Peach

News & Press

Thursday 25th February 2010: Proclaimed to be the largest village in England, Cranleigh has been crying out for a decent pub, perfectly placed in the heart of its vibrant community for some time. Now, the wait is over; the launch of The Richard Onslow on Cranleigh High Street brings to the village a really welcoming pub serving good things to eat and drink in friendly surroundings.

Reincarnated from The Onslow Arms, the new Richard Onslow has benefitted in every way from a complete renovation last year, which uncovered many lovely features such as the stunning inglenook fireplace which, together with the carefully restored interior, makes the pub almost irresistible. Now, the new owners have put some finishing touches to the grand old tile-hung pub, creating an intimate yet contemporary dining room and a relaxed bar offering a varied menu of high quality, freshly cooked food.

John Taylor, the pub’s new owner, takes up the story. “I was over the moon when I found this wonderful building which had the potential to be a really great pub for the people of Cranleigh. This is such a lovely village and it really needs a good pub at its centre, a place anyone can come and enjoy great hospitality and plenty of great things to eat and drink.

“That’s what we’ll be aiming to do here at The Richard Onslow. We’ve taken on a great team of people; many like our new manager Kim are from Cranleigh, and we’ll be working hard to make the pub the most welcoming, convivial place to be. We want everyone who comes to find really good food, well-kept real ales, decent wines, proper old fashioned service, and, above all, great value.

“I’ve got a lot of experience running good places to eat and drink. Before I moved to Cranleigh with my family, I ran the award-winning Punch Tavern on Fleet Street in London, and also had a spell at El Vino in the city. Before that, I worked with Richard Branson on Necker, his idyllic Virgin Island hideaway.

“Now, with the help of Peach, the small independent pub company who’ve won a lot of awards for their friendly pubs, I’ve bought this beautiful pub and am looking forward to making it the best around.”

As well as making some welcome physical changes to the pub, John and his team have totally transformed what’s on the menu, too. A new head chef, Tom Hope, is in charge of the kitchen and with his team of chefs will be cooking a varied menu of fresh, seasonal dishes made with the best quality fresh ingredients. Tom has created a menu of traditional pub favourites mixed with a few more adventurous dishes, with everything cooked freshly to order.

The pub’s new Spring menu starts with the launch of the pub this week and features plenty of choice for appetites small and large, with hot food served all day and breakfast from 9am to eat in or takeaway. Great steaks from the char-grill, sustainably caught fish, free-range chicken, seasonal sides and salads are just some of the options. There’s also a selection of daily specials, made with great seasonal produce and as many locally sourced ingredients as Tom and his team can find, plus deli boards which are perfect for sharing or for nibbles.

The Richard Onslow’s bar is well-stocked with real ales, including several from independent local brewers like Surrey Hills in Guildford and Hogg’s Back in Farnham. Charles Wells Bombardier will also be on tap. The wine list is short but carefully chosen, with a range of good reds, whites and rosés by the glass and bottle, from award-winning suppliers.

“We want the pub to be a relaxed place, somewhere anyone can pop in any time for coffee, a light bite to eat, to check their emails on our free WiFi or simply to catch up with friends and family,” continues John. “We also want to get people involved with the pub; a few people have said they would love to play in our bar, so we’re really happy to be holding our first musical event here in just a few days’ time.

“We’re aware the pub’s had a mixed reputation in the past, and that some might have been put off coming. But we’re confident that the changes we’ve made are just what the pub and the village needs and we’re sure you’ll like what you see - friendly faces, great fresh seasonal food and drink with great value and service to match. A real capital tavern of the old school, in other words.

“Come and try us out – come in for coffee and have a look at the new menu while you munch on some free toast from the bar. Any of the team will be happy to show you around, too. It’s our aim to be a pub Cranleigh can be proud of, and the great local it deserves.”

The Richard Onslow is right in the centre of Cranleigh on the High Street opposite Stocklund Square and is open daily from 9am for coffee and breakfast. For more information, please go to www.therichardonslow.co.uk or drop us a line at hello@therichardonslow.co.uk. For reservations, please call 01483 274922.

- ENDS –

For more information, pictures, or to arrange reviews, please contact:

Sarah Pracey 07985 112 777 sjp@spa-pr.com
or

Sam Connatty 07957 693413 samconnatty@hotmail.com