Live Sports — Pubs in Dorking

Pub with a single L-shaped bar in two parts, separated by a step. At the front note the two large and attractive bow windows, one either side of the central door. The lower part has a wooden floor and leads to the garden which has a heated and covered smoking area on a decking area and steps leading down to the grass where there is some children's play equipment. A small area of the back garden can also be accessed along the side of the pub, avoiding the steps. It gives impressive views towards Denbies vineyard and Ranmore Common and there may be BBQs on sunny summer Saturday evenings. Soup, sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs are available 12-4 Monday to Saturday. Roasts are served 12-5 on Sundays. There are three TVs inside and one outside, which are usually used for sport on Sky and BT as well as terrestrial channels. Occasionally there is a guest beer and sometimes an alternative may replace Doom Bar. Families are welcome until 7pm and darts is played. Live music is played on Sunday afternoons between May and September, in the garden weather permitting, and sometimes on weekend evenings. Dogs are welcome and there is free Wi-Fi.

White Hart

5 Dene Street, Dorking RH4 2DR

Sports TV

Known locally as the Snakepit, this is a small but lively drinker's pub just off the High Street which has cellars built into local caves. Due to health and safety reasons these are no longer used to store beer but one can be seen behind a gate at the back of the covered smoking area behind the pub. There are two distinct areas on either side of a horseshoe shaped bar, one of which houses a pool table. Three big screen TVs show all major sporting events. The walls are decorated with old adverts including one which has sales details from 1849 describing the pub as having a good bar, tap room and parlour and also a well of fine spring water. The pub does not serve food but customers can bring their own, and tend to use either Subway at the end of Dene Street road or the fish and chip shop just down the road the other way, but ask first. Free WiFi available. The gents toilet is accessed through a police telephone box (like Dr Who's Tardis).

Bull's Head

11 South Street, Dorking RH4 2DY

Lunchtime Meals

An old and attractive tile-hung pub on Pump Corner, the Bull's Head is a former coaching inn. It reopened after a redecoration in September 2021 with new people running it. Formerly a Friary Meux pub, it was bought by Gale's in 1995, but is now owned by Fuller's. It is reached by climbing up a few steps from the main road or from the side where a ramp is available if wanted. Internally it features much wood panelling. Food is served 12-2:30 and 5:30-8:30 Tuesday to Saturday and 12-4 Sunday plus 10-12 for brunch on Saturday. Roasts are served on Sunday, on other days lunch is doorstep sandwiches, meat and cheese or veggie platters and burgers with chips and evening meals are a choice of four starters/snacks and four main courses plus the platters. The outside drinking area is a couple of tables by the side door which is mainly used by smokers. It is hoped that a guest beer will be available later. The hours may vary depending on the custom.

Cricketers

81 South Street, Dorking RH4 2JU

Beer Festivals

This small pub has bare-brick walls covered in old photographs and Fuller's beer adverts. Today there is one L-shaped bar, but etched glass on the unused exterior doors shows that this was not always the case. A TV is in one corner and this is used for major sporting events shown on terrestrial TV, especially rugby when a couple of extra TVs will be on if England are playing when it is often standing room only. A dart board is at one end, and past this is one of the pub's best features, a walled Georgian garden. A TV is put in the garden, in the covered area, for some of the largest sporting events. Occasionally there is live music. Children are welcome until early evening. As well as darts there is a selection of modern and traditional board games by the television and WiFi is available. The guest beer pump often has a Dark Star beer on but may have a Fuller's seasonal beer or something from the Fuller's list such as Thornbridge. Lunch, served 12-2:30, is sandwiches, a salad plus some things, like ham and eggs, with chips. Beer festivals are usually held over the first May Bank Holiday and in the autumn (usually September), when there will be about an extra ten beers on in the garden, with some local beers featured, and some real cider. A third festival may occasionally be held if there is a major national event. The pub also holds other events throughout the year such as an onion competition.

Falkland Arms

60 Falkland Road, Dorking RH4 3AD

Family Friendly

Two bar pub just south of the town centre. At the back there is a partly covered heated patio area and a small lawn with tables beyond it. There are also tables on the decking outside the front of the pub. The guest beer may well be from a brewery such as Hobgoblin or may occasionally be from a local brewery such as Dorking. There are three main TVs, one in each bar and one in the garden which show sport including Sky and BT and there is a log burning stove in each bar. Darts are in the front bar, there is free Wi-Fi and dogs and children are welcome. Private functions can be catered for and there is poker on Thursdays and occasional live music. A couple of basic small pizzas are available all day.

Lincoln Arms

Station Approach, Dorking RH4 1TF

Accommodation

The Lincoln Arms retains many of the features of a classic Victorian station hotel. The location on the edge of town (handy for both Dorking and Dorking Deepdene stations) means that the atmosphere is usually quite relaxed. There are two large bars. The front bar is split into a lounge area on the right and an area on the left which has a pool table. The back, wooden-floored, bar is usually quieter, it is also where darts can be played. Terrestrial sport may be shown. A meeting room is available for free and the rear bar can be hired for functions. Accommodation consists of 20 rooms. Food is served from 6-9 Monday to Thursday, 5-9 Friday, 12-8 Saturday and 12-5 Sunday. Families are welcome in the lounge bar until 9pm. Formerly the Star & Garter and more recently the unfortunately named Happy Days Hotel featuring Deano's Diner. There are usually one or two beer which often with local breweries such as Tillingbourne and Surrey Hills often featuring. Dogs are welcome, there is free WiFi and poker is played on Wednesdays. There is a small paved garden at the back with a covered smoking area and a marquee on part of the car park provides additional covered seating. In the summer people may be seen at the tables outside on the pavement.

Prince Of Wales

55 Hampstead Road, Dorking RH4 3AH