“The
Friendly Town at the Foot of The Downs” Really??
Reigate has a motto, which proud elderly Reigations would adamantly agree with.
Others are struggling to find any sign of community spirit at all. A town to
be proud of or a town to be glad you live in the warm glow of Redhill? Prof
G searches for truth, you listening class?…
Whatever you think of Reigate and it’s heritage, can you agree with the council’s motto that Reigate is “The Friendly Town at the Foot of the Downs”?? Many people brought up here vow to leave for the bright lights of a happening city as soon as possible (coming back for Christmas and funerals), however many visitors fall in love with the hidden gem of the Home Counties. There are many pros and cons about Reigate, let’s have a look.
The town grew from Saxon times originally called Cherchefelle, into a prosperous commutersville containing 20 clothes shops, ten charity shops, restaurant chains aplenty, Estate Agents and nothing much else. Henry VIII owned the Priory and the deer park surrounding it. He thought it looked nice and loved the Castle Grounds as well but quickly got bored, ate loads of samey food, ran out of decent looking clothes that suited him and thought that if he couldn’t have fun without being laughed at for being a fat bloke that couldn’t dance, then no one else should. So Reigate town was born and hasn't changed much since.
Priory Park
If Redhill has its theme as red, then Reigate is virtually painted blue. If the council had its way, then the trees would be painted blue. As the Reigate MP Crispin Blunt remarked, if you put a blue rosette on a donkey we’d vote for it. At council meetings our councillors debate important issues such as whether the council tie should have a crest design or be a club tie – and that’s exactly the sort of parochial politics that a town should be proud of. The town is choked with its political death-grip; nothing seems to change, the town evolving like a glued down sloth. No dancing allowed in the Market Pub or the Tickled Ivory as it was alleged that the council said that it would lead people into revelling in Reigate en route to the Embassy at the time. We couldn’t have that much fun in Reigate could we? Hang on, thinking about it, Labour would probably dirty and scandalise the town anyway.
Redlands monument, The Observatory, Castlefield Road
Reigate is undoubtedly
money orientated and its people who live in it, incredibly insular. It’s
average resident wears an upturned collared rugby shirt with a yellow knotted
jumper hanging off their backs and tan Caterpillar boots or Brogues. They aren’t
often seen venturing outdoors to socialise with anyone other than their closest
and dearest due to saving up for the latest Volvo model. It's not too uncommon
to see a 17 year old from Reigate Grammar School go past driving Daddy's BWM
whilst guffawing and shouting "That's so Woodhatch!" out of the window.
The town lacks community spirit although I haven’t missed a Christmas
Eve in the Market pub for years. Must get out. Even the famous travelling evangelist
and preacher John Wesley commented how Reigations were “dull indeed as
stones” on various trips to the town. He had a point.
Shopping
Shopping is a difficult task in Reigate. It’s quite difficult to find
a decent item of clothing that would suit anyone cool under 35. Knights is a
cool shop if you need to buy your Dad a pair of fur-lined slippers or your Gran
some waist huggers. Oh, and don’t laugh at the fashion collections in
the shop window display please, it’s just not Reigate. Gerrards is Reigate’s
saving grace, a nice shop to buy designer clothes such as Hugo Boss, but get
a mortgage first before you go in. Same goes for Robert Ashworth but sells nice
clothes for the decerning gentleman. There is of course Surf and Ski and White
Stuff that provide trendier garments. A bit pricey as well though.
If you want to shop for anything else then it’s off to the Belfry in Redhill
if you can stomach that. Remember Gay Dogs (snigger) pet shop and its psycho
parrot (currently believed to reside in the garden center on Reigate Heath)?
Yeah, everyone remembers those two.
Drinking
and Eating
Reigate residents love their restaurant chains, ASK apparently being the third
busiest ASK restaurant in the country. We can’t get enough of pubs either,
eighteen of them. The Cage is a nice place to start off with, venturing to the
White Hart to feel old alongside the students then off to the Market for the
late license (a long time coming). God forbid that the Red Cross has its name
changed again, I got fed up asking the bus to stop at the Tap and Spile bus
stop.
The Tickled Ivory piano bar is perhaps the biggest shock to Reigate. An actual
classy joint. The decor resembles an Ikea showroom, which Reigate home owners
would love, and it has regular live music and yes, sofas - always a winner.
Dancing used to be allowed until the council put a stop to it as they thought
revellers on the way to the British Embassy nightclub in Redhill would get overexcited
and run rampant through the town. Never mind, the late licence on certain days
makes up for it. The White Hart has been rescued from the Firkin chain, refurbished
giving it a nice feel, and it has sofas too. Nice.
Older residents would remember long gone Fredericks Wine Bar and On The Rocks
underground in the High Street with its crumbling ceiling and death defying
narrow stairway.
 Reigate Cave wine and beer cellars |
