Running Horses gallops to reopening
November 10, 2014
Popular Mickleham pub the Running Horses reopens on Friday 14 November after a major refurbishment which has given it a more informal and relaxed atmosphere, while retaining the traditional features that give the building its unique charm.
The pub’s menu focuses on traditional, rustic British food, created by head chef Daniel Donohue from local and seasonal ingredients where possible, and featuring dishes such as crisp roast pork belly with champ potato, braised hare with chestnuts, and fish pie with mustard mash. There is also a new bar menu, offering ‘hearty’ bar snacks such as pork scratchings with apple sauce, or warm Scotch duck egg with watercress, a range of sandwiches and dishes such as fish & chips and sausage & mash.
Alongside the food, the pub will serve a good selection of wines and beers, including Brakspear cask ales. It is also introducing a new house ale, named ‘Dead Heat Derby’ to reflect the pub’s history as a stabling for horses racing at nearby Epsom, and in particular the famous Derby of 1828, when two horses passed the post at the exact same time. The pub was renamed the Running Horses after the race.
Mat Aket, operations manager for Brakspear, owners of the Running Horses, said, “We’re delighted with the new look and feel to the pub. The refurbishment has achieved exactly what we wanted, to upgrade the pub where it needed it, but without changing its unique character. We’ve invested a lot of money in the pub to improve the drinking and dining experience, but the traditional bar area, for example, looks almost unchanged.
“The pub is, to all intents and purposes, still the Running Horses that is loved by so many local people. We look forward to welcoming customers new and old and promise great food and drink, excellent service and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.”
The Running Horses opens to the public on Friday 14 November at 7.00 pm. Ahead of this, on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 November, the Running Horses is inviting people to try the new menu at lunch or dinner with a 50% discount on all food and a complimentary drink on arrival. Available by reservation only, to book a table contactbook@therunninghorses.co.uk
The Running Horses has established a fine reputation for food, and was named as ‘Surrey Dining Pub of the Year’ in the Good Pub Guide for 2013. It has five en-suite bedrooms which have also been refurbished in a ’boutique hotel’ style. Since 2012, the pub has been owned by Brakspear, a family-run brewer and pub operator with pubs across the south east.