The Clock House Restaurant

Famed as “the best restaurant in Surrey by miles”, The Clock House in Ripley occupies an imposing Georgian building that has been jazzed up with contemporary flounce and clean, modern lines. The dining room’s classic, yet contemporary look is unchanged, while the food revolves around a choice of menus and high-end combos that are all focused intensely on flavour.  

Simple and sometimes unusual ingredients (but largely British and locally sourced) are united to create something magical, delivered with bags of technique and innovation. Think Norfolk quail with fennel and ‘black curry’, Isle of Wight tomatoes, smoked eel and nasturtium, or lamb with aubergine, shiso and ewe’s curd. It clearly works as one diner said: “Excellent Modern British cuisine in a friendly and relaxed dining room with a great value set lunch”. The lunch also showcases more traditional dishes such as hanger steak with beetroot and roscoff onion and desserts of the lieks of strawberry, clotted cream and elderflower.

Other fans say The Clock House is “consistently entertaining” and “outstanding in every respect”, with “just fabulous” service and some “dangerously generous” wine pairings. Speaking of wine, the list has been created with care and shares the same philosophy and passion as the food. Expect classics as well as some exciting serves from smaller artisanal winemakers.

On top of that, one visitor said the restaurant was “very accommodating for allergies and had fantastic food”. Still not convinced? A trip to the Lounge Bar beforehand for an aperitif (or after for a night cap) should do the trick. So will sitting outside in the garden on warmer months do: with outdoor terrace heaters in place, it means to can enjoy the area long into the summer evening. 

The Clock House in Ripley is permanently closed.

Found in Ripley, Surrey, The Clock House is a fine dining restaurant which puts simple cooking, fantastically fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation above all else. The intimate space is decked out in a neutral colours for a calming, elegant feel and the atmosphere is relaxed; the team are dedicated to creating a laid-back, friendly feel. 

The Clock House is owned by Serina Drake and the kitchen helmed by Head Chef Luke Spier, who together have been awarded not only three AA Rosettes, but a Michellin Star, too. The menu's concept is all about flavour, with Spier striving for clarity and happy to use the best seasonal produce in order to obtain in. While much of the ingredient list comes from local growers and farmers, the team also source across the UK to find what they deem the best of the best. 

Lunch, dinner and tasting menus are available, and while all change regularly depending on the produce available, the website keeps up to date. For an idea of what you might expect across one of the tasting menus, for example, there might be the likes of rock oyster with pickled rhubarb, whey and perilla to begin, followed by Lyme Bay mussels with fermented spelt, ramson and coastal herbs. 

The seafood theme continues with line caught halibut, razor clam, chamomile and heritage carrot, alongside Fallow deer with celeriac, wild juniper and smoked chestnut. Instead of a typically sweet dessert, Winslade cheese is paired with sour cherries, hazelnut and meadowsweet.  Vegetarians are also very much catered for and some of the dishes across the plant-based tasting menu include garden peas with fermented spelt, ramson and coastal herbs, as well as sand carrot with sunflower, watercress and pickled tapioca. The wine list also takes its cue from local producers, favouring smaller vineyards and English bottles.