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="1400" height="933" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic.jpg" alt="The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-57407" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic.jpg 1400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-our-beautiful-historic-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" /></figure>



<p>You&#8217;ll find <a href="https://thecrownchiddingfold.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Crown Inn</a> &#8211; a 14th century medieval inn &#8211; nestled in a quiet corner of Surrey overlooking the green in the picture-perfect village of Chiddingfold. Family owned and run, it&#8217;s achingly pretty and delightfully charming. Surrounding this quintessential English pub is a wonderland of honeypot houses and cottages, pretty churches and yes, rolling hills. </p>



<p>Thought to have been built in the 13th century by Cistercian Monks as a resting place for monks travelling between Salisbury and Canterbury, it&#8217;s positively brimming with history, character and charm. Think wonky walls, sloping floors, stained-glass windows and huge oak beams galore. The Crown Inn is one of the oldest pubs in the country &#8211; and Queen Elizabeth I is said to have stayed here in 1591.</p>



<p>Nowadays this pub with rooms is a popular spot for both locals popping in for a drink or a bite to eat, and also guests coming from further afield. It’s eccentric and eclectic with a firm focus on food &#8211; where you can eat like a King and sleep like one too.</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="1400" height="933" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars.jpg" alt="The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-57402" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars.jpg 1400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-cosy-bars-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" /></figure>



<p>It’s the sort of lived in luxury we love. Gloriously unstuffy, the vibe is laidback and friendly yet chic. The walls are adorned with beautiful oil paintings, there are cosy lounges with squishy sofas, a lively bar with a huge open inglenook fireplace and an elegant oak-panelled dining room.</p>



<p>On a Friday evening in January it’s busy but not over-crowded, buzzy but not distracting. In fact, Goldilocks, eat your heart out &#8211; the atmosphere at The Crown Inn is, you guessed it, just right. And with the fire flickering away, it&#8217;s cosy, warm and welcoming. If you like your country pubs authentic, but with a dash of luxury, you’ll love this.</p>



<p>In the warmer months, there&#8217;s a central courtyard, as well as alfresco dining on the front terrace. </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="1003" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining.jpeg" alt="The dining room at the Crown Inn in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-58013" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining-800x535.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining-1000x669.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-Chiddingold-dining-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The laid-back vibe means that guests can eat in the bar, one of the lounges or the more formal dining room. We started with a drink in the lounge, cosied up on two vintage armchairs, before moving into the dining room. Around us there are a mix of guests &#8211; from flatcap-wellie-wearing-locals with their dogs to couples, groups of friends and families. This is a place for everyone. Which nicely leads onto Muddy’s obsession: the food.</p>



<p>Local and seasonal produce features on the menu of pub classics and contemporary dishes. Our starters of blue cheese soufflé and smoked trout paté get things off to a good start. The soufflé was light with a lovely depth of flavour and great balance. The paté, too, was sublime &#8211; fresh and creamy with a hint of citrus. </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/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters.jpeg" alt="Starters at The Crown Inn in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-58015" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-starters-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Moving to mains, we decided to share and plumped for one veggie and one meat dish: roasted squash, shallot and date tagine and the slow-roasted pork belly on braised butter beans. Both were gorgeous, but a massive compliments to the chef for the pork which was perfection on a plate &#8211; superb crackling <em>and</em> gorgeously juicy and tender pork.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains.jpeg" alt="Mains at The Crown Inn in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-58014" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains-800x534.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains-400x267.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/The-Crown-Inn-mains-768x513.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>At this point, it&#8217;s worth noting the wine menu which is cleverly curated to suit all tastes and budgets &#8211; from wine in the mid-£20 bracket up to premium bottles priced around £145. European wines feature prominently, particularly French, but there are some fab New World choices as well. We shared a crisp, easy-drinking Pinot Grigio.</p>



<p>For pudding we went simple and shared ice-cream (rum and raisin &#8211; yum!) and a mulled wine poached pear. Lovely!</p>



<p>In the morning, there’s a a choice of cooked breakfasts as well as croissants, yoghurt and granola. My pick? A hearty veggie breakfast and a flat white – set me up beautifully for the day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stay"><strong>STAY</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1163" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1.jpg" alt="The King's Suite at The Crown Inn in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-58017" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1-800x620.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1-1000x775.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1-400x310.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2025/01/Crown-Inn-50_Kings-Suite-scaled-1-768x595.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Crown Inn has eight rooms in two distinctive styles. The rooms in the older part of the pub are full of character and period charm with four-poster beds, while the more modern rooms have a more contemporary style. Each one is unique with its own style.</p>



<p>We stayed in the King&#8217;s Suite &#8211; a king-sized bedroom with a carved oak four-poster bed plus a separate sitting room with a stunning original fireplace. In the bathroom there&#8217;s a gorgeous free-standing roll-top bath. The suite is on the first floor with views out the front across to beautiful Grade I-listed St Mary&#8217;s Church across the road. It&#8217;s gloriously quirky with wonky walls and floors that slope one way and then another. And tall people &#8211; watch out for the low beams!</p>



<p>The rooms themselves rock a country-luxe feel, without coming over too Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. Think exposed carved oak furniture, oak-beam walls with heavy natural linen curtains, crisp white Egyptian cotton sheets, and gorgeous, printed cushions. In the bathroom, there are plenty of thick white towels and luxe toiletries from Noble Isle.</p>



<p>How did I sleep? Like a baby! No wonder it has a five-star rating from the AA.</p>



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



<p>Children and families are welcome at The Crown. There&#8217;s a separate children&#8217;s menu and an activity sheet for kids too. Family rooms are available if you want to stay over.</p>



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



<p>Dogs are welcome in the bar and lounges, but not in the rooms.</p>



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



<p>The age of the building means there are stairs to navigate.</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="1000" height="574" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens.jpeg" alt="Ramster Gardens in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-28374" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens-300x172.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens-720x413.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens-150x86.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens-768x441.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/09/Ramster-Gardens-900x517.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ramster Gardens in Chiddingfold, Surrey.</figcaption></figure>



<p>There’s plenty to do locally, with arguably the biggest draw being the <a href="https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Downs</a> and its walking trails. The Devil’s Punchbowl is also close by, with it’s breathtaking views, or why not takein the gorgeous town of Petworth with its charming independent shops.</p>



<p>Garden lovers will enjoy <a href="https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/the-secret-gardens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ramster Gardens</a> which opens seasonally throughout the year, and <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/winkworth-arboretum">Winkworth Arboretum</a> – both of which are nearby. Wessex Gin Distillery is just a few minutes away, too.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1400" height="933" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard.jpg" alt="The courtyard at the Crown Inn in Chiddingfold, Surrey." class="wp-image-57408" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard.jpg 1400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/surrey/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/11/Crown-Inn-Chiddingfold-private-courtyard-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> <strong>: </strong>Romantic weekends away, country pitstops, and anyone wanting good food, good wine and a relaxed chilled experience. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> With it’s welcoming atmosphere, fab foodie menu and heritage overtones, it’s possible that achingly trendy minimalist types on strict diets might not feel completely at home, but in that case they probably will find the Surrey countryside too muddy, anyway. So best to stick to Shoreditch. Als not one for the hedonistic spa seeker, because there isn’t one. </p>



<p><strong>The damage:</strong> Rooms start at £95 for a single and £145 for a double. Starters are around £9-£10; mains are £17.50-£29.50; puddings are £5.50-£10.</p>



<p><em><strong>The Crown Inn, The Green, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, Surrey, GU8 4TX. Tel: <a href="tel:01428682255">01428 682255</a></strong></em></p>


Review: The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold

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