Just 45 minutes from London, The William Bray offers the kind of countryside escape that city dwellers spend entire weekends searching for. Located in the picture-perfect Surrey village of Shere, the recently reopened pub occupies a prime position overlooking the Surrey Hills, with sweeping views that are best enjoyed from the terrace with a drink in hand.
Under new ownership since May 2025, The William Bray has quickly established itself as a destination for relaxed dining, whether that's a leisurely lunch after a walk in the hills, a celebratory dinner or simply a coffee and slice of cake while exploring one of Surrey's prettiest villages. Open seven days a week, the pub combines traditional country charm with a fresh approach to British cooking.
Led by Head Chef Iulian Preda, the kitchen champions seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers, butchers and fishmongers, creating menus that feel very much connected to the surrounding countryside while offering plenty of contemporary touches.
The menu is designed to suit everything from light bites to full three-course meals. To begin, diners might opt for warm focaccia with balsamic glaze, monkfish scampi with curried mayonnaise or creamy burrata paired with heritage tomatoes and toasted focaccia. The charcuterie board, loaded with cured meats, tomato chutney and warm bread, makes an excellent sharing option.
Larger plates showcase classic pub dishes elevated by quality ingredients and thoughtful cooking. The lamb rump served with creamy mash, seasonal greens and chicken jus is a standout, while the fish board offers a generous selection of smoked fish, anchovies, prawns and pâté. Elsewhere, a fresh dill-battered haddock with chunky chips provides a refined take on the traditional fish and chips, while the chicken schnitzel Caesar salad and hand-pressed rump burger offer crowd-pleasing alternatives.
Vegetarian diners are equally well catered for, with dishes such as pan-roasted celeriac steak served with celeriac purée, pine nuts, golden sultanas and caper salsa. Side dishes, including charred leeks with mustard dressing and truffle oil chips topped with parmesan, are worth ordering for the table.