Continuing with our series that shines a light on the towns and villages we serve by our team members who live there, the second instalment turns to Farnham. And as Steve Tebbutt, Manager of our Farnham office, has lived in this sought-after town for 23 years (and worked as a Farnham estate agent since 1989), here’s his take on this increasingly popular Surrey destination.
When it’s time for a pint …
If it’s summer, then we’ll go to The Barley Mow in Tilford. It’s a quintessentially English pub overlooking the village’s picturesque cricket green, with a garden that backs on to the River Wey, and is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Momi’s Pizzas, part of the pub’s food offering, is fantastic too. There isn’t anything better than whiling away the hours on a weekend watching the cricket with a pint in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other. In winter, it’s The Bat and Ball – a freehouse in Wrecclesham. It’s a rustic pub with a great outdoor space. Luckily for me, Sybil, my Fox Terrier, can quite easily make her way there from our house via the country lanes and pathways that criss-cross the area.
The best place to eat out is …
For a recent milestone birthday, we went to Daniele Sicilian in Lower Hale and everyone was really impressed with the food. It’s a lovely independent and traditional Sicilian restaurant that serves nothing but authentic food – and all within an intimate setting. For something less formal, such as if I just want to grab a drink and a snack, I’ll head to GAIL’s on Castle Street; you can’t go wrong, there, not least of all because it’s on Farnham’s landmark street. If you’ve just finished walking the dog around Farnham Park then it’s great to reward yourself with one of their cakes and a coffee.
When it’s time for some fresh air …
One of the most appealing things about Farnham, particularly if you have a family or are an outdoorsy person, is that there’s an abundance of outdoor recreational areas to choose from. From the sandy splendour of Frensham Ponds and the wild and often windswept Hankley Common, to the beauty of Bourne Wood, there’s so much outdoor space on offer in and around Farnham.
If you’re lucky, you may even get to see the filming of the next Hollywood blockbuster in either Bourne Wood or Hankley Common; both are now regular filming locations for some of the recent blockbuster movies and TV series. As an alternative, when the kids were young, we’d often venture to Alice Holt for a nice easy walk and a café visit. These days, now that they’re grown up, my wife and I (and Sybil) tend to go a little more off-piste.
Farnham’s hidden gems are …
The Wine Yard, a lovely little wine bar at the bottom of the Lion and Lamb, is a great place to visit for a nice glass of wine. The atmosphere is really chilled and convivial and it feels grown up, too. A great place to go with friends.
Reel Cinema, which has recently opened in Farnham, provides a nice addition to the town. It has a boutique feel to it and the seats are really comfortable. My wife is a regular visitor and it’s great to not have to be packed into a large multiplex.
Finally, as someone who’s always liked “nice clobber”, John Goodridge Menswear provides a great selection. It was founded in 1927, so has been there for a long time. I don’t always buy something when I visit – I’m a good window shopper – but it’s great to have the option to buy something nice on your doorstep.
Looking for a Farnham estate agent? Contact the Farnham office of Warren Powell-Richards to arrange a no obligation valuation of your property on 01252 715031. Alternatively, find your nearest Warren Powell-Richards office here.
