Drakes

Drakes is a restaurant at The Clock House on High Street in Ripley, Surrey, serving Modern British tasting menus with seasonal produce and technical precision. Located on Ripley High Street inside the Clock House, Drakes is located in a restored Georgian building beneath its double-sided clock. The restaurant gave diners a clear proposition: carefully prepared, ingredient-first plates served in a relaxed, informal room. In its menu structure the kitchen balanced a three-course lunch and longer tasting sequences for guests wanting the full progression.

Drakes in Ripley offered a table-focused meal rooted in local sourcing and measured technique. The restaurant’s heritage began with chef Steve Drake, whose training shaped the menu. Under his tenure Drake’s achieved a Michelin star in its first year and maintained three AA Rosettes, affirming technical skill and consistent standards. After 2016 the property rebranded as The Clock House under Serina Drake’s ownership and the kitchen saw accomplished leaders including Fred Clapperton, Luke Spier and Paul Nicholson.

Across those tenures reviewers praised precise reductions, clean seasoning and an emphasis on ingredient quality. The restaurant celebrated two decades of service and kept owner-led hospitality at its core, with Serina present to oversee service and guest experience. The kitchen focused on seasonality and careful technique. The preferred format was the tasting menu, where courses progressed from light starters to richer mains and desserts.

Dishes paired local fish with clarified butter, herb purées and seasonal vegetables; autumn plates showcased venison or other game with concentrated jus and roasted root vegetables; summer menus favoured soft-shell crab or shellfish with light herb notes. Sauces were reduced precisely, stocks clarified and textures contrasted, crispy skin against velvet purée, raw riffed with gently cooked produce. The kitchen frequently leaned on British producers and market-led buys, allowing menus to shift week to week. Wine by the bottle began at approachable prices, while coffee and digestifs ended the meal at a measured pace.

For visitors curious about technique, many courses revealed classical training through direct execution rather than showy theatrics. The dining room reflected the Georgian building’s history with updated timbered panels, Queen Anne bar details and a spacious, airy feel. Large windows and a walled garden offered outdoor aperitif options on warm days, and the double-sided clock above the entrance provided a memorable exterior landmark. Service kept a human, attentive tone: staff were described as delightful and the owner often present to ensure smooth running.

Pacing leaned toward unhurried meals, encouraging tasting-menu diners to relax between courses and savour the progression. Accessibility included step-free ramps and a town-center location with nearby parking. Drakes left a clear mark: Modern British cooking executed with restraint inside a restored Georgian Clock House on Ripley High Street. For travellers compiling a Surrey itinerary, the restaurant’s tasting menus and garden aperitifs make Drakes a reference point for ingredient-led dining.