The Chronicle - Edition 08 - SUmmer 2026

I’m free - take me home with you!

The Chronicle

S ummer starts here

Whether you have a morning or an afternoon free (or the whole day), we've got you covered.

R

oom packages

Groove & S nooze, S oufflé

A way or S nug as a Bug?

Take a look at our incredible packages and treat yourself!

G arden gatherings

A sun-soaked ode to the kind of garden that turns a quick spritz into an unhurried summer afternoon.

A taste of summer

Enjoy our sun-soaked summer menu of fresh, seasonal flavours made for long, easy afternoons.

Summer starts here

If you have a morning…

There’s a particular kind of light that only exists in summer mornings at Heartwood.

It slips through curtains and settles on bedspreads. It turns tabletops into gold. Somewhere below, a coffee machine starts its quiet work, cups clink, doors swing open, and the day begins to hum.

At The Ropemaker in Emsworth, mornings feel especially unhurried. The harbour is just beyond the door, salt in the air, boats shifting gently with the tide as the town wakes slowly around them.

For those who like their mornings with a sense of direction, there are boots to be laced and paths to follow.

The Oyster Trail winds through Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where water meets reed beds and wildlife moves in and out of sight without much fuss. If you’re lucky, you might spot a seal breaking the surface. If you’re very lucky, you’ll catch one watching you back.

And then there’s the rather wonderful option of stepping aboard a restored oyster boat. It’s exactly as peaceful as it sounds.

Favourite local walks from Emsworth:

Emsworth Harbour to Langstone Bridge

An easy, satisfying 8km wander (around 1.5–2 hours) through Nore Barn Wood, past the atmospheric ruins of Warblington Castle, and on towards Langstone Mill. It ends, conveniently, at a pub. As all good walks should.

Emsworth Circular

A gentler loop of around 2.9km, taking in Slipper Mill Pond and a scattering of waterside views. Expect ducks, slow steps and frequent pauses you didn’t plan.

If you have an evening…

Evenings ask for something softer.

At The White Horse in Dorking, dinner might begin after a wander through the vineyards of Denbies or a visit to Silent Pool, both close enough to feel like an extension of the day rather than a separate plan.

Inside, the kitchen leans into summer: bright plates, lighter moments, food that feels designed for long conversations and another glass of something chilled.

The menu, as with all Heartwood menus, carries the quiet influence of Chef Patron Raymond Blanc, seasonal, generous, never overcomplicated.

After dinner, there’s often a decision to make. Stay for one more? Or take dessert outside?

An I rish coffee travels well. Especially if it’s headed towards Box Hill, where the light seems to pause just before it disappears. Sunset gathers over the landscape, slow and unshowy, like it knows you’ll notice eventually.

Back at the pub, there are rooms waiting, some with freestanding tubs, all with beds that seem to swallow the world whole.

A soak. A last drink. The kind of sleep that arrives before you’ve finished thinking about it.

And then morning again.

If you have an afternoon…

Afternoons at Heartwood have a way of dissolving into themselves.

One moment it’s lunch, the next it’s sunlight through glass, a second drink you didn’t quite mean to order, and the gentle decision to stay a little longer.

From 5–7pm, Sunday to Friday, summer settles into Happy Hour , a window for spritzes, easy pours and the kind of conversations that don’t need a watch. On Thursdays, it stretches just a little further, until 8pm. Time behaves differently in gardens.

At The Ragged Robin in Godalming, afternoons belong to the river. The garden sits right on the edge of the glorious River Wey.

Boats drift past on the towpath. Swans make their slow circuit as if they own the place.

Order something cold. Share something delicious. The charcuterie boards arrive as if they’ve always been part of the table.

When the mood takes you, wander into town, follow the towpath, or hire a rowing boat and see how far you get before someone suggests turning back.

No need to rush.

R ight

Our 'Really Fancy' room at The Ropemaker, Emsworth

Our room packages...

Groove & S nooze

For those who believe "just one more" is a perfectly reasonable plan.

Friday nights have a habit of getting away from you. One song becomes another. Happy Hour stretches into dinner. Dinner becomes dancing. Before you know it, someone is calling for an encore.

That's exactly how weekends should begin.

With Groove & Snooze , there's no watch-checking or train-timetable panic. Simply wander upstairs when the music finally fades and sink into a bed that feels every bit as welcoming as the pub below.

Wake slowly. Order a proper breakfast. Swap stories over coffee. Some nights deserve a full stop, not a taxi home.

Please note this is not available from 25th Nov-14th Jan.

Souf f lé Away

A little escape, served with a soufflé.

There are weekends made for plans, and weekends made for wandering.

The sort where breakfast rolls into a country walk. A market town appears around the next corner. Lunch somehow lasts all afternoon. The garden catches the evening sun and another glass seems like a sensible idea.

That's the spirit of Soufflé Away

Stay for two nights in one of our pubs with rooms, spend your days exactly as you please, then return for supper, where a little indulgence awaits. Choose our gloriously light Twice-Baked Cheese Soufflé or finish with the cloud-like Pistachio Soufflé , both inspired by our Chef Patron, Raymond Blanc.

No itinerary required. Just an overnight bag and a healthy appetite. Wherever summer takes you, we'll save you a table.

Find the rest of our packages here… S nug as a B ug...

The little things become the big things.

Bunk beds. Bedtime stories. Muddy boots lined up by the door. Pancakes at breakfast and another lap around the garden before heading home.

The best family trips aren't always the biggest adventures, they're simply the ones where everyone has time together.

Our Snug as a Bug package was dreamed up with exactly that in mind. Children eat and stay free, while grown-ups enjoy all the comforts of a proper countryside stay.

At The Potter's Heron , interconnected bunk rooms make sleepovers feel even more exciting, while every child receives a Scamp & Dude Superhero Sleep Buddy to cuddle up with during their stay, and take home afterwards.

A little keepsake, a little comfort, and memories that last rather longer than the journey home.

Garden gatherings

Follow the sunshine.

Some gardens are made for a quick drink before heading home. Others have a habit of keeping you all afternoon.

The first spritz arrives. Someone orders a few nibbles. Lunch appears almost by accident. Before you know it, the sun has shifted across the table, the ice has melted in your glass, and you're wondering whether anyone really needs to leave just yet.

We've always believed the best gardens have a personality of their own. Here are four we'd happily while away a summer's day in.

The Plough & Harrow, Long Ditton

If summer had an unofficial headquarters, it might just be here.

The garden is made for families who like to settle in rather than stop by. Children disappear happily towards the playground while grown-ups claim a shady table, order something chilled from the outdoor bar and finally finish a conversation without interruption.

Flower-covered arches frame the garden, colourful parasols dance gently overhead and, tucked among the greenery, you'll find our glasshouse, a wonderfully cosy hideaway with room for up to 20 guests.

Perfect for birthdays, long lunches, family gatherings or simply pretending someone else is hosting.

The Rising Sun, Reading

There are gardens, and then there are gardens that feel like a village fête decided to stay all summer.

The Rising Sun is generous in every sense. A wide open space with statement trees and winding borders which create little pockets for lingering, while strings of festoon lights quietly wait for dusk to arrive.

At the centre sits a Shepherd's Hut bar, equal parts charming and convenient, keeping glasses topped up while conversations drift lazily into the evening.

If you're looking for somewhere that effortlessly says, "Let's meet outside," you've found it.

The George & Dragon, Marlow

Summer in Marlow has its own rhythm.

A stroll along the High Street. A wander beside the Thames. Perhaps a browse through independent shops before finding a table in the sunshine and deciding the rest of the afternoon can wait.

The George & Dragon couldn't be better placed for exactly that. Choose between the lively front terrace or a quieter garden tucked around the side of the pub, where climbing greenery and comfortable corners make it wonderfully easy to lose track of time.

Whether you're stopping after a walk in the Chilterns or settling in for an evening of seasonal dishes and something cold to drink, there's always a table catching the last of the day's sunshine. And if there isn't… give it five minutes.

The Britannia, Parkstone

Some gardens sparkle.

The Britannia positively glows.

Its colourful terrace was made for sunny afternoons, where spritzes appear almost as quickly as the conversation starts. At its heart, an open-air fireplace clad in beautiful Bert & May tiles anchors the space, giving even cooler evenings an excuse to stay outdoors a little longer.

Venture a little further and you'll discover tucked-away booths with heaters and plenty of privacy, the sort of corners that seem designed for lingering over another bottle, another dessert or one final story before home.

There's no rush here.

A taste of summer

The season served best.

Summer has a way of changing how we eat. Dishes get lighter. Colours get brighter. Lunch stretches a little further than first planned. Somewhere between the first glass and the last mouthful, time loosens its grip entirely.

In our kitchens, that feeling has found its way onto the menu.

There’s a plate of Lemon Ricotta & Pine Nut Ravioli, folded and delicate, sitting somewhere between sunshine and shade. It arrives with ratatouille, romesco and pickled peppers, bright, slightly mischievous, full of contrast. The sort of dish that disappears faster than you expect.

Further along the table, something deeper simmers.

Apricot & Harissa-Spiced Chicken Tagine carries sweet heat and slow comfort in equal measure. Pistachio and almond couscous sits alongside baby courgettes and olives, as if it’s been waiting for a long afternoon and nowhere else to be.

Then there are the scallops.

Provençale-Crusted Devon Scallops, seared and simple, paired with datterino tomato fondue, grilled courgette and new potatoes. A reminder that when the produce is good enough, not much needs saying at all.

And when the plates have cleared, summer doesn’t quite release you yet.

A dessert arrives that feels more like a memory than a course, strawberries layered in every possible form, soft and sharp and melting into each other, with melon and ice cream folding in at the edges. It’s the kind of pudding that makes conversation pause for a moment.

Midday, marked gently

Somewhere between lunch and evening, there’s a quieter rhythm.

Our Seasonal Set Menu sits lightly on the day, marked by a small on the page. Two or three courses, chosen without urgency, shared without ceremony.

A chickpea and tomato salad might arrive first, smoked aubergine, pomegranate, olive oil catching the light. Or perhaps slowcooked pork, soft and rich, with cabbage and potatoes keeping it grounded.

Nothing hurried. Nothing overthought.

Just food that feels like it belongs to the season.

When afternoon slips into evening

As the day stretches out, gardens begin to fill. Glasses catch the last of the light.

Conversations drift. Somewhere between 5 and 7pm, Happy Hour quietly appears, spritzes, cold pours, and the small pleasure of ordering “just one more” because the evening still feels young.

On Thursdays, it lingers a little longer until 8pm.

Three stars with Heart

This season also brings the fantastic news that we’ve once again been awarded a Three-Star Food Made Good Rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, the highest possible recognition.

It speaks less to a single moment, and more to a way of doing things: ingredients chosen with care, suppliers known by name, waste reduced where possible, and teams supported to do what they do best.

It’s an ongoing commitment rather than a finish line. The kind that sits behind the scenes, quietly shaping everything on the plate.

S can to discover our menus

Our Inns Our Pubs with Rooms

W in a stay!

Spotted somewhere you'd like to wake up?

Scan the QR code to join our rooms mailing list for the chance to win an overnight stay at any of our pubs with rooms *. We'll keep you up to date with new openings, seasonal escapes and the occasional excuse to pack a bag.

*Visit heartwoodinns.com/terms for more information

A fresh coat...

Sometimes all an old favourite needs is a little polish.

While we're busy opening new doors, we're also giving some familiar favourites a well-earned spruce.

Over the past year, our designers have been quietly working their magic across five of our pubs, refreshing everything from dining rooms to gardens with the thoughtful touches that make a place feel instantly welcoming.

Expect squishier sofas, softer fabrics, fresh colour palettes and gardens that positively insist on another drink in the sunshine. Inside, fireplaces are ready for cooler evenings, while every nook has been considered, refreshed and given a little extra love.

The Black Horse in Reigate now wears a handsome new sign, complete with a more distinguished figurehead to mark the pub's next chapter.

Meanwhile, the gentleman at The Jobber's Rest in Upminster has acquired a touch more character around the eyes, we like to think he's simply collected a few good stories over the years.

You may not notice every new detail, but you'll certainly notice how it feels.

Because the best pubs don't stand still. They evolve gently, gathering stories, welcoming familiar faces and always finding new ways to feel like home.

Across Down

2. It may be pulled across a sunny window (6)

6. Small bridge over a stream (10)

8. A shaded garden seat, often covered with climbing plants (6)

12. Classic pub game with wooden pins (8)

14. A slow boat’s home beside the bank (7)

16. Fragrant herb brushed on a garden path (8)

17. Light rain that freshens the lawn (7)

18. Afternoon ritual with cups and cake (3)

20. Where apples promise autumn, even in July (7)

23. Old lane bordered by hedgerows (5)

24. Footpath marker across fields (5)

25. A village noticeboard favourite (4)

26. A seat for watching the world go by (5)

27. Summer sound from long grass at dusk (7)

28. Pale bird seen skimming the river (4)

Crossword

Fancy a challenge?

Put your knowledge to the test with our Heartwood crossword! Simply complete the puzzle, then crack the code by copying the letters from the shaded squares to reveal this edition’s hidden answer.

Scan the QR code below and enter your answer for a chance to win a £100 Heartwood gift card!

1. Gentle competition on a flat green (5)

3. Scottish word for twilight, often heard in poetry (8)

4. Puzzle enjoyed with a sharpened pencil (9)

5. The strongest part of a tree, at its centre (9)

7. Village meeting place, often with cricket nearby (5)

8. A drink taken before supper to sharpen the appetite (8)

9. Garden walkway or frame where roses may climb (7)

10. Flower often trained round a cottage door (8)

11. Riverside path once used by horses (7)

13. Summer visitor with a forked tail (7)

15. Gentle tune from a brass band afternoon (6)

19. A cheerful chat over the garden wall (6)

21. Old-fashioned garden game with hoops (7)

22. A country walk without too much purpose (6)

24. A cool place beneath old branches (5)