King's Arms
45 West Street (A25)Dorking
RH4 1BU
See more about this pub on CAMRA's national web site
It is appropriate that Dorking's oldest and perhaps most traditional pub is found in a street full of antique shops. The pub dates from 1405, starting off as three farm workers' cottages, and becoming a coaching inn during the 16th century. The split-level bar is well beamed and has leaded windows. The front part to the left of the bar has a tiled floor. To the right of this, and the main part of the bar area, there is some impressive wooden flooring and a slightly raised carpeted area. At the rear of the pub are a couple of smaller and quieter areas and a small restaurant. There is an outside partially covered area along the side of the pub and an inner area accessed either from the restaurant or the bar. This former Friary Meux pub was sold by Punch to Shepherd Neame in May 2009. The guest beer is likely to be either Shepherd Neame Master Brew or Whitstable Bay. There is a very small car park at the back which is for staff only but the pub is very near a public car park, which charges during the day Monday to Saturday. There is a toilet for the disabled and baby change facilities at the back of the restaurant, but they are only accessible using a step from the bar although there is a slope to a door at the back from the car park. There is a 50 inch outdoor televisions in one of the outside courtyards with a smaller TV in the main bar which may occasionally be used for terrestrial sport. Quiz night is Monday, there is karaoke on Wednesdays and music on Saturdays. Good food is served in the pub 12-3 and 5-8 Monday to Thursday, 12-3 and 5-9:30 Friday, 12-9 Saturday and 12-5 Sunday. Dogs are welcome in the bar, some board games are available and there is free Wi-Fi.