Located in the idyllic Surrey village of Merrow, on the outskirts of Guildford, The Horse and Groom offers a superb modern British menu, with contemporary Mediterranean influences, in a beautiful setting. Housed in a former coaching inn that dates back to the 17th century, the pub's interiors artfully combine contemporary and rustic touches with original features such as timber beams, leaded windows and stone flag floors alongside plush leather sofas, fake fur throws and hessian flooring. This exemplary country pub boasts plenty of on-site parking and is just a short drive from the commuter towns of Woking, Dorking and Godalming. 
 
The a la carte menu changes with the seasons and uses market fresh ingredients, offering diners a wide range of dishes from delicious British classics to pizzas and pastas. Mediterranean fare, bursting with flavour and colour, could include box baked camembert with stirata Romana bread and homemade tomato jam; a garlic pizette with caramelised onions and rocket or salad of spiced pear, roast squash, beetroot, hazelnut and gorgonzola with tomato pesto.

The main course selection is equally bold and updates traditional favourites with clever combinations of ingredients such as crab and chorizo fishcakes with roasted sweet corn and tomato salsa; calves liver with champ potatoes, crispy shallots and red wine jus or duck confit with honey, chilli, pineapple, shallots, sweet potato and butter beans. 

While the à la carte is sufficient treat in itself, customers may want to take note of Steak and Wine Supper Wednesdays, with a range of succulent steaks and a bottle of red wine at half the price or Fabulous Fish Fridays when the talented kitchen team serves a variety of fish and seafood dishes with a bottle of white wine offered at a tempting 50% discount. Wine connoisseurs can look forward to wine tastings all year round as well as Sparkling Thursdays with crisp, fresh Proseccos available at £15 and the house champagne at £20.

For diners who are looking for a quick bite why not choose from the bar menu which offers such dishes as trio of mini burgers of spiced lamb burger with tzatziki, beef burger with tomato salsa and pork and chorizo burger. The Mediterranean influence continues with chicken and chorizo spiedini with chilli jam or calzone of cacciatore pork with tomato frito, garlic and cremé fraiche while classic pub fare could include freshly battered haddock, chips, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas.

The desserts list includes puddings such as warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce; apple and blackcurrant crumble with vanilla custard and choux bun with fresh cream with espresso and chocolate sauce and will end any meal on a sweet note.

The drinks list is replete with a range of aperitifs, digestifs, bottled beers and non-alcoholic drinks in addition to a fine selection of Mediterranean whites and reds along with a sprinkling of examples from the rest of the world.

Enjoyed the Horse and Groom? Why not try its sister pubs The Inn at Maybury in Woking or The Seahorse in Shalford.

More information can be found on their Website.