Award winning operators to relaunch The Golden Grove Chertsey following a a major upgrade

Much loved by cyclists, walkers and families, and a one-time favourite haunt of Keith Moon from The Who, The Golden Grove on Ruxbury Rd, Chertsey is to close at the end of service on 1st May for 8-10 weeks for a major £500,000 refurbishment.  It will reopen mid-July in time for the much-anticipated hot summer.

The investment by Great British Pub Award winners1 Steve Orme and James Thomson and Star Pubs & Bars, Heineken’s pub business2, will create 10 new jobs and see the stunning country pub taken to a whole new level, further broadening its appeal.

Sympathetic changes to the interior of the historic pub will include creating a new main entrance and relocating the bar, increasing covers from 69 to 119.  A snug-cum-games space for grown-ups with shuffle board and augmented reality darts is also being created.

Outside, The Golden Grove’s incredible one acre garden with its own woodland and kids playground with climbing frame, all add to the family friendly appeal of The Golden Grove.

A specialist smokery – one of only two in Europe – is also being installed outside the pub allowing the pub to smoke meats and fish, along with a pizza oven.  The new additions will be extensions to The Golden Grove’s menu of homemade dishes that use seasonal fresh produce, sourced locally where possible. Everything from daily baked bread through to ice cream is freshly made from scratch.

Steve and James took over The Golden Grove in 2019 and having traded it in its current guise have been able to create a vision for the pub which they are now able to realise.

Says Steve:  “We took on the pub six months before the first lockdown and did what we could to improve its look and feel.  We have since built a loyal customer base and now want to give locals what they need, want and deserve. 

“The Golden Grove is in a fantastic location, nestled at the bottom of St Ann’s Hill nature reserve.  As well as being a beautiful building, it has the finest pub garden in Surrey.  Unfortunately the layout isn’t conducive to running a modern relaxed hospitality business. The changes will create a fantastic pub for all seasons and allow us to take the service to a new level.  We can’t wait to open the doors in mid-July in time for a wonderful summer.”

Says Star Pubs & Bars Business Development Manager, Greg Sergeant: “Steve and James took on a pub which had had a poor reputation and completely turned it around.  They already had the award-winning Red Lion in Shepperton, and transferred their high standards, great food and superb service to The Golden Grove.  They are always coming up with fantastic ideas and delivering on them.  It’s a pleasure to be investing with them to create a stand-out destination pub in a county that is renowned for its excellent pubs.”