The Bush Hotel, The Borough, Farnham GU9 7NN

I had spent much of the day driving down from the midlands through persistent rain and heavy traffic and was feeling very tired and stressful when I arrived at The Bush Hotel, so I was eagerly looking forward to spending a couple of days at one of the finest luxury hotels & restaurants in the county of Surrey, The Bush at Farnham. As I drove through the beautiful Surrey Hills I started to relax and was looking forward to a glass or two of fine wine, a tasty meal and comfortable room, in which to rest my weary mind & body. I was not going to be disappointed!

Farnham is a market town, with many shops located along the main thoroughfare running through West Street, The Borough and East Street. It is located about 36 miles (58 km) southwest of London, close to the county border with Hampshire. The town is on the north branch of the River Wey, a tributary of the Thames, and is at the western end of the North Downs. Farnham has long been associated with the creative arts and with pottery, greenware pottery, a type of pottery, dating back to 1873 and there are numerous works of public art on display across the town. The town has a significant number of independent retailers, such as Rangers Furnishing Stores (est. 1895), Elphick’s department store (est. 1881) and Pullinger’s (est. 1850). The latter evolved into the Pullinger’s Art Shop chain and is thought to be Farnham’s oldest surviving business.

My wife & I were greeted warmly by the friendly & pleasant reception staff, enquiring about our journey and welcoming us to The Bush. The Grade II-listed, 4-star ivy-clad Bush Hotel is a former 17th century Coaching Inn, on the London to Portsmouth road, situated in the very heart of Farnham’s historic town centre.

The Bush which easily combines its unique History & Heritage with modern hospitality & contemporary design, has been welcoming guests since 1618, including visits from notable figures such as Oliver Cromwell in 1648. Steeped in history, with original features, roaring fires and 95 bedrooms. It is very unusual for a high street hotel to have three acres of its own private gardens. The Bush would originally have had its own bowling greens, croquet and tennis courts, alongside paddocks and stables for thirty horses.

Originally built as a coaching inn, it provided a vital stop for travellers and horses on the busy routes connecting Surrey to neighbouring counties. Its location made it an essential hub for commerce and travel, offering lodgings, stabling, and refreshment for weary travellers during the coaching era. Architecturally, the building retains many period features, including timber-framed interiors, oak beams, and ivy-clad exteriors, giving modern visitors a genuine connection to its centuries-old past. The Bush features original 17th-century timber beams, open fireplaces and uneven floors.

The Bush has 95 stylish bedrooms, a smart Garden Restaurant & outside Terrace, a historic Oak Lounge and traditional Bar, with plenty of character and warmth. An additional bedroom wing was built in 1975 and more rooms added in 2000, at the turn of the new century. The Bush is the perfect location, with direct train links to London, cycling and walking routes to the Surrey Hills, and easy access to Farnborough airport, M3, A3 and A31.

The Oak Lounge is an original part of the hotel with original exposed oak beams. A large number of painted wall frescoes were discovered in 1931, during extensive hotel renovations. They had been whitewashed during the Victorian era, because the naked cherubs had been considered too rude for public absorption, at the time! A painted sun dial on the ceiling of the Oak lounge had previously been discovered 44 years earlier in 1887. Both the frescoes and the sun dial can still be seen by guests today.

Food: Good food and thoughtful hospitality are at the heart of The Bush. My wife and I dined in the bright, elegant setting of the Garden Restaurant, as there was a wedding group in the Oak lounge. The restaurant was bright and airy with plenty of natural light coming into the room. The Garden Terrace provides a wonderful space for alfresco dining and summer drinks out in the early autumn or summer sunshine.

Starters:

Hot smoked salmon & beetroot salad, crisp leaves & horseradish dressing. – artistically presented beetroot. My wife described her starter as a refreshing and light starter. It was just what she wanted.

Shell on Prawns, cooked in chilli, lemon & garlic butter. – I was given a small bowl of water to clean up my fingers after eating the four beautifully cooked, hot chilli prawns. they were absolutely delicious.

Mains:

Half Roasted Corn Fed Chicken, Yorkshire Pudding and a Butternut Squash Puree. – crispy skin, a small pot of rich hot gravy, large Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots. A perfectly cooked chicken with all of the trimmings, the perfect meal for a Sunday!

Seared Duck Breast, Braised Red Cabbage, Potato Rosti with a rich cherry jus. A crisp golden skin and a rich gamey flavour and a little pink flesh. Beautifully cooked, pan seared and oven finished duck breast, accompanied with a rich cherry jus. Simply perfect!

Desserts:

Warm treacle, lemon & ginger tart with soft clotted cream

Salted caramel cheesecake & rich toffee sauce – topped with popcorn

Needless to say, both desserts hit the spot and looked terrific. I am a great believer that we eat with our eyes and the beautiful presentation of all of the dishes, only reinforced that belief. The Award-winning food combined with personal and attentive service helped create a superb dining experience. Our meal was one to remember, not least because of the staff who were all exceptionally welcoming and helpful.

Drinks:

Malbec, Flagtree, Bodegas Del Fin Del Mundo – Patagonia, Argentina

The wine list was extensive, but we soon settled on a bottle of Argentinian Malbec. Deep Red in colour with purple highlights and strong aromas of ripe plums and violets. A very fruity, full-bodied wine with soft tannins, and a long finish on the palate. Winds can be so strong in Patagonia so that trees in exposed areas grow into twisted shapes which locals call flag-trees!

Goose Island Midway IPA – Chicago, Illinois, USA

A light, bold flavour and low alcohol content with an ABV of 4.1%. There were strong vibrant notes of mandarin, melon, and pink grapefruit. Its light malt base, medium-to-low bitterness, and crisp finish make it a good session beer for drinkers.

The 5* Breakfast was worth getting up for too as there was a wide selection of cereal, fresh fruit, various conserves, pain au chocolate, toasts and smoked salmon as well as the traditional full English cooked breakfast or other cooked options.

Breakfast: We enjoyed breakfast in the Garden Restaurant.

The Bush Full English Breakfast: Sausage, back bacon, flat mushroom, roasted tomato, hash brown, baked beans and your choice of fried, scrambled or poached egg

Eggs Royal: Toasted sourdough, smoked salmon, poached eggs & hollandaise. Just as my wife liked it!

Rooms: Privately owned since 2018, the hotel has undergone significant refurbishment to update rooms with contemporary design and modern comforts whilst preserving its unique heritage.

The Garden Rooms: Situated around the peaceful gardens, on the ground floor, each room comes with its own private terrace with access to hotel gardens, a walk-in shower, Nespresso machine, and slippers. These rooms are dog-friendly*, with a dog bed, water bowl, and treats.

The Bush Suite is where my wife and I stayed. Located in the oldest and most characterful part of the hotel, it was a simply stunning bedroom, with plenty of space and three large windows, through which outside light streamed into the room. You can expect plenty of heritage character with all of the modern comforts, you would expect from a top of the range Hotel. The hotels largest and most grand room came complete with elegant décor, air-conditioning and a dressing room. A huge comfortable King-size bed with luxurious linens, an Ensuite bathroom with walk-in shower and bath, Nespresso coffee machine + tea & coffee facilities with biscuits, Mini fridge, Complimentary mineral water, Flat-screen TV, In-room safe, Iron and ironing board, Hairdryer, Luxury toiletries and Slippers. It was a stunning room, with plenty of space. Having a separate walk in wardrobe, which also included the tea and coffee machines, added a touch of exclusivity. The bedroom windows looked out over the hotels own private gardens.

So, what can you expect when you visit The Bush Hotel?

I would not hesitate to recommend The Bush Hotel if you are planning to visit Farnham and/or the Surrey Hills. Why not stop and experience their superb food and hospitality. The overall Bush Hotel experience was extremely enjoyable and satisfying. All of the staff whether on reception, serving at table in the Garden Restaurant or classic Bar presented a smart, professional, and efficient service. The Bush offers excellent overnight accommodation options, superb restaurant meals and excellent table service in a glorious town centre location.

The best of the Surrey Hills can’t be seen in a day so why not stay over in Farnham for a few days and take the time to explore this beautiful county, its historic cities and picturesque villages. The hotel was the perfect base from which to discover the history, culture, and attractions of Surrey and the neighbouring counties of Hampshire and Berkshire.

I would urge you to check out The Bush Hotel at the earliest opportunity. You will not be disappointed!

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of The Bush Hotel. The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.

Did You Know?

The Bush Hotel has long been associated with paranormal activity, making it one of Farnham’s most talked-about haunted locations. Guests and staff have reported encounters with a friendly yet elusive “serving girl” spirit, often seen appearing and vanishing without explanation. In addition, visitors have described cold spots, sudden temperature changes, unexplained noises, and faint whispers, particularly in the older sections of the building. These ghostly tales are said to stem from the hotel’s long history and the many generations of travellers and residents who have passed through its doors. I am glad to say, we saw and heard nothing!