Surrey


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1503" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ.jpg" alt="A cocktail at the Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64441" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ-798x800.jpg 798w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ-998x1000.jpg 998w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ-768x770.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-427-SQ-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>What happens when you bring together award-winning Silent Pool Gin and Michelin-starred Sorrel in Dorking? A next-level dining experience celebrating the very best of the Surrey Hills.</p>



<p>The idea may have sounded simple, but the execution was anything but. Chef-patron Alex Payne devised a bespoke tasting menu, each course elegantly twinned with a beautifully balanced Silent Pool cocktail – a pitch-perfect celebration of Surrey’s finest flavours, shaken and stirred into something rather special.</p>



<p>Guests were treated to a sumptuous five-course menu, with bespoke Silent Pool cocktail pairings, plus thoughtful extras including delicate amuse bouche, pillowy milk bread, a zingy gin-laced sorbet to reset the palate and elegant petit fours to finish.</p>



<p>In a word? Divine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE?</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/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322.jpg" alt="Michelin-starred Sorrel restaurant patron chef Alex Payne with his team in the kitchen." class="wp-image-64431" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-Alex-Payne-322-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Sorrel x Silent Pool Gin Dining Experience unfolded over two very special nights in February at Sorrel in Dorking, hosted by chef and owner Steve Drake. In the kitchen, chef patron Alex Payne worked his magic, curating a bespoke tasting menu inspired by the 24 botanicals in Silent Pool Gin. Each course arrived perfectly paired with a cocktail or glass of wine designed to complement the plate in front of it.</p>



<p>Unsurprisingly, both nights sold out in a heartbeat. Blink and you’d have missed it. And if you’re fearing you missed something rather fabulous… well, you did. But deep breaths – whispers suggest more delicious collaborations are in the pipeline. Watch this space.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe">THE VIBE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ.jpg" alt="Michelin-starred Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64430" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1267-SQ-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p></p>



<p>Set within a 300-year-old Grade II-listed building on South Street in Dorking, Sorrel – named after Steve Drake’s favourite herb – strikes that sweet spot between elegance and ease. Behind the handsome red-brick façade of the former townhouse, the interiors nod lovingly to the building’s history: exposed brick, charmingly wonky beams, polished wooden floors and striking artwork. It’s intimate, cosy and quietly confident.</p>



<p>The open kitchen adds a dash of theatre, giving diners a front-row seat to the action.</p>



<p>With just 10 tables, all dressed in white finery, there’s an undeniable sense of occasion – this is Michelin-starred dining, after all. And yet it never tips into stuffy. The atmosphere is relaxed, unpretentious and warmly welcoming. On this particular evening, there was a palpable buzz in the air – that delicious feeling of being part of something exclusive and rather special. Which, of course, we were.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</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/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38.jpg" alt="Amuse-bouche at the Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in D" class="wp-image-64442" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-38-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>It’s what we’re here for, right?</p>



<p>Chef Alex Payne (formerly of Michelin-starred Tudor Pass) has devised a menu that’s layered, confident and far from your standard night-out fare. Each course feels like a mini voyage – introduced tableside by Payne and his team – while Silent Pool’s brand ambassador talks guests through the flavours and botanicals in each cocktail. When the wine appears, the sommelier takes the spotlight.</p>



<p>We begin with a trio of amuse-bouche, which includes Payne’s playful signature Chicken “Jammie Dodger” &#8211; a nostalgic but savoury wink to the classic Burton&#8217;s biscuit &#8211; paired with a Wild Pear cocktail. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1203" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ.jpg" alt="Poached oysters at the Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64434" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ-800x642.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ-1000x802.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ-400x321.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1452-SQ-768x616.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Then comes poached oyster with oyster foam, cucumber and botanical vinegar. It’s divine – light, flavourful and subtly complex – complemented by a Whisper Martini with gentle cardamom notes.</p>



<p>Heritage beetroot with horseradish mousse and walnut is as pretty as it is punchy, before cloud-soft milk bread and whipped butter arrive to audible delight. A shot of Silent Pool&#8217;s Rose Expression gin resets the palate.</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/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746.jpg" alt="Venison at the Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64436" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1746-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Mains don’t hold back: Corsican stone bass with cauliflower purée, fennel and citrus gin, matched with a crisp French white; then Highland red deer with Jerusalem artichoke and juniper – smoky, rich and deeply satisfying – served with a silky Spanish Rioja.</p>



<p>A bright Silent Pool sorbet refreshes before a white chocolate and citrus tart drizzled with wildflower honey, paired with a Bee’s Knees cocktail.</p>



<p>Petit fours close the show. Curtain down.</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/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759.jpg" alt="Petit Fours at the Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64437" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-1759-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



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



<p>Frankly, no! I&#8217;d leave all children at home.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-dogs-too">AND DOGS, TOO?</h2>



<p>Also no – this one’s humans only.</p>



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



<p>While the main dining area is on the first floor, via stairs, there&#8217;s a dedicated ground floor dining space with an accessible loo that can be reached directly from the carpark. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1414" height="2121" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712.jpg" alt="Silent Pool x Sorrel Dining Experience at Sorrel restaurant in Dorking, Surrey." class="wp-image-64432" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712.jpg 1414w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/Sorrel-712-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1414px) 100vw, 1414px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> This is special-occasion all the way. If you love food, gin &#8211; and theatrical dining experiences, you&#8217;re going to love the Sorrel x Silent Pool Dining Experience.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> Burger and chips your favourite food? Keep walking!</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<div style="height:15px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-for-more">LOOKING FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><strong><a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/review-silent-pool-beekeeping-experience/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silent Pool Beekeeping Experience</a></strong></li>



<li><strong><a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/silent-pool-distillery-tour-surrey-hills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silent Pool Distillery Tour</a></strong></li>
</ul>


Review: Sorrel x Silent Pool Gin Dining Experience

You may also like