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Detail Pages
Botley Hill Farmhouse, Warlingham
Botley Hill
Postal town: Warlingham
CR6 9QH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Botley Hill Farmhouse
Apparently the highest pub in South East England, this doesn't have the kudos of the Tan Hill Inn or the Macclesfield Forest's Cat & Fiddle, but it is worthy of note in its own way. Anyway, I doubt that the many dining parties worry themselves about such things, but the place certainly still looks like a farmhouse (if you ignore the ginormous car park at the front). The various dining areas are as traditional as you might expect, as is the compact seating area further back in front of the bar. With three of the five handpumps in use, I found three (very local) cask beers from Titsey being served: the regular Gresham Hopper, Chalk Pit pale ale and an excellent Lord Mayor porter (£4.85). Several other Titsey beers are available from the keg taps too.
On 30th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Botley Hill Farmhouse
Sat high up on the North Downs, looking over the town of Oxted and the M25 far below, this is a nice converted farmhouse which, thanks to its relatively remote location, relies on a food-led model aimed towards those travelling from nearby towns and villages plus a few walkers. There’s a large car park out front and a garden area of sorts to the right of the pub, which you have to pass through to access the building, as the front door is no longer functional. You enter into the bar area, with dining rooms off to either side. We came for dinner and were quickly ushered into the rear room, which has nice floorboards, red walls and a high gabled ceiling, with rows of tables and chairs down either side and also in a slightly sunken space to the rear with a sloping beamed ceiling and stone fireplace. The walls have been decorated with some interesting bits of art and a large chandelier hangs from the main ceiling beam. The front dining area runs through a series of spaces, all slightly screened from the bar area, with standard tables and chairs in plentiful supply and traditional decor throughout. The furthest left of these has a very ice brick floor and a very attractive fireplace on the side wall, making it one of the best spots to bag if coming for a meal. The bar occupies much of the rear wall and has a nice dark wood counter front and matching bar back, all with muted lighting to create quite an atmospheric, typical rural-pub room. Drinkers are confined to a few seats in the shallow space opposite the bar, although all these tables seemed to be taken up by diners as well on our Friday evening visit.
The pub also has its own brewery and their beer - Titsey Bitter and Session IPA - monopolised the handpulls on the bar. I gave the Session IPA a try and thought it was a very good example of the style, which sailed down nicely as we enjoyed some of the excellent, if a little pricey, food. The service was of a high standard and even the staff working in other parts of the pub stopped and greeted everyone as theory moved astound the pub.
I thought this was a great place to come and have some good quality pub food in an evocative rural pub setting with some well-kept, homebrewed beer and professional service. With no locals to speak of, the pub does end up feeling far too food-led to merit an attempt to visit for a session on their beer, but I still really liked the place and will be sure to bring friends and family out here the next time we’re looking for somewhere to eat.
On 21st February 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about Botley Hill Farmhouse
It looks like it's changed hands since last time I went. It's now subtitled, "Country Pub and Dining" which screams corporate mediocrity, and once inside your suspicions are confirmed: all the wood panelling and beams have been painted a faecal pastel shade, with the rest whitewashed giving a completely sterile feel. Beer is now routine mass market stuff, mainly GK. All signs of malign head office influence. The garden is still nice.
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November 2010
When informed that a main feature of this place is as a venue for tribute bands and over 30s discos you might well decide to give it a miss and carry on down to the fleshpots of Limpsfield. However you would be missing a trick. Indeed the marquee outside is very popular as a trip out for Croydonites who like that sort of thing, but as a pub it's pretty good too.
It's a 15th century building perched on the crest of the North Downs in, for Surrey, a pretty remote spot. Indeed aside from the balmiest summers day it's always breezy, and in winter it can blow right through you. Inside is a pleasant warren of small rooms, added to over the years, with the bar somewhere near the middle of the building. With low beams and log fires it's pleasantly cosy though doubtless gets crowded if there's music on next door.
Slightly surprisingly for a place like this there's a fine range of beers, with two Pilgrim brews and Hogsback TEA supplementing the usual GK suspects the other day. It would make a fine destination if you are out walking or cycling in the area but otherwise you do need a car, the nearest public transport is miles away.
On 12th October 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about Botley Hill Farmhouse
A whitewashed, flint built former farmhouse on the top of the North Downs above Oxted. An assortment of small rooms on various levels,exposed timbers and an interesting fireplace. Close to the North Downs Way, this is a popular stop for walkers and hikers:indeed, our visit on one of the few dry April days was to rescue our son and his blisters.
Many of the areas were laid up for dining, but when we were there a convivial group of drinkers was in the bar.Music seems to be a further attraction:posters and blackboards attesting to past and future events. The pub promotes beers from local breweries; we drank a couple of pints of W J King’s Horsham Best Bitter.Also available were Greene King Abbott and a seasonal beer from a Scottish brewery.
I can’t remember if the pub is dog friendly, and regret the vast car park that dominates what once must have been a pretty front garden.We would come back if in the area, though perhaps not on Music Night.
On 28th May 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]