Four Centuries on the Old London Road
The Running Horses dates to the 16th century and served as a coaching house on the main trade route from London to the south coast. Originally “The Chequers,” it was renamed in 1828 after the famous dead-heat finish at the Epsom Derby between Colonel and Cadland. Their names are still remembered in the pub’s two bars. Racehorses were stabled here and trained on the nearby downs. The restaurant occupies converted stables that once housed horses entered for the Derby itself.
The Food and Setting
The kitchen serves a seasonal British menu balancing comforting pub classics with refined grill dishes, accompanied by a sommelier-selected wine list. Sunday roasts are a particular draw. Seven en-suite bedrooms make this an ideal base for exploring Box Hill’s walking trails. The Grade II listed building sits in Mickleham, in the Surrey Hills AONB.
