Discover The Merry Harriers - The Most Charming Pub In The Surrey Hills

Dining at a farm-to-fork local pub that embodies traditional values at Hambledon Road, Hambledon, Surrey, GU8 4DR.

Interiors of The Merry Harriers © Kira Turnbull

If Richard Curtis seeks a bar for his next charming romantic comedy, he should venture into the Surrey Hills to The Merry Harriers. The indicators are favourable from the outset – a picturesque 16th-century estate featuring an open fire, accommodating dirty footwear, with Labradors and spaniels lounging beneath tables, and workers who appear genuinely delighted to greet you. Authentic Surrey Ales are offered, and there is typically a scattering of locals in the bar.

Initiated in May 2024 by long-time acquaintances Sam Fiddian-Green, a chef trained at Ballymore, and sommelier Alex Winch, the pair explored opportunities in the nearby Godalming at the popular Hilltop Kitchen while seeking a permanent establishment. Upon rejecting numerous establishments (regrettably, many pubs require attention in the market), they discovered their desired location in Hambledon, situated seven miles from Haslemere and an hour's train journey from London’s Waterloo. The tavern is rich in history, established in 1701 as an alehouse, and retains original elements such as its inglenook fireplace, which continues to be utilised, featuring superstitious witching markings etched into the bricks. Sam's brother-in-law, Joss Stoddart, crafted a hand-carved bar, tables and chairs, while the remaining rustic decor is appropriately rustic and exudes a pleasantly lived-in ambiance. Cathy, Alex's sister and proprietor of the local florist Winch & Willow, sends flowers and has fashioned a wreath above the fireplace for Christmas.

From left to right: Alex Winch and Sam Fiddian-Green.

The cuisine, adapting with the seasons, features British classics as home-reared sausages with colcannon and straightforward onion sauce, alongside Kedgeree fish cake, poached egg, hollandaise, and hispi cabbage. Sunday meal is typically presented as communal dishes, accompanied with crispy roast potatoes and the day's selected vegetables. Bar nibbles such as Scotch egg with brown sauce or Hashbrown bits accompanied by Comté and truffle mayonnaise are difficult to refuse while only stopping in for a drink. Sam personally butchers a significant portion of the meat from his family's Wintershall Valley farm, while the fruits and vegetables are predominantly sourced from Goldie’s Greens, managed by his sister.

With the pub operational, Sam and Alex have shifted their focus to lodging. The bar features four inn rooms, six rear patio rooms, and five shepherd’s huts situated across the road, each equipped with a fireplace. Garden rooms and shepherd’s huts are accommodating to pets; I assumed this referred to dogs, but I am certain a hamster would also be welcomed. Sam's cousin, who is part of the design studio Hutley & Humm, has imparted a delightful 'potting shed' aesthetic to the rooms, utilising sky blue, sage green, and terracotta hues, complemented with wicker furnishings and sporadic sheepskin rugs. Incorporate weekly meat raffles, bingo nights, local ales, intriguing drinks, and a wine list that highlights both Surrey vineyards and traditional locations; it is a pub that appears to have a promising future. The relationship and mutual vision of Sam and Alex form the foundation of everything, establishing a space designed for contemporary living while strongly rooted in traditional values.

You are cordially invited to our family- and friend-operated gastropub in the Surrey Hills. The kitchen, having successfully operated as a pop-up, produces the menu seamlessly. Additionally, with accommodations on the upper floor and within an hour's train journey from London Waterloo, prospective day visitors can prolong their stay over the weekend, merging a delightful lunch with picturesque walking trails in proximity. Explore more and reserve at merryharriers.com.