Looking for the best pubs in Godalming?
With nearly 70 public ale houses operating in Godalming and the surrounding area by 1870, this delightful market town has an illustrious history of pubs.
Andrew Morris had the onerous task of selecting 10 of the best pubs in Godalming for a decent pint and a bite to eat. Find out his choices below.
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The glitzy one: Fox & Finch
- What it's got: an amazing beer garden with lots of events and deals throughout the week
- Go for: Wing Wednesday, where wings are 50p each and a competition to see who can eat the most (can you beat 42 wings?)
If you know of Fox & Finch, you'll likely know the fun events it throws every week. For those who don't know, the week begins with a quiz night on Monday, as well as lunch deals for sandwiches and pints for £13, or with a soft drink for £11. Also, Monday to Thursday is burger and pint deals for £14. Then there's Fizz Friday, where a bottle of Prosecco is just £20. And not forgetting fantastic roasts on Sundays with a kids table, to keep the little ones occupied whilst you eat. We advise booking in advance!
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The all-rounder: The Star
- What it's got: An amazing collection of beers, a mouth-watering menu and the perfect pub to pop in for a drink after a hike.
- Go for: The cosy, pub experience
Originally a 17th Century dwelling The Star is rooted in history and has recently been given a new lease of life by Brucan Pubs, the team behind some seriously good pubs in Berkshire and Surrey, and is the fourth opening for the team behind sister pubs The Drumming Snipe, Woking; The Greene Oak, Windsor and The Greyhound Finchampstead.
Fastly becoming known for great hospitality and top-notch food offering, the new owners have managed to seamlessly merge old with new creating a beautiful pub with a traditional English country pub feeling.
The Star boasts all of the wonderful features like low wooden beams, exposed stone, rustic wooden furniture, and roaring fires.
Food is the main attraction with a strong focus on fresh fish, game and meat but also good vegan and vegetarian options too.
But don’t let that put you off popping into the front bar for a pint of cask ale, a goblet of fine wine or a classic cocktail. Pooches are very welcome here as are the little ones who have plenty of space to run around in the large garden.
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The locals' favourite: The Richmond Arms
149 High Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1AF- What it's got: warm traditional interiors, plentiful choice of ales, a sun-trap garden
- Go for: the best pint of Guinness in the country
The Richmond Arms – a Punch Tavern pub - stands in a dangerously convenient spot, at the end of Godalming High Street and on the way home from the station for weary commuters.
Unfussily traditional, this welcoming hostelry dates back to the 16th century. In the saloon bar, book-ended by a couple of open fires, you can choose from St Austell Tribute and Young’s Bitter, together with a couple of rotating guest ales, and lagers and cider (Thatchers Gold) on tap.
And, according to a happy Irish drinker propping up the bar, the best pint of Guinness in the country. ‘And I should know….I’ve tried them all.’
Food options include traditional favourites at lunchtime, from the menu and specials listed on the blackboard, and Sunday roasts served between 12:00 and 2:30 pm at a very reasonable £14 (or £9.90 for a veggie roast). Yum yum, as the board outside says.
On warmer days, sit on the picnic tables at the front of the pub to unwind from that sweaty commute, or check out the flower-strewn sun-trap garden at the back.
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The sporty one: The Sun Inn
1 Wharf Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1NN- What it's got: excellent ales, traditional food and an all-day English breakfast
- Go for: a great place to watch the big match (or hear some live music!)
This self-proclaimed ‘traditional English pub’ sits proudly at the other end of Godalming, dominating the junction of High Street and Wharf Street.
A Hall & Woodhouse hostelry, I was told this is very much a ‘wet pub’.
And on the pumps in the light, airy bars you’ll find four Badger ales – including the legendary Fursty Ferret, and The Dorset Horn – and a decent array of lagers and ciders.
Pub classics are on offer to soak up all that wet stuff - how about a chicken, ham & leek pie (£9.95) - as well as more varied dishes from the à la carte menu, including lamb casserole with dumplings and veg (12.85).
And, for all you late risers, a full English breakfast is served until a hedonistic 5 pm (£8.50).
This is the best pub in Godalming to watch the big match while you sup a pint – sports photos and memorabilia are dotted around amongst the TV screens before live local bands take over from the sport on Friday and Saturday nights.
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The resurrected one: The Refectory
- What it's got: an amazing interior, outstanding food
- Go for: a fine dining experience (including for the gluten free!)
The Refectory is a magical place, dating from the 1600s and seemingly built from architectural salvage under the ownership of renowned antique dealers.
With alluring ‘kerb appeal’ and a gorgeous interior, all soaring ceilings, ancient wooden beams, open fires and quirky cosy seating and dining areas, this pub has always been inviting. But sadly, under different owners over the last 20 years, it has invariably provided a disappointing experience.
However, I’m delighted to report that The Refectory has been reborn, given life and love under the solicitous ownership of Brunning and Price, and daily management by friendly, professional landlord Mike Collins.
Head to the bar for 3 house beers, and 3 rotating local ales from Surrey and Sussex, as well as the usual lagers and ciders on tap, and enjoy a meal in the dining room or in the more relaxed bar area.
The food, prepared by highly qualified chefs in the kitchen, is outstanding. We sampled excellent smoked mackerel rillettes with cucumber, fennel salad and toast (£6.95) and a pukka fish finger sandwich with tartare sauce (11. 45).
And I’m going back very soon to try the sticky belly pork with watermelon, pineapple, pickled ginger, salad and chilli dressing (£13.95).
Mike is also rightly very proud that Brunning and Price are the first pub chain to be approved ‘GF’ (gluten-free) by the Coeliac Society. Just ask for the separate GF menu.
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The charitable riverside one: The Stag on the River
- What it's got: cosy interiors, beers from their own micro-brewery
- Go for: a seasonal meal on their lovely riverside terrace
Part of the Red Mist group, an award-winning company with 10 pubs and inns across Surrey and Hampshire, The Stag on the River is a delightful place to rest and regenerate your weary soul.
The pub dates back to the 15th century and nestles on the banks of the River Wey, in the timeless hamlet of Eashing, just under 2 miles from Godalming.
Inside there’s a small, cosy bar area offering local Hogs Back TEA (‘The English Ale’) and Hazy Hog lager, a choice of lagers and Guinness, and Tilford Brewery’s Red Mist EPA (‘English Pale Ale’).
Brewed in their own micro-brewery at sister pub The Duke of Cambridge, Tilford, sup your pint of Red Mist in the knowledge that 20p is being donated to local charities.
The emphasis is more on food in the rest of the pub, in sprawling, light-filled dining areas. From the seasonal menu try the spring lamb and mint pie with mash, garlicky seasonal veg and a red onion jus (£14.95), and my eye was drawn to the British classic cheese selection - Tamworth Brie, Sussex Charmer, Blacksticks Blue and a goaty Golden Cross (£9.50).
And for those warmer days, take your glass and plate out to a lovely terrace by the fast-flowing river in this timeless hamlet.
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The countryside one: The Merry Harriers
- What it's got: plenty of rooms to explore and stay in, a beautiful back garden, local ales
- Go for: a magnificent meal in the garden - next to a llama field!
The Merry Harriers is a quintessentially English country pub, with 16th-century origins and nestling in a little trough on the edge of the beautiful village of Hambledon, 4 miles from Godalming.
Now owned by renowned entrepreneur Peter de Savary, recent investment has expanded the accommodation options to 6 garden rooms, 4 quaint rooms above the pub and 5 posh shepherd huts, parked in the old camping space on the other side of the road, and fitted out more luxuriously than my house.
Back in the pub, settle down in the wide main bar area and sup on one of three real ales on tap, one of which is usually Shere Drop from the local Surrey Hills Brewery.
As a cider lover, I was drawn to the intriguing Gert Lush cider – from the Gloucester -based Gert Cider Co., as much as the Hazy Hog from more local Hogs Back Brewery.
But The Merry Harriers really comes into its own when you pick up a menu. Whether you’re eating in the bar by the fireside, in the charming restaurant area or in the beautiful garden at the back of the pub - next to the llama field – you won’t be disappointed.
Try a sharing platter to start with – Meat Lover’s at £14.50 and Vegetarian at £12.50 – followed by funky mushrooms and Hambledon nettle pesto gnocchi (£13.50).
Food is locally sourced, with vegetables from the garden now including edible flowers.
And chef Sam smokes the belly of pork for 4-5 hours in his own smoker, adapted from a couple of beer kegs, before being slow-roasted in the oven, giving you an idea of how seriously they take their food here.
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The cheap new one: The Volunteer
5 Wharf Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1NN- What it's got: heaps of community spirit, very cheap beer
- Go for: a £2 pint that supports a good cause
Recently opened in Wharf Street, The Volunteer is a Craft Union pub, one of 300 in the Preston-based group’s estate of hostelries.
According to them, "our philosophy is about bringing really quality pubs back in the heart of local communities. We believe pubs play a vital role in the lives of their customers and we are committed to nurturing this."
And with a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow Smooth Ale at £1.75, and John Smith’s at £1.85, the local community will definitely be thrilled.
Rotating cask ales, including Timothy Taylor’s (changing soon to Abbot Ale) and Sharp’s Doom Bar, are only £2.10, making this the cheapest pub in the area by some distance.
Landlord Jane explained the rest of the pub’s philosophy: dogs are encouraged more than children; no food is offered, other than complimentary bar snacks (Yorkshire puds, for example) and for occasional private parties.
Entertainment includes a 90s night on Easter Saturday and an adults’ only Easter Egg hunt on Sunday.
Jane plans to hold ‘dementia mornings’, with people popping in for tea, coffee, cake and a supportive chat in the cosy separate section at the front of the pub. Now that’s what I call a community spirit.
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JASONDODD
The musical one: The Three Lions
Meadrow, Surrey, GU73HR- What it's got: 'the best barmaid in the South', live music, possibly ghosts
- Go for: some traditional pub grub along with a great atmosphere and live entertainment
Perennial local favourite The Three Lions lies on the outskirts of Godalming town, on the road to Guildford.
Just ask for ‘Scratchers’, as all the locals call this welcoming pub, reputedly because of the bodies in the cellar, scratching at the floor to get out after they’d been hanged nearby. But don’t fret… no scratching has been heard for a while.
The pub is owned by Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewer, and managed by new landlords Dave & Greg Long. Not surprisingly, you’ll find Whitstable Bay Pale Ale (3.9%), Spitfire (4.2%) and Shepherd Neame Strong Ale (5.0%) on the taps at the bar, along with lagers and ciders.
Nicky – self-proclaimed ‘best barmaid in the south’ – told me that they’ll be restarting the food offering after Easter, with traditional pub grub available during the week, a full Sunday lunch menu and more informal easy-to-eat food available on band nights.
‘Scratchers’ is known as the home of live music in these parts – bands perform on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Just check out the board at the front of the pub, or their Facebook page online, for details.
Add in quiz nights every Wednesday, a disco and a BBQ over Easter, and you can see why The Three Lions remains popular with Godalming and Farncombe locals.
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The comfortable one: The Inn on the Lake
- What it's got: sprawling grounds, an all-day menu, a restful atmosphere
- Go for: breakfast, lunch or dinner in a luxurious and easygoing setting
A hotel with 20 luxurious en-suite rooms, restaurant, bar and lounge areas, rather than a traditional pub, this Mitchells & Butlers venue is one of 11 ‘Premium Country Pubs’ in Surrey in their total estate of 2,000 pubs, hotels and restaurants under different brands.
Situated on the outskirts of Godalming, en route to Milford, the imposing site offers a spacious, comfortable interior and inviting courtyard and garden areas outside.
So whether you’re with family, friends or colleagues, and whatever the season or weather, The Inn on the Lake offers something for everyone.
But it’s largely the ambience and food that pulls people into this enticing location. Breakfast is available until 11:30 for everyone, whether you’ve stayed the night or not.
The lunch menu includes pizzas (£10-£14), sandwiches (£9-£11, including fries, soup and a salad) and ‘lunch bites’ and house specials. Dinner choices include steaks from £18.95 and burgers from £15.75.
So settle down by the fire, at a communal high table, in the restaurant or outside on the patio or in the garden, and enjoy a drink and some food in comfortable, spacious surroundings.
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