I don`t know if anyone knows the history of why the area is called St Margarets?…read moreWell once this was a convent facility, and there now is a Catholic Church on the site at the top of the hill, opposite where the old one where the nuns lived. I suspect however you will not need to go into "retreat" to book into this Inn. I have heard a rumour there was a retired couple whom stayed there weeks and maybe years,instead of their home, which they had sold? I suppose you could say they got into the habit!

Clean. Friendly. Spacious rooms, well accessible location. Walking distance to Epsom center or…read moreEpsom general hospital. Not more. Not less. No reason to come here but no reason to avoid either.

Although I work and studied in this general part of Surrey, I had never been to the Woodlands Park…read moreHotel until I attended a friend's wedding there earlier this month She had visited the hotel last December with her heart set on a summer wedding but when she walked into the reception and saw their giant Christmas tree, she fell in love with it and the venue and so was born her winter wedding on the proviso that the tree was up for the wedding The hotel has a stately feel to it from the moment you drive in. This feel is continued when you walk into the airy reception with a warm crackling fireplace and people having traditional afternoon tea (which looked scrummy) on the comfy sofas. Of course, the famous Christmas tree was there and it was huge and magnificent The wedding ceremony took place in a private room overlooking the grounds, which was lovely However, it was the wedding dinner, which confirmed their 5 star status in my book. The staff were all brilliant, seamlessly serving the food and drink and making my friend's wedding really flow smoothly. Top notch and with smiles to boot There's also a top kitchen, which served some top quality food, which was impressive for self catering. The lamb shank main course was presented with the large bone in and the bones had had all been cleaned perfectly. The mashed potato had been piped - these little touches elevated the food to special status The hotel were also generous in giving my friend a larger room for the evening reception for free because they had capacity. Classy. I was most impressed indeed and I hope more of my friends will get married here!

The Oak Room will always hold a special place in my heart, for it was following a wonderful dinner…read morehere that my now husband proposed to me. Notwithstanding that connection, however, I would hae absoultely no hesitation recommending the Oak Room Restaurant for a dinner a deux or family celebration. Situated in the 4* Woodlands Park Hotel the Oak Room Restaurant offers fine dining in traditional yet unpretentious surroundings. The dark oak pannelling that gives the restaurant its name creates a wonderful feeling that is both intimate and yet relaxed at the same time. Large leaded windows allow wonderful views of the grounds and let in a gentle light that literally makes the room glow. The menu varies according to when you visit although it's based losely around a modern European theme with leanings towards British-ness! The signature Chateau Briande is amazing and is testament to the traditional slant of the restaurant but then dishes such as Honey and Sea Salt Honey Glazed Duck Supreme Butternut Squash and Cinnamon Risotto add an adventurous suprise. Presentation of the food is always immaculate and portion sizes are good for an establishment of this type. Don't expect huge platefuls but neither will you be disappointed by tiny nouvelle cuisine-style portions. Staff are attentive and discrete and will ensure that you have an excellent evening. Their knowledge of the menu is always very good. Personally I've found the sommelier's recommendations to be a little on the pricy side and not always according to my preferences, however this is a minor niggle. I've never been served a duff bottle of wine! Dining a la carte will see a bill of around £50 per head. There are only around 30 tables here (well-spaced) and so it is advisable to book for traditionally popular periods (Easter, Christmas, Valentines etc). Many restaurants could learn from this excellent offering.

It's strange but like a lot of the local Epsom residents, it rarely crosses my mind to think of the…read moreChalk Lane Hotel as a fine dining venue. Perhaps, it's the fact that it's tucked away up a small lane a little way out of town. This lack of local recognition was confirmed on the night that a friend and I dined there. The restaurant was full of business travellers staying at the hotel eating alone and we were the only diners from outside the hotel. That's a shame as the restaurant does aim to deliver a fine dining experience and the food lives up to that standard, both in presentation and flavour of the dishes. There is a tasting menu available but we stuck to the a la carte as there were several dishes we wanted to try from there. Honey glazed octopus and squid with watermelon and Feta sound like an unlikely combination but the sweet and salty flavours and the contrasting texture actually was fantastic, aided by a sharp balsamic vinegar dressing. I followed with a fantastic cut of full flavoured beef accompanied by some roasted bone marrow. A long fork was provided to pick out the rich bone marrow. The beef was of the highest quality. An apricot souffle was exemplary in lightness, height and fruit flavour, which was accented by apricot compote and sorbet. So, if you live in the area and are looking for a fine dining restaurant for a special occasion, I can recommend the Chalk Lane Hotel.

I must update this as my business fellowship once used this hotel as their start up meetings. It is…read morenot easy to access since that day; not their fault, but traffic restrictions, so as not to lend Chalk Lane into a rat run to avoid the High Street jams. The only access now is via Avenue Road and a narrow Worple Road ,over speed bumps, then turn left.

Having not made use of this establishment's swimming pool or other amenities I feel unable to give…read moreit more than 3 stars although that in itself shouldn't be seen as a negative. My room was very well appointed with a larger than average number and variety of teabags, pleasant view and good sized bathroom. Radio reception on the tv was a bit ropey though and the pillows were rather floppy. Service was generally very good but like most hotels the bar prices made capital out of having a captive audience and whilst the breakfast was good (excellent poached eggs in fact) you'd be hard pressed to get £16.50 worth of value out of it if you walked in off the street for a feed.