The Parrot Inn

I visited the Parrot a few weekends ago and having not visited for some years, I was pleasantly surprised. The decor and general vibe of the pub is olde-worlde, it's as if time has stood still – it's beautiful in all it's unaltered splendor.

The Sunday roast here is why you need to visit – I've been back twice because it's possibly the best Sunday Roast I've ever had in a pub ! I wouldn't bother with anything else from the menu, the roast is where its at. You can turn up between 12noon and 5pm and be served Sunday roast all day, which is a blessing given that Sundays in most pubs in Surrey can be a complete nightmare – especially if you haven't booked. You can book a table in the main restaurant, but I don't bother with that – just get there before 12 and get a seat in the pub – or if it's lovely weather, there's plenty of beautiful seating outside, overlooking the Surrey countryside.

The service is good, but could be better, the staff are helpful and if there are any problems (I did have to ask where my meal had gone!) they deal with it immediately. The lady front of house is very friendly, the fact she's friendly to women and men equally is a bonus, non of that fake smiling, just professional and down to earth.

The locals are wonderful, don't let that other review put you off, there are dogs piled up at the bar too, it's very atmospheric. I love it for the people watching, you get to see: the rah rah rah set from London; the couple having an illicit affair; the pretenders who hint they might have a weekend cottage in the area; the cyclists outside; locals and pretend locals (!) and just about everyone else under the sun. There's a small novella in here.

Yes, this pub is popular, yes, you're going to be eating with other people from all walks of life, but isn't that the point of a pub ?!

Check out the deli in the Parrot, I have developed a terrible addiction for their delicious meat pies – the bread is baked fresh everyday and it's huge, like exhibits for the harvest festival. The butcher looks like Boris Johnsons' younger, prettier brother – trust me on this one – Brideshead Revisited spung to mind too.

ENJOY YOUR ROAST !

The Parrot Inn is to be avoided at all costs – honestly. The building itself is lovely but sadly that's where the attraction ends. It's packed with locals who are about as rude as the staff, no small feat. You wait for ages at the bar to be served while indifferent staff walk right by you. If you finally do order food and drink be prepared to have to constantly ask for it or you'll be waiting hours. It took us two hours to be served a roast lunch and when we finally received it we found the beef to be cooked to the point that it was difficult to cut and the pork to consist largely of two pieces of fat. The yorkshire puddings were pre-made rubbish, the first time I have ever seen that in a country pub in Surrey. For £12.50 they can't even be bothered to make their own yorkshires!

All in all a terrible experience and a waste of an afternoon and £60. Considering the inconvenience and the price, this is the worst pub in Surrey. Absolutely awful.