RESTAURANT REVIEW
THE WATERMILL F
ollowing a huge transformation - inside and out - the newly renovated Watermill opened on November 30th with an upmarket, gastro pub feel to critical acclaim. The interior makeover consisted of relocating and vastly expanding the corner bar intro the centre of the premises, an open fire, luxurious bar and living room-style seating plus at the back a plush restaurant with grand chandeliers, booths and seating areas with a vast 310 capacity; including its 3 x exterior dining areas. The outside of The Watermill, in case you haven’t noticed, is a bright, eye-catching pink which really makes this restaurant stand out. Taking over the huge listed premises on Reigate Road was a big move. Not only is the building huge but it has the capability to be a boutique hotel with upstairs guest bedrooms that are ready to be transformed for Spring 2022, our insiders tell us. The premises are famous for being the old Lido back in the 1960’s and have the most stunning views over Box Hill. The Watermill has stayed true to their heritage by choosing a pink painted building (as was the Lido back in the sixties) and a huge picture adorns the wall on the upper-level showcasing this.
OUR EXPERIENCE We arrived for a Friday lunch and the restaurant was packed. There was a great fun, Friday vibe with a mixture of ladies lunching, guys who came straight off the golf course (the clubs sat next to them were a giveaway!) as well as couples and families. We sat in the main restaurant with beautiful views over Box Hill. Our waitress Libby was fantastic explaining the new menu and
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the Watermill ‘Stix’ starters that offer a tapas style sharing platter instead of a traditional starter. We heard the cocktails were impressive so ordered a Passion Fruit Martini and a French Martini. Both were beautifully presented in decadent crystal glasses and tasted superb.
