White Horse, Surrey

Just over 10 miles from Gatwick, and in the middle of the small market town of Dorking, the historic White Horse Hotel has undergone a substantial refurbishment programme, and is due to re-open in November.

Works include a comprehensive remodelling with the 41 bedrooms refurbished and 16 new ones added. There has been a total re-design of the ground-floor restaurant, bar, events and public spaces, and significant transformation of the culinary offering by expanding the property’s dining space, placing a renewed emphasis on local and freshly-prepared produce.

International hotel group Bespoke bought the 18th-century inn on the High Street in January and managing director Graham Marskell, who lives in nearby Bookham, said he hopes to transform the local landmark in time for it to be a "Christmas present for the community".

Marskell, 53, said: "I have lived locally for 30 years and always had an eye on the place and thought it was under-utilised and under-loved over the years and needed reinvigorating to be a 21st-century pub without losing the history.

"It has been a long time in the process, with a lot of planning. It's such a historic venue, we want to get the right message out there and make sure that it will be completely prepared in a countryside style."

www.bespokehotels.com/dorking-white-horse

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