Us Londoners... we're a little deprived. The Concrete Jungle, The Big Smoke: while the capital is incredible in many ways, it leaves a little to be desired when it comes to peace, quiet and the great outdoors. That’s where The Merry Harriers comes in. Located in Surrey, in a picturesque village called Hambledon, this little retreat - it's more than just a pub with rooms.
The 16th century inn, previously owned by the Savary family, was taken over by Alex Winch and Sam Fiddian-Green in 2023. Not only does it boast 15 freshly touched up boutique rooms, including boltholes above the pub, gorgeous en-suites in the garden, and a range of adorable shepherd’s huts (many of which are pet-friendly) – its farm-to-table restaurant has also been named No.18 in Estrella Damm’s Top 50 Gastropub Awards, so you know it’s got some damn good grub too. Pair that with neighbouring National Trust sites, views of gorgeous galloping horses while you dine, and the most incredible community feel, and you have yourself the perfect weekend getaway. Oh, and did I mention it’s just 30 minutes outside of London?
Find out what I thought of the atmosphere, room, food and drinks below.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of The Merry Harriers In Surrey
Exterior of The Merry Harriers. Credit: The Merry Harriers.
Need To Know:
- Address: Hambledon Road, Godalming, GU8 4DR
- Area: Hambledon, Surrey
- Hotel type: pub with rooms, boutique, shepherd's hut
- How To Get There From London: a 1.5 - 2hr drive, or get a train from Waterloo or Clapham Junction to Milford, then a quick cab journey from the station (book this ahead of time)
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: the 16th-century inn offers a peaceful retreat that doubles as a neighbourhood hub for the local community. The pub itself has been lovingly looked after, with low wooden beams, a huge stone hearth where a fire beckons you to sit on the vintage table and chairs cradled around it, and a wooden bar touting local ales, crowd-favourite beers and gourmet bar snacks (the Scotch egg is a particular highlight). It's clearly a local favourite too; most of the clientele looked completely at home here, greeting the owners like old friends, before settling in either the pub, restaurant or sprawling garden (which also had a gazebo for the wetter, colder days)
- Perfect For: weekend getaways, couples' holidays, weddings, those who need a bit of nature
Service & Price
- Service (Out Of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money (Out Of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Room Quality & Comfort
Inside the Super King Garden Room at The Merry Harriers.
Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We stayed in the Super King Garden Room: located in the garden at the back of the pub, though from the outset these looked a little like sheds - inside, it felt like a gorgeous cottage room had been lifted and placed right there. Think duck egg blue panelled walls, botanical touches in the way of hanging dried flowers and pressed petal artworks, and a big, beautiful bed with crisp white linens and burnt orange decorative pillows that matched the headboard.
I also adored the little touches, which all added to the luxurious, relaxing experience: Classical FM serenely drifting from the vintage radio, Wildsmith products in the ensuite bathroom (including salts for the full-sized bath), and the scent of calming essential oils wafting through the air. There were also patio chairs and a table out front, if you fancy taking your coffee with a view of the surrounding fields and animals in the morning.
Dining Highlights
Crispy pig's head (left) and cocktails (right).
The pub doubles as a restaurant, with dedicated dining areas to the right and behind the bar. It was intimate, warm and cosy, and also very full (so I would highly recommend booking for a weekend dinner). The deep olive green walls and monochromatic, nature-related images on the walls echoed the farm-to-fork menu that The Merry Harriers is known for.
They're proud of their suppliers, sourcing as locally as possible - in fact, nearly all of the meat comes from Sam's neighbouring family farm (run by his mum), another touch that reinforces the pub's deep ties to its local community and close-to-home ethos.
Dinner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Crispy pig head with pickles and parsley (£10.50) - using pork from their own farm and championing their nose-to-tail ethos, this delicious dish featured tender, shredded pork in an enticingly crisp coating, topped with pickles that added a nice tang, and hints of cumin and mustard coming through each bite
- Newhouse farm asparagus with hazelnuts, wild garlic, lemon & brown butter (£13) - as we head into asparagus season, I thoroughly enjoyed the freshness of this plate. The spears had the perfect level of bite that, mixed with the creamy hazelnuts and little ringlets of onion, created a lovely medley of textures - elevated by the delicate hum of wild garlic
- Mrs Green's beef & beer pie with Chiddingfold kale (to share - £35) - the pie to end all pies. The beef (which we were told came from one of Sam's mum's 8-year-old heifers) was beautifully aged and rich with flavour while being incredibly tender, with a perfectly browned crust. It was clearly lovingly made, and every mouthful was a wonder
- Jamaican ginger sticky toffee pudding with whisky toffee sauce (£9) - filled to the brim, we opted to share our dessert, and lucky we did - this was huge. Soft, fluffy and not too dense, and with ginger at the perfect level, it was the perfect end to a truly excellent night of dining
Mrs Green's beef and beer pie with kale (and a side of crispy potatoes with creme fraice).
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The pair have a clear passion for wine, and they definitely know their stuff. Alex was a dream walking us through the extensive list (think local vineyards and considered European bottles), offering suggestions that would pair with our dinner choices. Aside from the wine, there are also cocktails (including local twists on classics and non-alcoholic options), Surrey ales, and a selection of classic and own-brand beers to please all.
- Penny's English negroni (£12) - this delicious, easy-drinking take on the classic offered hints of caramel and cinnamon, a really great way to kick off a meal
- Brich Grignolino, Agricola Gaia, DOC, Piedmont, IT 2023 (£7 per glass) - recommended by Alex to pair with our mix of rich and light starters, this was light-bodied and juicy with bright berry flavours
Breakfast: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You order your cooked breakfast the night before, plus there's a table full of granola, yoghurt, juices, toast with butter and jams, and seasonal fruits (plus fresh hot drinks to order).
- MH Full English (included in room price) - it looked so good, we both ordered it, and I'm glad we did. Gorgeous eggs (can vouch for both their poached and scrambled), the crispiest rectangle hash brown, and of course stunning meat (bacon, sausage, black pudding) sourced from their farm - complete with tomato and mushrooms
My Overall Experience At The Merry Harriers
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think you can gather from my review that I had a pretty excellent time. Thanks to being a cosy 16th-century inn, surrounded by rolling hills filled with horses, sheep and National Trust walks, not to mention beautifully appointed bedrooms and serious culinary skill from the kitchen, it was charmingly rustic and luxuriously boutique in equal measure - the perfect recipe for a Londoner's getaway. And their warm hospitality, dedication to the local community, and focus on provenance make them stand out from the crowd - if you need to get out of the big ol' city sometime soon, I could not recommend The Merry Harriers enough,
