The Running Horse, Leatherhead

A rather splendid historic old pub on the edge of town, retaining two separate bars with no connection between. A small door at the front leads into a surprisingly large lounge bar, beamed and comfortable, with a separate raised dining area and an outdoor patio. Behind is the public bar, with pool table and darts, and a lawned garden at the rear. Being a Shepherd Neame pub, it was no surprise to find Masterbrew and Spitfire but it was nice to find Surrey Hills Ranmore on also and in good condition.

Perched just off the banks of the River Mole, this Grade II listed timber-frame building is quite a sight on approach thanks to its uneven appearance and eye-catching Tudor facade. Inside, the pub has kept the sort of traditional interior you would expect of such an historic building, with a split level layout offering public and lounge bars plus a decent sized rear dining space. The bar is found at the front, lower part of the pub and serves both of the cosy front rooms which are carpeted throughout and have lots of dark wood beams running around them as the exterior implies. Seating comes mainly in the form of regular tables and chairs which seem to be in plentiful supply and the decor is resolutely traditional and typical of a pub in a more rural setting, with old paintings, horse brasses and various other equine themed items on display - a tip of the hat to the pub's past as a coaching inn. A nice fireplace which looks like it gets plenty of use in the colder months, stands to one side with a collection of decorative ceramics on its mantelpiece. Taking the steps to the rear right, you ascend into two dining room spaces which have plenty more tables and chairs plus more of the same decor. We visited on a stunning summer's day and planted ourselves in the small patio garden area to the right hand side of the pub where a few tables can be found under colourful hanging baskets. We opted to have a light bite from their decent looking menu and enjoyed some tasty food with other great looking plates being delivered to those say around us. The pub is run by the Shepherd Neame brewery, so it wasn't a surprise to find their Master Brew, Spitfire and Midnight Sun on the bar, although I opted for the guest ale which was Surrey Hills Ranmore (appropriate enough as we walked from here to the Surrey Hills Brewery, only to find it shut!), which was in good condition and washed the food down nicely. I'm not familiar with Leatherhead's pub scene, but this felt like it might be one of the stronger, more reliable options around town. The interior was very pleasant, the beer in good nick and the food, which definitely plays second fiddle to the drink, was top-notch, making this a nice stop-off as we passed through the town.

Old, creeky inn, very traditional, curved round from the bar in a horseshoe with large fireplace to the slightly more up to date lounge. Horse brasses etc. Slightly worn around the edges. Beer quality is top notch.

Official site of The Running Horse - www.running-horse.co.uk

Official site of The Running Horse - www.running-horse.co.uk