An ambitious independently owned gastropub, restaurant and cocktail bar opens next week in the Surrey market town of Farnham, following a conversion project that has transformed the interior of the Lutyens-designed Liberal Club.
The Third Monkey will feature high-end cooking from executive chef Adam Fisher, who trained under Adam Smith at Coworth Park in Ascot and also worked at Pennyhill Park. His menu will range from re-imagined classics to hyper-seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients, while his kitchen is committed to sustainability and zero waste.
The Grade II-listed building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1894 and is regarded as one of his most significant early works, marking his first foray into the Neo-Georgian style. Originally the Liberal Club, it operated more recently as the South Street Social Club, before closing in 2023. The Lutyens Trust was involved in the transformation, which has seen the interior transformed along contemporary lines incorporating a roof terrace, while the original facade remains largely undisturbed.
Charlie Francis, the pub’s general manager, said: “With The Third Monkey, we wanted to create more than just a place to eat or drink – we’ve built a destination.
“The ground floor is a vibrant gastropub and bar that’s relaxed and welcoming, while upstairs offers something unexpected for the area: an architecturally striking restaurant, a seasonal cocktail bar, and a roof terrace with weekend DJs creating a laid-back, late-night atmosphere. It’s a space where elevated dining, great drinks, and music all come together under one roof.”
The opening menu includes starters of burrata with Isle of Wight heritage tomatoes, pistachio and basil or kombu-marinated chalk stream trout with wasabi, kohlrabi and apple; main courses of beef tongue and cheek pie with mash potatoes and Guinness gravy; South Coast sea bream, with seaweed pomme Anna chip, and a 900g T-bone steak with pulled shortrib and bone marrow gravy for two to share. Desserts include Monkey sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel ‘baked Alaska’ ice cream or strawberry and cream millefeuille with Pimm’s sorbet.
The Third Monkey will be open from next Thursday 24 July for lunch and dinner every day from 12 noon, closing at 11pm Mond-Thur, 1am Fri-Sat and 7pm Sunday.
