The Volunteer Inn, Sutton Abinger, Dorking

This Hall & Woodhouse pub has a very nice feel to it. It can be quite difficult to find, being in Sutton Abinger which doesn’t seem to be signposted from anywhere. As of yesterday afternoon, the main bar area was quite popular, mainly with friendly regulars and their friendly dogs. Real ales were Badger Tanglefoot, Fursty Ferret, and K&B Sussex, and I had a very good pint of the Ferret. The house whippet was dozing on his duvet near the fireplace which separates the main bar from the set restaurant area. There is also another room to the rear of the main bar. We didn’t eat here, but noted that main courses cost around £9-12 which seems more reasonable than others in the area. As I recall the pub is busier in the summer, and particularly popular with walkers, but is also a nice warm place to visit in the winter months. I’d certainly come back here.

Regularly visit The Volunteer with my mountain bike buddies. They welcome mountain bikers and even provide a bike wash which is very handy if, like me, you don't have anywhere to wash your bike at home. We usually park in the pub car park, go riding, wash the bikes and then have a meal and a pint in the pub afterwards. They are also dog friendly and don't mind if you (and your mutts) are a little muddy after a day riding singletrack in The Surrey Hills. The food and service is always excellent. I usually go for The Volunteer Burger which is the best burger for miles around. The battered 'Fish of the Day' and chips is also a favourite of mine, though sometimes its hard to finish the fish as the portions are very large. :)