming from local suppliers. The menu is has sections for small plates, from the land, the garden, the sea and the robata grill. Even the fussiest of diners will find something they love. The classics are there alongside dishes like Cornish sole and roasted aubergine Goan veggie curry.</p>



<p>I came for Friday lunch and the pub was pleasantly busy without being overcrowded. We were in the relaxed Pig Shed dining room.</p>



<p>I started with a wild mushroom parfait then for mains chose the steak frites with green pepper sauce. The parfait was light and mushroomy without being overpowering. And the steak was cooked exactly how I like it.</p>



<p>I feared a bout of food envy when Mr M ordered the French onion soup &#8211; and had it not been for the excellent parfait I may have. He afforded me a taste and it was lovely &#8211; rich and smooth with a delicate onion flavour. For mains, he chose the confit belly of English pork with spring vegetable and white bean cassoulet with salsa verde. It looked amazing, and he seemed happy &#8211; so I&#8217;m taking that as a solid thumbs-up. We shared a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet &#8211; a wine that never disappoints.</p>



<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/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02.jpeg" alt="Food at the Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright Surrey." class="wp-image-53325" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-food-AE-02-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re a fan of sweets, you&#8217;ll be in heaven with this menu. There are no less than nine offerings plus 12 or so gelato and sorbet flavours and cheese. I chose the San Sebastian cheesecake with cherry compote, and the Mr chose the baby stout dark chocolate mousse with Irish whiskey cream. After the richness of the steak, the cheesecake was perfect &#8211; but I&#8217;ve got to say the mousse was stunning too.</p>



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



<p>The Cricketers on the Green is a family-friendly pub. There&#8217;s a young diners&#8217; menu, ideal for children aged five to 12 with some good choices including grilled chicken burger, macaroni cheese, and breaded sole goujons.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-dogs-too"><strong>AND DOGS, TOO?</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/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining.jpg" alt="The private dining room at The Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright, Surrey." class="wp-image-53320" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-private-dining-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Yes, dogs are welcome. There were two dogs cosying up under a table near us in the Pig Shed dining room.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disability-access"><strong>DISABILITY ACCESS</strong></h2>



<p>The pub is all on one level and accessible throughout.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about"><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/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02.jpg" alt="The Cricketers on the Green in Pirbright, Surrey." class="wp-image-53315" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/Cricketers-on-the-Green-Pirbright-02-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Plenty of country walks right on the doorstep to work up an appetite but venture a little further and there&#8217;s Brookwood Country Park for a stroll along the easy-access, surfaced path which takes in part of the Basingstoke Canal towpath. It&#8217;s a haven for dragonflies and butterflies in the summer months.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict"><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Nights out with dates, mates and family. It’s relaxed and there’s something for everyone on the menu. Great service, lovely location and the food is lush.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> There’s a very good choice of well executed dishes – and top-rated Sunday lunches – but the food here is definitely more gastropub than super poncy dining.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> Starters are from £5.95-£12.95; mains vary from £15.50-£32; desserts are from £3 for one scoop of sorbet up to £13.95 for the five-piece cheese board.</p>



<p><strong><em><a href="https://www.thecricketersonthegreen.co.uk/">The Cricketers on the Green</a>, The Green, Pirbright, GU24 0JT. Tel: </em>​<a href="tel:01483473198">01483 473198</a></strong>.</p>


Review: The Cricketers on the Green, Pirbright

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