HOTEL of the week

THE WHITE HORSE DORKING

WHERE ANY WHY In a dip in the hills in Surrey, just 48 minutes from London Waterloo railway station. It’s a quiet, onemain-street town with lovely views of the countryside. London feels a lot further away than 30-odd miles. As luck would have it, staying at the very old White Horse hotel means you get a history lesson without leaving your massive, supremely comfy bed. Charles Dickens is said to have written The Pickwick Papers in this hotel, and a recent £4million refurbishment means it’s welcoming so that any modernday novelist would be grateful to set up their laptop and tap out a bestseller here. The money has been spent wisely: cosy nooks in the lounge area, peppy coffee spot – both of which clearly popular with the locals. And the bedrooms are decorated in a stately colour scheme, with chi-chi details such as Green and Spring toiletries, and a massive TV to match the bed.

ON THE MENU One of Dickens’ famous characters from The Pickwick Papers was Joe, aka ‘the fat boy’ - who ate and ate (then slept and slept). Well, hello, guests are very much encouraged to pay homage to this. The menu is a mix of modern, traditional and local fare, so something for everyone. A salad of white crab, avocado & tomato for starter and a sirloin steak as a main with a Surrey, Not Sorry cocktail and a dessert wine from local vineyard Denbies Wine Estate came to £66. Breakfast is a bit of a feast with a wide selection. I went for kedgeree with poached egg, a real treat.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE So, why leave the hotel, then? Well, exactly! But there are antique shops to idle in and you can tour Dorking’s Caves – actually a network of man-made tunnels once used for hiding smugglers’ loot and holding cock fights. If you have a car, you can head out to Box Hill, ten minutes’ drive away, and while you’re in the area visit Denbies Wine Estate. If you want a tour, it’s best to book in advance.

B&B room rates start at