All you need is a Gatwick transfer. All we need is your flight number

The great thing about catching a flight from Gatwick is that it’s in Surrey. And for anyone who’s never been to Surrey before, prepare to rejoice. Lush green pastures, rolling hills and countless idyllic villages. These are the hallmarks of lovely Surrey. And as we all know, with great countryside, comes great pubs. Owned by a regional family brewer, The Black Horse is one such rural retreat (it’s also pleasingly close to the airport). So they have a great range of beers, some fantastic fresh seasonal food and also a warm and inviting interior that’ll almost make you want to push that flight back a few hours.

Reigate Road, Hookwood, RH6 0HU
blackhorsehookwood.co.uk

Of all the pubs in the nearby village of Horley, Ye Olde Six Bells has to be the most quintessentially British. A sloping, tiled roof, a quaint little garden and all its original features faithfully kept in place. A place abound with rustic charm and pastoral character. To further hammer home the feel, they take great care in the cask ales they serve here as well offering up a strong wine list and some proper, hearty pub grub to keep even the hungriest of punters satisfied. Unsurprisingly it’s a popular choice with both travellers and locals so they do offer online booking. Although it’s not always necessary.

Church Road, Horley, RH6 8AD
www.vintageinn.co.uk/content/vintage-inn/en/restaurants/south-east/yeoldesixbellshorley/

Also in Horley but with perhaps a more energetic feel to it is the Foresters. On the outside, it still retains the look of a more classic pub, but on the inside the owners have made the effort to give it more of a modern feel. This means that while they still serve a range of cask ales, they also offer up some more contemporary choice too. Making it a more lively atmosphere to what you’d expect from most village pubs. Like all pubs around here they also serve food but it’s nothing particularly special, solid pub classics but far from being a gastropub. A good choice if you’re staying in the area overnight and fancy a more lively crowd.

88 Victoria Rd, Horley RH6 7AB
www.foresterhorley.co.uk/

At the top of our list and giving Gatwick a good name is The Mulberry. Situated in the resplendent Langshott Hotel (more on that later) is the 3 AA Rosette awarded restaurant of Executive Chef Phil Dixon. Before we mention the food, we have to mention the surroundings. Elegant, old-world and quite charming, we’ll leave it at that! The Mulberry makes great food using wholesome seasonal ingredients. Quite often using fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in their own grounds. They have an a la carte and even a tasting menu (which is well worth the trip alone). Although it should be noted that they have a bit of a strict door policy (no trainers!) so be careful what you wear.

Langshott Manor Hotel, Ladbroke Rd, Horley RH6 8PB
www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/langshott-manor-luxury-hotel-surrey/restaurants/mulberry.html

To travel from Gatwick is to travel in style it would seem. The Pendleton is not your usual airport restaurant, even if it is a 15min drive away. These folks like to play around with styles, mixing modern processes with classic ingredients. Creating what can only be described as something akin to Mediterranean cooking. They source a lot of their ingredients from Covent Garden and Smithfield Markets in London to ensure the highest quality dishes, and their extensive wine list is made up of reliable, independent producers who care about what they’re doing. On top of all that they’ve got a great little garden and don’t mind putting together the odd cocktail either.

26 Pendleton Rd, Redhill RH1 6QF
www.thependleton.co.uk/

We keep banging on about how many great places there are to eat and drink around Gatwick Airport but until now we’ve only been dealing in personal favourites. Tristan, on the other hand is the unanimous favourite. A full half an hour taxi journey away from the airport is this stunning 16th century restaurant. The food takes classic dishes and puts a modern twist on each. Using often surprising flavours in combination with one another to create food so sublime it earned them a Michelin star. For anyone worried it’s going to be a bit fusty, the interior is as unfussy and relaxed as the people who work here. Culinary bliss.

Stans Way, East St, Horsham RH12 1HU
www.restauranttristan.co.uk/

We mentioned the Langshott earlier for its rather excellent restaurant, The Mulberry. But what we didn’t go into was quite how lovely the actual hotel is. A four-star hotel in every sense of the word, this 16th century building is as inviting on the inside as it is on the out. What’s really great about it is the way that, rather than resting on its already considerable laurels, they’ve chosen to tastefully update the interior with splashes of modernity. All without ever compromising on the building’s beautiful aesthetic. Located a stone’s throw away from gatwick, this is the ideal place to decompress after a long flight or even just to stay before one. Rooms start at £100 p/n.

Ladbroke Rd, Horley RH6 8PB

For an altogether more modern (and slightly less costly) choice, check out the Sandman Signature. Every room comes with wifi, air-conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and a flatscreen TV. There’s a gym for those of you who like to keep fit and a swimming pool to relax in after a long flight. They also have an in-house bar and a restaurant. Both of which serve a range of food at amenable hours. It may lack a little in character but it does so with a quiet and stoic efficiency and it’s a far cry from the anodyne feel of some airport hotels. Prices start at around £69 p/n.

18-23 Tinsley Lane South, Three Bridges, Crawley, RH10 8XH

For some people Bed and Breakfasts are a last option. The place to go when all the hotels are booked. Places like Copper Beech House are out to emphatically prove those people wrong. A luxury B&B operated by a charming couple who come with 20 years experience in both 4 & 5 star Hotels across the globe, this place is a real pleasure to stay in. Every bright and well decorated room comes complete with Wi-Fi, a TV as well as the mandatory coffee and tea making facilities. Continental breakfast is included and is served in their rather lovely dining room. See, who needs hotels? Prices start at around £75 p/n.

58 Horsham Rd, Crawley RH11 8PA