The Ultimate Craft Day Out : 12 Places to Eat & Drink on a Trip to Gilliangladrag

 

 

Fancy a 'crafty' day trip to The Gilliangladrag Fluff-a-torium? But ALSO something 'crafted' and yummy to eat and drink? I know a lot of our fabulous fluffy customers come to us from far and wide - and we are often asked where we recommend to grab a bite before or after a trip to The Gilliangladrag Fluff-a-torium...

Photo credit : Cozy Moose, Dorking

...So whether it's the best coffee & cake, or a proper pub lunch, pizza, or something altogether far more elegant and upscale, I've put together a few of my favourite places not too far away from here in Betchworth in the surrounding Surrey Hills towns and villages.

Photo credit : Island House, Reigate

I've tried to include mostly small independent businesses (like us) who often 'craft' their food exquisitely and use local produce. I've grouped them together by budget (as that made most sense) - but I've also quite handily put the distance from us, so you can plan your day!

xx ENJOY! Gillian xx

Fabulous 'Proper' Lunch £££££

1) Steve Drake's 'Sorrel' Restaurant : our wonderful and local Michelin Star restaurant (+ 4 AA Rosettes) in Dorking, as featured in The Telegraph & The Guardian. Exquisite! My favourite thing is their great (well priced) lunch. NB: booking essential. Perfect for a special occasion - or 'just because' you are fabulous and you deserve it ;-)  (2.4 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.sorrelrestaurant.co.uk/

2) The Garden House at Beaverbrook : Nestled in the heart of the Surrey Hills, 'Beaverbrook' is the quintessential British Country Estate with a couple of dining options and a swanky bar. It is also a Hotel & Spa. The Garden House offers rustic, Mediterranean-style dishes using locally sourced fresh ingredients. It's all terribly delightful and lovely and special and spiffing ;-) Booking essential!  (5.9 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.beaverbrook.co.uk

Lovely Relaxed Restaurants & Pubs for Lunch £££ - ££££

1) Island House : an independently owned relaxed and stylish new restaurant & bar in Reigate offering some lovely food 'influenced by global cuisine and inspired by local producers'. This place ticks a lot of my boxes! Great decor lovely food, good service and a lovely terrace outside. I must also mention the amazing cocktails! ;-) it also does a great Breakfast 10-12 (3.7 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.islandhousereigate.co.uk/

2) Monteforte Pizza : a great authentic wood fired pizza house in Reigate : "Chewy light and charred at 500 degrees, just like the ones cooked in Napoli." ;-) Craft beer & cocktails also available! Many's the time we've ordered Pizza from here, - it's slightly too close for my waistline! ;-) xx (3.6 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) NB: Closed Mondays www.monteforte.co.uk/

3) The Pheasant at Buckland : a lovely country pub with a good menu. It is warm and welcoming inside during colder months (think log fires) and has a great terrace at the back for the summer. They also have rather an impressive Gin collection - just saying! ;-) (0.4 miles from The Fluff-a-torium)  www.brunningandprice.co.uk/pheasant

4) The Queens Head in Dorking : Famous for their 2 giant Tipi tents in the garden & their Silent Pool Gin Emporium (!) The Queens Head also have a Michelin Plate Award for their fabulous food! This is a quintessentially English pub with a roaring fireplace in the winter and a leafy garden in the summer. My favourite pub to eat in, in Dorking ;-) xx (2.8 miles from The Fluff-a-torium)  www.queensheaddorking.co.uk/

5) The Grumpy Mole in Brockham : a reliable pub on the green in the pretty village of Brockham (famous for it's firework display in November). This pub has plenty of outside space too. Good menu choices in cosy surroundings using local produce where possible. Part of a small chain of grumpy moles! ;-) (0.8 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.thegrumpymole.co.uk/brockham

Great Independent Local Cafés & Treats ££-£££

1) Two Many Cooks : favoured by many a local in Dorking - a GREAT independent coffee shop serving the best coffee; great sandwiches, great brekkie and great cakes. What more can I say? Used to be my weekly meet up spot with my mum when our shop was in corking Dorking. They also run @brockambandb : a B&B in Brockham (which is one of our nearest villages) if you decide you need to stay the night and try even more local food! ;-) (2.4 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.twomanycooks.com

2) Cosy Moose : a fabulous independent cake and coffee shop in Dorking, serving organic coffee and freshly baked macarons and exquisite patisserie - all of which are freshly made on site by the ever so talented Monika. Recommended!  (2.3 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) @cosy_moose

 

3) Southdown Kitchen : An independent cafe just a stone's throw from us across the A25 (where Chris runs a tab ;-) ) : Lovely breakfasts and great coffee, cakes and light bites! Big light and airy with a garden and parking. Open Wednesday - Saturday 9.30am - 2.30pm. (0.1 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) @southdownkitchen

                 Photo credit : Southdown Kitchen

4) The Reading Room : an independent homegrown Coffee & Cake house in the old Brockham Village Hall on the green, serving great coffee, light bites and sweet treats! Plus also... interestingly I'm given to understand - ice cream for dogs! ;-)  (0.8 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.thereadingroombrockham.com

 

               

                        Photo credit : Fabbro Reigate

5) Fabbro : an independent FroYo (Frozen Yoghurt) joint in Reigate serving soft-serve FroYo which is probiotic, gluten-free, and fat-free! Sounds too perfect right? Surely this must be REALLY good for you? Hehe! Also a cafe and bar. (Closed Mondays). (3.7 miles from The Fluff-a-torium) www.fabbro.co.uk/

XXXXX

Please always check opening times! xx

Disclaimer : These reviews are our own and whilst we've had good food and good times at the places listed,

we cannot guarantee ANYTHING! ;-) x

 

    

                 Photo credit : Southdown Kitchen

NB : Unfortunately it is not possible to leave your car at The Fluff-a-torium whilst you visit any of these establishments, as we need our parking spaces for other customers - thanks for your understanding! xx