Surrey


<p>Feeling peckish? With the timing perfection of an expertly cooked fillet steak, along comes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The&nbsp;Estrella Damm</a>&nbsp;list of the country’s finest gastropubs. It&#8217;s compiled by 350 of the UK’s top foodies and pub pros. </p>



<p>Two Surrey pubs who made the 2024 list &#8211; <a href="https://bluebell-dockenfield.com/">The Bluebell</a> near Farnham and <a href="https://rapsa.co.uk/rambling-pig/">The Rambling Pig</a> in Ewell &#8211; were sadly dropped from the Top 100 this year. </p>



<p>The top spot was again nabbed by The Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (yawn). But two new Surrey entries have made the grade &#8211; coming in at numbers 44 and 60. They&#8217;re joined by a gastropub that are so close to Surrey you can smell the Masala fries cooking. Race you to the table!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-merry-harriers-hambledon-no-44"><a href="https://merryharriers.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Merry Harriers</a>, Hambledon (No. 44)</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/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining.jpg" alt="Plates of food at The Merry Harriers pub in Hambledon, near Godalming, Surrey." class="wp-image-58214" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/Merry-Harriers-dining-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What they say:</strong> a historic pub in the picturesque village of Hambledon with origins dating back to the 16th century. At the end of 2023 the pub was taken over by the innovative team of Alex Winch and Sam Fiddian Green, owners of the successful farm-to-table restaurant Hilltop Kitchen near Godalming. The daily changing menu is inspired by great British classics and its ethos of ‘farm to fork dining’ centres around locally grown and seasonal produce based on what comes from their own farm.</p>



<p><strong>What we say:</strong> &nbsp;The Merry Harriers has taken a gorgeously stylish turn, it’s the food that has tongues wagging. Between them, Alex and Sam have worked in top restaurants in London, Australia and Italy. But while they’ve brought some star-studded swagger to Hambledon, at heart The Merry Harriers is still a village pub. The daily changing menu is tightly curated, but gloriously rustic and supports the farm-to-fork ethos of the Hilltop Kitchen. <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-the-merry-harriers-hambledon-godalming-surrey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read our full review here.</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bailiwick-free-house-englefield-green-no-60">The Bailiwick Free House, Englefield Green (No. 60)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="871" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter-1000x871.jpeg" alt="Food at The Bailiwick Free House in Englefield Green, Surrey." class="wp-image-58216" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter-1000x871.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter-800x697.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter-400x349.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter-768x669.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/01/The-Bailiwick-Free-House-food-starter.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>What they say:</strong> Nestled on the gates of the Windsor Great Park is the Bailiwick Free House, Egham, where diners will find some of the best food they’ve ever eaten. Opened under the leadership of Steven Ellis, diners are in for a real treat. Ellis’s skills as a chef and relationship with the park game keeper allow for some incredible takes on classic British cooking. Meanwhile, Ellis’s wife Ami is a top-notch pastry chef who pumps out some of the best desserts in the gastropub world.</p>



<p><strong>What we say:</strong> Steven and Ami, and their business partner the restauranteur Ratnesh Bagdai, have created a wonderfully informal and relaxed vibe at The Bailiwick keeping true to the pub’s Victorian history, whilst injecting a little gentlemen’s club glamour to proceedings. But let’s face it, we are here for the food. And ** spoiler alert ** it totally lives up to the hype. Lots of gastropubs boast the classics with a twist line, but Ellis takes the concept to a whole new level.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-loch-amp-the-tyne-old-windsor-no-23"><a href="https://www.lochandtyne.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Loch &amp; The Tyne</a>, Old Windsor (No. 23)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/loch-tyne-food.jpg" alt="The Loch &amp; The Tyne, Old Windsor Berkshire pub" class="wp-image-60625" /></figure>



<p><strong>What they say:</strong>&nbsp;Adam Handling is a foodie force who has extended his brilliance into the pub world, opening The Loch &amp; The Tyne not too long ago. The venue is a pub and restaurant with rooms, with a luxury finish and décor that tells a story. Diners are presented with a good selection of menus, including lunch, tasting and a la carte.</p>



<p><strong>What we say:</strong>&nbsp;Another jewel in Berkshire’s foodie crown, Adam Handling expanded outside London to open The Loch &amp; The Tyne in Old Windsor and this is now his fourth year on the trot featuring on the list. The gastropub has a no waste ethos, with everything sourced locally or, ideally, grown in the raised beds at the back of the building. The food and service is all wow – plus it won best destination pub at the 2023 Muddy Awards. Just saying.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-little-further-but-still-worth-travelling-for-try-one-of-these-beautie-s"><strong>A little further but still worth travelling for- try one of these beautie</strong>s:</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-berks">BERKS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.crownburchettsgreen.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crown</a>, Burchetts Green (No. 35)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.hindsheadbray.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hinds Head</a>, Bray (No. 73)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kent">KENT</h2>



<p><a href="http://thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sportsman</a>, Seasalter (No. 8)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.fordwicharms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fordwich Arms</a>, Canterbury (No. 13)</p>



<p><a href="https://thedog.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Dog</a>, Wingham (No. 48)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.thekentishhare.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Kentish Hare</a>, Tunbridge Wells (No. 58)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bridgearms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bridge Arms</a>, Canterbury (No. 82)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sussex">SUSSEX</h2>



<p><a href="https://georgeatburpham.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The George at Burpham</a>, Arundel (No. 72)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BUCKS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.thecoachmarlow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Coach</a>, Marlow (No. 29)&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.thehandandflowers.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The&nbsp;Hand &amp; Flowers</a>, Marlow (No. 32)&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.goldenballhenley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Golden Ball,</a> Henley-on-Thames (No. 61)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-and-south-west-london">SOUTH and SOUTH-WEST LONDON</h2>



<p><a href="https://harwoodarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Harwood Arms</a>, Fulham (No. 14)</p>



<p><a href="https://cantonarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canton Arms</a>, Stockwell (No. 22)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.watermansarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Waterman&#8217;s Arms</a>, Barnes (No. 37)</p>



<p><a href="https://thecamberwellarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Camberwell Arms</a>, Camberwell (No. 38)</p>



<p><a href="https://thecadoganarms.london/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cadogan Arms</a>, Chelsea (No. 66)</p>



<p><a href="https://brookeclapham.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brooke Clapham</a>, Clapham (No. 87)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.thebluestoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Blue Stoops</a>, Kensington (No. 90)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.thefoxandpheasant.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Fox and Pheasant</a>, Chelsea (No. 97)</p>



<p><strong><em>See&nbsp;the full list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/list/1-50" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 50 Gastropubs here</a></em></strong></p>


The UK’s best 100 gastropubs revealed – including Surrey stars!

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