As you might imagine, we here at Jacaranda set the bar pretty high when dining elsewhere. It’s not that we’re picky or fussy, we just have a finer appreciation for quality and comfort, preferring amazing, innovative food served in relaxing, welcoming surroundings.
It was with great joy, therefore, that we discovered our local pub, The Duke of Cumberland Arms, has won The Good Food Guide coveted prize of being pub of the year 2012. This beautiful 15th Century boozer is located between Midhurst and Halsmere and is where we like to take clients and suppliers for a spot of lunch when they visit Jacaranda HQ. With the advent of summer comes the need to find a decent beer garden and you’d be hard pushed to find anywhere more tranquil, especially with such fine views across the Surrey countryside to Leith Hill.
Whether you’re looking for a light lunch before an exhausting country ramble or an extensive dinner to celebrate a special occasion, Simon Goodman’s menu will have something to tickle your taste buds. We love that, like us, the team at The Duke emphasise the importance of local, fresh, natural produce and that they have a perfectly complimentary wine list to accompany your meal.
The Good Food Guide sited The Duke as the best pub of the year because, “It’s hard to think of a more perfect country pub: infectiously welcoming, centuries old, in a glorious location and with all the seasons covered, from winter fires to fantastic alfresco opportunities. Drinkers are truly welcome and Simon Goodman’s menu keeps pace with a nifty mix of the traditional and the cosmopolitan. It’s a simple recipe for success, but not many manage to get it so right.”
We couldn’t agree more!