The Hare & Hounds, Esher

Official site of the Hare & Hounds, contains menus - thehareandhounds-claygate.co.uk

Pleased to report that as at yesterday's visit, this pub had started speaking English again and didn't display any of the pretentiousness that Rex encountered previously. It is still doing its "L'Auberge" foodie thing, but that seems largely to happen in the room to the right, whilst the main pub feels like, well, a pub. The five handpumps were serving Thwaites Wainwright (a good pint of which I had), Spitfire, Bombardier, and Courage Best (x2). Service was friendly and efficient, and custom was comfortably steady. I would come here again if passing.

Official site of the Hare & Hounds, contains menus - thehareandhounds-claygate.co.uk

This pub is now branded as “l’auberge at the Hare & Hounds”, but the predominate signage remains of The Hare & Hounds. The right hand side of the pub is effectively a restaurant, but there are a good number of tables and chairs, plus a couple of sofas, on the left of the pub in the immediate vicinity of the bar counter. There was also a log fire alight in the bar area, which seems to be something of a trait in Claygate. There are some picnic benches outside as well as some parking at the side. But I though the “Frenchness” to be a bit over the top - the girl who served me greeted me with “bonjour”; I got a “merci” when I handed over my money; and an “e voila” when she handed me my change. Being the sort of “bah humbug” person that I am, I refused to go along with this Gallic charade, and all she got from me was a “cheers love”. Maybe some people appreciate this sort of thing in a French restaurant, but it does come as something of a surprise to those who just come in for a pint or two. On the plus side they did have a couple of decent ales on – Surrey Hills Shere Drop, and Tintagel Brewery Gull Rock, with nothing from the mainstream breweries. The Shere Drop was at a top of the range price of £3.50 a pint. Unsurprisingly this is not a pub grub type of place. The menu has separate sections for “Le France” and “L’Angleterre”. I shan’t bother with the le France section, but as an example L’Angleterre included “Steak and Guinness pie, with vegetables, mashed potato and gravy for £11.00. I also spotted a sign for a set menu of two courses for £10, or £12.50 for three courses. But I didn’t see what was being offered as the set menu, or if it came from the a la carte menu. The beer was good, but this is mainly a food led establishment, and not the sort of place to go for a real pub experience.