The Dolphin, Betchworth

It was a bit of a trek trying to get to this village pub by public transport, with trains only operating to Betchworth station hourly (not some hours, be careful!) and a 22-minute trudge, which involved walking through fields, crossing a busy roundabout of the A25 and traversing country lanes with no pavements and plenty of traffic. I suspect most people arrive here by car! A few other customers were present outside at the front when I arrived. A few others arrived and were seeking food. Inside, it is quite historic, with 3 small rooms, all with plenty of character, flagstone floors and some impressive fireplaces. Being a Young's pub, you will find their Ordinary and their Special, alongside Surrey Hills Shere Drop. An additional 4th beer was Young's All Ale The Queen. I ordered the Shere Drop, exactly as Quinno did almost 5 years ago. Interestingly, it shows the affect of inflation. A half set me back £2.75. So, unless there is a supplement for the half, it means that the price of a pint has rised by 90p in almost 5 years.

Youngs owned country pub which is around 400 years old as stated below. Pretty unspoilt gem inside with three rooms, two at the front and one at the rear. The main bar has a huge hearth, original flagstone flooring, dark wood fittings and a general air of timelessness. The other two rooms are a bit more modern in appearance but still decent. Newspapers available. Five pumps with two of the Youngs standards plus three local ales from Hogs Back, Dorking and Surrey Hills. My pint of the latter was very expensive (£4.60) but was in excellent shape and went down without any prompting. A slight downside was the presence of a number of bar blockers (I just shimmied my way in anyway). A good little find and is well-worth making a special trip out to enjoy. 7.5