The Reigate knowledge by Emma West
                     The Reigate knowledge by 
Emma West
 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.
 What’s 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.
 What’s 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.
 Not only is it a beautiful building but the views are also incredible to the South.
 What’s 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 I’m 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.
 What’s 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.
 What’s 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.
 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.
 What’s 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.
 What’s 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 
Paul’s church, it is such a pretty church and where I got married.