Brockham Restaurant Guide

This “nice pub” close to Box Hill in the Mole Valley is known for its “good-quality food” – which means you need to book ahead for Sunday lunch. From the five-strong local Grumpy Mole group, it is known as ‘The Inn on the Green’.

“Exceptional food in a calm and unpretentious setting” has carved a big reputation for Steve Drake’s Surrey HQ which, say fans, is “the perfect haunt for a special occasion or at which to make an impression with a business client” thanks to its “exceptionally balanced atmosphere” with “exemplary” service that’s “not too attentive, but there when you need them”. “Succulent” dishes are “carefully constructed dishes to delight the eye as well as the palate” and “adventurous enough to push you to try new things without being ‘weird’”. We have continued to rate it based on our spring 2025 annual diners’ poll on the basis that Steve remains as owner: but in June 2025, he stepped back from the stoves and appointed Alex Payne (who came to prominence running The Tudor Pass restaurant at Great Fosters hotel near Windsor) as the new head chef.

The high-end Japanese-style dining at this splendiferous country-house hotel is “a special treat from start to finish: every visit fulfils your salivating expectations and appetite” – innovative Polish-born chef Wojciech Popow combining Nordic influences with his sushi-master skills in dishes like red bream nigiri with Cornish ants; or rice with young pine shoots foraged from the estate. There’s also the slightly bonkers option of eating a Japanese yakiniku barbecue in your own hot-air balloon – not flying, but tethered in the Italian Garden. It’s all “great fun and great food, but be prepared to sell a kidney to cover the cost”.

“I felt transported to Italy as I ate this pizza!” – Luca & Paulo Malavasi’s “top notch Neapolitan pizza” continues to win fans for this 50-cover venue, with open kitchen, which they progressed to in 2019 having started out in a food truck two years earlier at Redihill Market – “a little stark, but love it”. There are now three in the chain, including Horsham and Farnham.

“Fresh ingredients shine out from the dishes” at this “excellent local Lebanese” – Jad Youssef’s smart venue in the town centre where he provides ‘Beirut Soul Food’ with a “variety of mezze and main dishes not easily found in most Lebanese restaurants”. It’s a “friendly and efficient” place too, with a good “buzz”. Top Menu Tip – “Muhammara mezze with walnuts is one of many interesting dishes”.