The March Hare, A Heartwood Inn — Restaurant in Guildford

Once upon a time, Guildford on Sunday, used to be like a ghost town, thanks to the major chains those problems have been long forgotten, and every one could now enjoys and have a greater choice available 7 days on 7. One of the places, that I just visited last Sunday is the March Hare, part of a White Brasserie (18 pub so far, from their website) which since 2015, has taken the space that, many years ago, used to be "Il Cambio" which under different management, occupied the building for long time, until one day closing, and following a long pause, and extended refurbishment, the March Hare finally entered the competition in Guildford. 2 course for 20 pounds or 3 for 25, is a good option for the Sunday lunch considering the quality of the product and the cooking, I had the melted cheese (St. Marcellin) with the toasted bread, similar to a brie, so quite rich in taste and calories as well, but once in a while it's ok, and is a starter portion, not a massive wheel of cheese, maybe next time I will have it just warmed instead, this one was a bit too liquid. To follow, was one of the roast of the day, a nice serving of 1/2 roast chicken with all the trimmings, I was tempted to order a few more sides, but thankfully I didn't, my plate was quite full already. The place was busy and buzzing with customers enjoying their lunch with the company of friends and families, everyone smiling around, everyone safe in their own bubble(thank you Covid-19) , with the dividers, between the different tables and sections, the kitchen sending plates and plates of food in very organised manner. I finally had the feeling, that this place found the right way to go, and the warmth that had been missing all those years, yes was a beautiful restaurant, very modern, lovely design but very cold, in my opinion. March Hare is a really nice warm place, and the food is very...

A disappointing experience.

I had heard good things of this eatery, especially to do with the pie. The interior is very well presented with a warm, clean, modern interior.

Staff were friendly and seated us promptly, also immediately asking if we wanted water for the table.

Whilst looking at the menu, we noticed that there was a promotional offer whereby if you signed up, you get 25% off your bill. My friend decided to do so, we asked the staff for more time to place our food order as we were signing up for the 25% offer to which they were fine with.

I ordered the Sirloin steak which at £28 would be around the same price as the Rump (£20). I was asked how I’d like this cooked and was offered a selection of sauces for it - I opted for Medium and peppercorn.

Here begins the disappointment.

The steak was not cooked well, with it being well done throughout most and the centre of the steak being medium-well at best. I appreciate The March Hare are not a steakhouse and therefore I’m not expecting perfection from steak. The peppercorn sauce was lacking flavour - it tasted milky and like it had been mixed out of a Schwartz sauce packet powder, to put it plainly: avoid this sauce.

My disappointment was held off by the fact that ‘at least this is only a ~£20 meal and not a £30+.

This lasted a few moments as we were then informed when the bill arrived that the 25% off is not valid on Saturdays..

I therefore ended up paying full price for a sub-standard steak.

My frustration lies with the server who, when we asked for more time to get the 25% off code when ordering food said nothing about the offer not being valid on weekends, but instead left us to carry on. Which is a shame as they were friendly and helpful besides that (we had 3 different servers).

In summary: Food - 4/10 Staff -...

I've been eyeing The March Hare every time I visited Guildford Castle. I live near the town centre, so I do that a lot. I finally gave it a try when my Australian friend came to visit me. She wanted the experience of a proper British pub lunch, and honestly, this place delivered.

The moment we walked in, the warm, cosy vibe was the first thing that hit us. It’s the kind of spot that makes you feel right at home and ready to settle in for a nice, leisurely meal. But the real standout? The staff. They were just so friendly and welcoming—it made the experience even better.

At first, I ordered the French onion soup, not realising it had a bit of alcohol in it. I took my first spoonful and felt something was off, so I asked the staff about it when they came by to check on us. They immediately double-checked with the chef and confirmed it for me. What impressed me was how quickly they offered to replace the dish with something else, which they did—it felt like they genuinely cared.

The food overall was delicious and hit the mark for that British pub experience my Aussie friend was looking for. She ordered the duck, which she absolutely loved. The menu had a good mix of classic pub dishes and some fancier choices, so there’s something for everyone.

One thing to keep in mind: if you’re someone who doesn’t drink, it’s worth asking about alcohol in the dishes, as it’s not always clear from the menu.

All in all, The March Hare offers two floors for a memorable dining experience is a fantastic spot for a relaxed lunch or dinner. With its cosy atmosphere—especially during warm weather if you’re sitting in the conservatory with its open doors looking out onto the castle—the lovely staff, and great food, it’s definitely...