Six Bells, Dorking

The Six Bells is located opposite the Grade II listed medieval St Peter’s Church and a bank of daffodils that were a nice sight on a recent sunny Saturday lunchtime. Steps up to the entrance climb past a couple of picnic tables, more picnic tables are found up the left-hand side of the pub on grass covered areas either side of a large shelter full of seating. The entrance opens into a small wooden floored area with a couple of wooden tables with chairs a large fireplace to the left that faces a couple of armchairs around a coffee table. Steps to the side of the fireplace descend to two tile floored snugs, the one at the front with a large family dining table and the one to the left with a couple of tables and the reverse of the fireplace. The tables in both of these areas were reserved. Opposite the entrance some steps descend to the bar area and a serving counter that supports a mix of standard, premium and craft keg across eight fonts and three hand pumps, two of which were in use drawing Surrey Hills Brewery’s Ranmore and Shere Drop, the latter being very good. After being served by the polite barmaid she informed me that we could sit anywhere at the front of the pub as the rear is a restaurant, this explained the very big car park at the rear. With the tables in the snugs being reserved this gave us the choice of two small tables by the entrance where some very low background music was playing. I thought it was ok in here, but I think at busier times this place would feel more like a restaurant than a pub with the front ‘bar seating’ feeling more like a holding pen for diners.

Facebook page of Six Bells - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Six Bells - www.facebook.com

Official site of Six Bells - www.sixbellsnewdigate.co.uk

Official site of Six Bells - www.sixbellsnewdigate.co.uk

A pleasant Hall & Woodhouse country pub, ‘under new management’ according to the sign outside yesterday, so we thought we’d give it a go for the first time in ages. The main entrance took us to the main bar area, and there was a cosy room to the left with a real fire, another nook to the front, and a room to the rear laid out for dining. There is also a traditional garden to the side and rear. Like most places we went this wet bank holiday afternoon it was fairly quiet, though there was a decent crop of apparent locals drinking and having a good laugh at the bar, and it felt well run and welcoming. Usual pub drinks selection, with four ale pumps serving Badger, Firkin Fox and Sussex with the fourth vacant. The menu was fairly traditional pub food with mains starting at around £9, though we didn’t eat here. I’d say this was a nice, well run country pub, and I wish the new management well.