Reigate's pubs do different jobs. One is built for a walk and a long lunch, another is a narrow real-ale local with no kitchen, and one is the big, busy place for a match. Here is what each is good for.
For walkers, dogs and Sunday lunch
The Skimmington Castle, Reigate Heath
On Bonny's Road, on a hillside overlooking Reigate Heath and the golf course, the Skimmington Castle is the one to pick after a walk. CAMRA says it began as a farm about 400 years ago and became a pub in 1825. It has four dining areas and welcomes walkers, dogs, cyclists and children, according to National Trails.
Order the fish pie, which Tripadvisor calls famous, or a traditional Sunday roast. The Beechcroft local guide also mentions whitebait and nachos. CAMRA says it usually has three ales, including Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter and Surrey Hills Shere Drop, and gives its cellar a Cask Marque rating of 5 out of 5.
One caution: CAMRA says it is more like a restaurant than a pub, especially at weekends, so drinkers may find tables taken by diners. Book if you want to eat, and check opening hours before you set off, as listings differ slightly. CAMRA's entry has the details.
For a freshly refurbished town pub
The Black Horse, West Street
Surrey Live reported that the Black Horse on West Street closed on 2 March and reopened on 3 June 2026 after a three-month refurbishment, part of a £1.5m Heartwood Inns investment. The work brought refreshed interiors, a large extension and a new garden with a pergola. Dogs are welcome in the bar and garden, with free water and treats.
It is open 12 to 11pm Monday to Friday, 11:30am to 11pm on Saturday and 11:30am to 10pm on Sunday, according to Surrey Live. It suits anyone who wants a garden close to the centre.
For countryside views
The Pheasant at Buckland, Reigate Road, Buckland
Strictly it is in Buckland, near Betchworth, rather than Reigate, but the Brunning & Price pub describes itself as a country pub a stone's throw from the town centre. There are gardens and a terrace overlooking countryside, an outside fire, local ales, wines and a large gin collection. Inside are a garden room and a bar with open fires. Its listing says it is gluten-free accredited through Coeliac UK. See the pub's own site.
For a proper real-ale local
The Bell, 21 Bell Street
Small and friendly, the Bell is in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide and is reputedly one of the oldest pubs in Reigate, though little of the old building remains. The frontage is tiny, the inside long and narrow, with a patio garden at the back. It serves no food, though Tripadvisor says you may bring your own. Beers rotate; one reviewer found Surrey Hills Gilt Trip and Black Sheep Best Bitter on. It is about 0.4 miles from Reigate station, so it works well for a pint on the way home. Check current hours first.
For a big pub with sport
The Market Stores, 2 High Street
CAMRA calls it the largest pub in Reigate, with a downstairs bar and an upstairs bistro. Fuller's bought it in February 2012 and it reopened that September under its current name. Tripadvisor's menu mentions chicken wings and a nachos-style dish. Tripadvisor ranks it first of three bars and pubs in Reigate. It suits a group, a match or a lively evening. More on CAMRA.
For live music and a courtyard
The Red Cross Inn, 96 High Street
At the end of the High Street, the Red Cross Inn is described by Tripadvisor as a 17th-century Grade II listed pub. CAMRA mentions beams and an inglenook fireplace, and two changing cask ales. Stonegate reopened it in February 2024 after a £200,000 refurbishment. It has live music on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm, three large HD screens and a lit courtyard garden. It suits a mixed-age crowd and a night out rather than a quiet lunch.
