Surrey

<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/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46.jpg" alt="Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt in Surrey." class="wp-image-57268" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-46-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Are you a sucker for a gorgeous country pub? You&#8217;re going to love <a href="https://www.belandthedragon.co.uk/churt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bel &amp; The Dragon</a> on the edge of the village of Churt in the Surrey Hills. Nestled in pretty countryside between Farnham and Haslemere, it&#8217;s surrounded by a multitude of local attractions and fabulous walks. And yet despite all the bucolics, it&#8217;s still less than 10 minutes&#8217; drive from the A3. 



Built in 1862, the Churt Bel &amp; The Dragon is one of six in the collection of Bels (or are they Dragons?) that spans Hants, Bucks, Berks, Kent and Surrey. In common with its siblings the Churt pub oozes history, character and style.



The pub has recently had a serious spruce-up at the hands of renowned interior designer Nicola Harding (the lady behind Beaverbrook Town House in London and Somerset Place in Bath, among others).



<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="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44.jpg" alt="Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt in Surrey." class="wp-image-57267" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-44-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The exterior of Bel &amp; The Dragon, with crisp white render and rustic London stock bricks, suggests a warm rural charm within. And it doesn&#8217;t disappoint. This 19th century coaching inn has character in spades. Fires quietly crackle next to cosy nooks, walls are lined in pale painted-timber panelling and there&#8217;s a lovely natural timber parquet floor. The neutral palette is lifted with splashes of colour on wallpapered feature walls and in the plentiful soft furnishings. It&#8217;s stylish &#8211; but not over-styled &#8211; with a charming and chic country vibe.



It&#8217;s a big pub with an inviting entrance. In the cooler months you&#8217;ll be greeted by a blazing open fire and cosy lounge chairs. Certainly, a nice sight on a cool autumn eve! 



To the left there&#8217;s a roomy bar area with plenty of cosy seating and more crackling fires. Lovely French doors lead out to a terrace and a large and super pretty garden with a glorious heated teepee event space.



The restaurant to the right of the entrance, looks through to an open kitchen, adding a spot of culinary theatre to proceedings.



There&#8217;s also a separate private dining room which has recently been fitted with a projector screen &#8211; perfect for celebrations that may want to include a nostalgic photo montage. And equally great for business gatherings where PowerPoint presentations are required.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay">STAY</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/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10.jpg" alt="Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt in Surrey." class="wp-image-57270" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-10-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Upstairs at Bel &amp; The Dragon there are 13 bedrooms, each named after a Jane Austen character. (She lived just over 10 miles away in Chawton, across the border in Hants.) There&#8217;s also a separate Cottage annexe with five bedrooms &#8211; perfect for groups of friends or a larger family.



Rooms a gloriously cosy and comfortable without feeling at all small or pokey. We stayed in a premium double room which comes with a super snuggly superking bed.



There are some lovely touches like fluffy bathrobes, underfloor heating in the bathroom (bring on the cosy toes), and luxury bath products from Bramley (which as anyone who&#8217;s had the pleasure of sniffing will know, are beyond gorgeous). There&#8217;s also coffee from The Artisan Coffee Co, Teapigs Tea and artisan hot chocolate.



But my favourite touch was the bottle of Sipsmith Sloe Gin with a sign dangling around the bottle neck: &#8220;drink me&#8221;. Of course, I had a small tipple. And for those who&#8217;d rather a whiskey nightcap, there&#8217;s a cosy lounge on the first floor where guests are invited to enjoy dram from the decanter of whiskey.



At Bel &amp; The Dragon, breakfast is included &#8211; and it&#8217;s truly a breakfast for kings with a lovely Continental selection that includes pastries, fresh fruit and yoghurts. From the menu there are choices like cinnamon brioche French toast, plant-based shakshuka, a full English (and a veggie version), and smashed avocado with poached eggs (+ salmon if you want it!). Gorgeous!



<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/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55.jpg" alt="Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt in Surrey." class="wp-image-57269" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-The-Dragon-Churt-55-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Hungry and raring to get stuck in? If you&#8217;ve been walking in the Surrey Hills, you most likely will be &#8211; and the Bel &amp; The Dragon menu will please. It&#8217;s rooted in the seasons &#8211; think English classics inspired by the time of year, with a twist. As much as possible is locally sourced, and the beef comes from Grassroots &#8211; who source beef that is farmed using regenerative farming practices



With that in mind, I went straight for a ribeye steak. But first, let&#8217;s circle back to the starters.



<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/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter.jpeg" alt="Food at Bel and the Dragon in Churt, Surrey" class="wp-image-57272" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-starter-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



For me it was the creamed wild mushrooms with spinach and tarragon on sourdough. Creamy, with a hint of garlic, earthy and comforting &#8211; perfection on a plate. 



My partner in culinary crime chose the mackerel two-ways. It came smoked and cured with dill sour cream and sourdough croutons. It got a big thumbs up.



And now, that steak &#8211; medium-rare, and cooked to perfection &#8211; lightly charred on the outside, perfectly pink on the inside. It came with crispy potatoes, and I chose peppercorn sauce. Yum! The Mr was drawn to the roasted venison loin (with venison kofta, squash fondant and a red wine jus). It was gorgeously tender (I had a little taste), and quite generously portioned.



<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/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main.jpeg" alt="Food at Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt in Surrey." class="wp-image-57271" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-food-main-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Never have I skipped pudding &#8211; so why start now? Especially when there&#8217;s so much to tempt? Rum baba? Triple chocolate pot? Vanilla créme caramel? Hmmmm&#8230; choices. In the end, it was really quite simple &#8211; the triple chocolate pot got a unanimous vote from our two lovely waitresses. Excellent recommendation too &#8211; it was divine. Mr M had the rum baba, also good. But the choc pot was better! 



And of course with an open kitchen, the chefs bring a touch of theatre to every dish &#8211; so it all makes for a vibrant and fun dining experience. 



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



Certainly is! There&#8217;s a children&#8217;s play are in the garden, and on Sunday&#8217;s The Kids&#8217; Table, sets up a children&#8217;s activity area offering crafts, games and creative table-top fun.&nbsp;There&#8217;s a Kids Menu with mains that includes all those classics that kids love &#8211; burgers, pasta, sausage and mash, breaded scampi.



If kids are staying over, there is family room available at Bel &amp; The Dragon that will comfortable sleep two adults and a child, as well as the Cottage.



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



Dogs are welcome to dine in the bar and garden, but they&#8217;re are not allowed in the Bel &amp; The Dragon restaurant. If you want to bring your pooch for an overnighter, there are dog-friendly rooms available. VIPups are £20 per stay&nbsp;(£10 for additional dogs up to a maximum of two per room). This includes a paw pamper packages and a sausage for your dog at breakfast! &nbsp;



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



The bar and restaurant are on the ground floor, along with loos. Accessible rooms are available &#8211; contact Bel &amp; The Dragon directly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</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/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller.jpg" alt="Hindhead Common and the Devil's Punch Bowl, National Trust" class="wp-image-42521" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/10/Hindhead-Commons-and-the-Devils-Punch-Bowl-Celtic-Cross-National-Trust-Images_John-Miller-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hindhead Common and the Devil&#8217;s Punch Bowl. Photo credit: John Miller / National Trust</figcaption></figure>



Directly across the road from Bel &amp; The Dragon, is <a href="https://thesculpturepark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sculpture Park</a>, featuring more than 300 works set out over 10 acres (entry is £15 adult). <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/hindhead-commons-and-the-devils-punch-bowl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hindhead Common and The Devil&#8217;s Punch Bowl</a>, a National Trust site with spectacular views and views, is three miles away; <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waverley-abbey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Waverley Abbey</a> is less than five miles in the car; and <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/frensham-little-pond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frensham Little Pond and Great Pond</a> are under three miles away. Fisherman might like a spot of fly fishing at <a href="https://weflyfish.co.uk/fly-fishing-locations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frensham Trout Fishery</a>, which is also only a couple of miles away. 



<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="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1.jpg" alt="Country pub, Bel and the Dragon in Churt, Surrey" class="wp-image-57117" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Bel-and-the-Dragon-Churt-private-dining1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The private dining room at Bel &amp; The Dragon, Churt. </figcaption></figure>



What lifts Bel &amp; The Dragon above the usual gastro experience is the service. During my stay the staff were warm, chatty and attentive &#8211; without being overbearing. I also had a call from the manager the following day, to check in and make sure we enjoyed our stay. We most certainly did. 



Good for: A joy to visit, Bel &amp; The Dragon is great for a weekend getaway in the Surrey Hills. Walkers, hikers and sight-seers will find plenty to do nearby. It’s catnip to city slickers looking to escape to the country. Dog-friendly, child-friendly – and cosier than cashmere. &nbsp;



Not for: If you&#8217;re after something more urbane, this won&#8217;t do it for you. It&#8217;s a country pub in a gloriously country setting. 



The damage: Double rooms start at £89. In the restaurant, snacks are £7-£12; small plates are £7.50-£12; mains are £19-£29. Steaks are more, depending on your choice. Sides are all around £6. Puddings are around £9.



<a href="https://www.belandthedragon.co.uk/churt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bel &amp; The Dragon</a>, Jumps Road, Farnham GU10 2LD. Tel: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bel+and+the+dragon+churt&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB906GB906&amp;oq=bel+and+the+dragon+churt&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgAECMYJxiABBiKBTIMCAAQIxgnGIAEGIoFMiEIARAuGEMYgwEYrwEYxwEYsQMYgAQYigUYjgUYmAUYmQUyBggCEEUYQDIGCAMQIxgnMgcIBBAAGIAEMgYIBRBFGDwyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEINDQwMWowajeoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#">01428 605799</a>

Muddy stays: Bel & The Dragon, Churt

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