Red Cross Inn, Reigate

Official site of Red Cross Inn - www.theredcrossinn.com

Official site of Red Cross Inn - www.theredcrossinn.com

This pub had Hogsback TEA and St Austell Proper Job on. A board next to the bar counter advertised forthcoming beers - including a Pilgrim ale. There was no sign of food on Wednesday afternoon. Apparently the building once housed a hospital - hence the name. The interior is unchanged from that which previous reviewers' encountered. There was no sport being shown when we visited on Wednesday - indeed other than my group, there were only a couple of blokes propping up the bar. We sat in the room on the right, next to the enormous brick built, where there were also some comfortable looking booths. This seemed to be the nicest area in which to sit. I reckon that this is one of those pubs that is a very different place at different times. It was quiet on Wednesday afternoon, but obviously becomes hectic when sporting events are shown. I'm a big fan of Proper Job, and my pint was in excellent condition - so I enjoyed my visit here.

I had often driven past this imposing pub at the end of the one way system, but sadly the interior did not live to expectations and felt as though it had seen better days. Clearly aimed at sports fans or music sessions, with not much to attract if neither happening. At least it had a couple of good ales on (Cask Marque listed).

An edge of town centre pub, you enter to the main bar area off which there are two side areas up or down a few steps effectively forming an elongated U shape. Beamed ceiling, one end has a large inglenook fireplace, it is clearly a rather old building even if not immediately evident from outside. Boarded in the bar area, carpeted in the wings, screens divide some of the tables. Rugby seems to be big here as it does in many Reigate pubs, the pub was packed with people watching England v NZ on Saturday and the décor includes framed rugby shirts. Another smaller fireplace was not in use, being filled decoratively with chopped logs, other features included the usual old prints of town. Four handpumps, one not clipped, Hobgoblin, Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale plus the very local Pilgrim Progress. There is apparently a garden to the rear but I didn't look on what was a wet and squally day. It was hard to judge this place with the live rugby on as the pub was truly packed and it was difficult to find anywhere to perch with my pint but the ale was top notch even if it took a while to get it.