The Reigate knowledge by Emma West

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The Reigate knowledge by Emma West
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• In this series of blogs we give you the
  opportunity to find out a bit more about one of
  the Robert Leech team. What they think is good
  and not so good about the area. Here Emma West,
  Sales Manager at Robert Leech Reigate, shares her
  thoughts on Reigate and the surrounds.
• Whats your favourite local area?
• Although I spend a lot of time in Reigate at
  work, I think it is a wonderful town and great
  place to visit. Reigate has an abundence of
  fabulous tea and coffee shops, independent
  retailers, and restaurants along with the
  historic and scenic Priory Park.
• Whats your favourite building?
• This has to be Nutfield Priory, a Victorian
  mansion house dating back to 1872 and was
  inspired by the Neo-gothic splendour of the
  Palace of Westminster. It holds a special place
  in my heart after being the venue of my wedding
  breakfast a few years ago.

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• Not only is it a beautiful building but the views
  are also incredible to the South.
• Whats building would you redesign?
• The Harlequin in Redhill is very of its time and
  could do with a facelift, it is just not my taste
  in architecture at all. The regeneration around
  Redhill has definitely improved the area and Im
  a big fan of the new improved Sainsburys!
• Where is your favourite view?
• We take our dog for a lovely long walk on a
  Sunday morning to the top of Reigate Hill, along
  the North Downs. The views over Reigate and all
  the way across to Dorking are breathtaking. On a
  clear day you can watch the planes taking off and
  landing at Gatwick.

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• Whats your most interesting shop?
• Priory Farm shop is a wonderful place, great for
  meat, fresh vegetables, cheese and other organic
  treats as well as having a super gift department
  too. My children often cycle down to Priory Farm
  for a last minute Birthday or Christmas present.
• Whats your favourite bar, pub or restaurant?
• I have a couple of restaurants that I love
  locally, La Barbe has always been a family
  favourite, its authentic French cuisine and has
  been established for nearly 30 years now.
• How would you like to spend your ideal day off?
• It would be a long family dog walk, lunch at a
  country pub, perhaps The Skimmington Castle on
  Reigate Heath or The Sportsman in Lower
  Kingswood, and home to a good film with a roaring
  fire.

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• Where would you take someone visiting from
  overseas?
• Brighton, a bracing seaside walk and a wander
  through the quaint little shops in The Lanes.
  Chips on the Pier are a must.
• Whats your favourite open space?
• Reigate Heath is a wonderful open space which
  includes wonderful heathland walks, a golf
  course, riding countryside, football and cricket
  pitches, the windmill has been restored and is
  now used as a chapel. It is thought to be the
  only windmill in the world which is a consecrated
  church.
• Whats your personal landmark, something that
  makes you feel at home when you see it?
• Driving down Church Hill in Nutfield, just before
  I get to my house, I pass St Peter St Pauls
  church, it is such a pretty church and where I
  got married.

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