please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
If I drank wine it could be fine as well better than last of the summer mine
|
Staff were mine or fine Oh right so I cant edit whats been typed fucking bite!
|
Very disappointing on a Monday, but I can't blame the staff. Staff were mine today. Not that long a wait to get served but the customers who come here must be some of the most annoying. Godalming does attract some annoying people.
|
Gone horribly downhill. The previous visit about a month ago it was a 45 minute wait for food! This time I queued at the bar for 5 minutes at lunch, nobody was getting served. I gave up! 0/10
|
I always take what `wealdman` writes with a spinch of salt.
|
This pub is a major step up from the average 'spoons. It is named after the telegraph operator who was on board the Titanic (a local park also bears his name). The beers are carefully chosen and the regulars are listened to hence the Langham beers and Exmoor Beast.As you walk through this very long pub you may notice that it is decorated as a Liner. It is also light bright and convivial,on my last visit there was a seperate children's eating area.all in all a nice contrast to the Star and Red Lion.
|
Not a very informative/helpful post from onable - except you know what you get, and he/she likes the pub.
|
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh a spoons u know what ur getting here, I quite like this spoons. As always there was a pint of Abbot ale for me. :)
|
its your typical Wetherspoons really alright for a quick cheap drink a bite to eat
|
ps what is ia? The almighty slup doesn`t always get it right,but he thinks he does.
|
This is an average place ( was a Waitrose supermarket a few years back)and as said by beershot the only entry in Good Beer Guide 2013, which just shows how bias those tree-huggers from Camra are.Ther are far better pubs in Godalming.
|
This ia a very special Wetherspoons indeed, a beautiful pub, built and decorated to resemble an Ocean liner ( Jack Phillips was the Wireless officer on the Titanic), very light bright and airy, extremely clean with great staff that are always pleasant and keen to help, today the lady who was being served before me was having trouble finding a place nearby, the lad who served her patiently explained where the place was and the best route.I had a truly great pint of Elland Brewery Eden a Blonde Citrus ale. The food was quick very hot and dirt cheap. Usually the best pubs get into the guide ( not always) this pub deserves a GBG place, probably the Star would be my other entry.
|
Usual weatherspoon "beer barn" a narrow layout with the bar on the left as you walk in, the pub does stretch back a good distance though.
Sells the standard range of beer at the usual prices you get in all weatherspoons, beer quality OK but not brilliant, the food was not great on my visit on Sunday as you could tell it was old oil the food had been fried in.
This pub is Godalmings only entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2013, an entry which I find odd, there are smaller pubs in the town with a better beer range and quality (the Star and Sun for two) which have not made the guide.
Why do CAMRA commitees support a huge chain pub company like weatherspoon so much when smaller pubs could do with the help and publicity a entry in the guide would provide?
|
Yesterday Godalming held a Food Festival, The Jack PhilLips was very crowded but the staff soldiered on doing there best and continuing to smile.Several good ales on including the Jaipur,the Jaipur handpump was pulled several more times than any other during my stay.
|
beer
|
Should be rated above 5 for the standard of the alone.7/10 for me.
|
I know that Wetherspoons has a formula (which seems to work pretty well) for all their pubs, but this Godalming pub is a step-up on the average Wetherspoons - they consistently seem to acquire excellent staff.
Well worth a visit!
|
Dingy, yellow and brown and the lighting was the sort that really does your eyes in- what wattage are the lamps? 5? 10?
Can't see why people are saying it's light and airy- the only windows seem to be at the front. It felt like one of those awful airport lounge bars. Zero atmosphere.
Only plus point was that the staff seemed to be fine, but 'Spoons staff generally are.
|
Was in Godalming last week and popped in for a pint and a bite to eat. Food took a fair time to arrive, but it was a Friday lunchtime and at the busiest time too. Typical Wetherspoon fare but none the worse for that.
Service at the bar was excellent! I could only try one pint but that was in tip-top condition.
Pity about the bloke on the table next to me - he was taking advantage of the wi-fi to have a long LOUD conversation via Skype to somewhere very distant. HE HAD TO SHOUT A LOT :-)
|
Town centre Wetherspoons with the usual large open-plan former shop interior. Real ales were WJ King Red River Ale, Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger, Deuchars IPA, Greene King Abbot Ale, Ruddles Best, Butcombe Old Vic, Andwell King John & Leeds New Moon. Arkells Kingsdown Ale was coming soon. Ciders were Westons Old Rosie & Marcle Hill. The walls are a strange pale blue and grey. But at least this, along with the large patio open doors opening onto the High Street, make the pub feel more light and airy than many Wetherspoons.
|
I've visited the Jack Phillips several times recently and I have come away even more impresssed each time. The ales were in perfect condition ( this is where Wetherspoons have really upped their game), the food was prompt, I had actually visited the toilet and on my return the barman was waiting at the table and said " Your food is under the hotplate,I will get it now" I said "Thanks" and he replied "No problem at all".The food was very fresh and very good indeed.The service at the bar was crisp,attentive and the staff were alert and coped easily when there was a flurry of customers. The cleanliness has to be seen to be believed.I can only think that this pub reflects the area,a different level of behaviour from both customers and staff compared to elsewhere.A truly wonderful experience.10/10.
|
Spacious Wetherspoons on Godalming High Street, it's deceptively deep resulting in far more room than you would guess from the street.
The pub is decorated in a very light and airy modernist style which makes a change from a lot of Godalming's more traditional old world style drinking establishments.
The staff seemed efficient and cheerful and the manager seemed keen for the staff to keep the tables clean and free of empty glasses and plates, something some 'Spoons don't seem to be so worried about. The manager clearly seemed to consider himself a bit of a "character" in his dealings with the staff which, over a period of time might begin to grate, but I certainly appreciated the results for the one pint I stayed for.
I counted six ales on, but I was on a cider crawl so had a pint of Marcle Hill straight from the fridge for �2.35 - the best pint of the day was the cheapest!
I enjoyed my cider in comfort: their was a wide variety of seating avaliable, the flooring was a mix of wood, tiling and carpeting and both the front and rear of the pub had wide opening picture windows rendering the pub nicely cool on a hot summer's afternoon. The clientele was a good mix of young and old, families, shoppers etc.
I would definitely return when next in Godalming.
|
Considering this building was a Waitrose supermarket before becoming a pub, it's not bad. The food is good value and adequate, but this is primarily a drinkers pub and the beer is consistently good and cheap. Our favourite is Abbot Ale, which is well kept and usually available. Our last meal there was a curry, which was nicely spicy, and filling.
|
For a Wetherspoons boozer it's OK. Nothing to write home about but passing fair. Not for anyone suffering from agrophobia!
Phillips was the radio operator on the Titanic and went down with the ship (cf "A night to remember").
|
Ten months since my last post and since then I've been in about every two weeks on average and, honestly, I have enjoyed each visit. I have tried the food and (bearing in mind the modest price) it's very good - it will never get a Michelin star but personally I'm not too concerned about that.
The ales are good and, for Wethersoons, they have got a pretty good group of staff. Worth a visit.
|
Not a great fan of spoons pubs in general and this one dos'nt break the mould. Pretty busy as you would expect with the beer festival ale prices at �1.85. But average or worse quality beer combined with ordinary surroundings i would rather spend an extra pound or so and have a pint somewhere more pleasant.
|
My maiden visit to this Spoons outlet, which ostensibly has little to commend it, but it is Beer-Guide listed, which at least suggested something worthwhile would lurk within. And happily, it did, in the form of a range of fine ales (many locally-sourced), and jolly service from the staff (far from a given in JDW establishments as we all know). Prices were as usual, peerless (especially if one has CamRA vouchers to deploy!), and quality of the beer was high. No food, other than a "grab bag" of prawn cocktail crisps, was consumed, so can't comment on that (I know, they make one's fingers smell like Liverpool Docks but they still go down well with your pint!).
Not being a Godalmingian(?) I have no clue as to the significance of Jack Philips, but I don't think he'd be too disappointed to find his name associated with this pub (unless he was a champion of the temperance movement...).
|
I have visited this pub a couple of times, on the first occasion I thought this is OK, but perhaps I've hit it on a 'good day'. Went back to try it again and I'm delighted that I did - it was even better and the staff (as on the first visit) were impresive. A really good Wetherspoons!
|
Decent pub. One of the bigger ones in Godalming. Used to hold quiz nights.
|
'Spoons that is getting better. Some of the new staff are more on the ball, friendlier and deal with waiting customers (on an overly long bar) fairly, not just relying on the customers to tell them who's next!
|
OK and good for a Wetherspoons, a long frontage along the High Street and some seating out the front. Usual range of usual suspects at one end of the bar (the beers, I mean, not the customers!) and the 'specials' at the other end, range here was reasonable.
|
Good Spoons.
|
Cheaper than the slug and lettuce.
|
I see W/Spoons seems to get the same sort of reviews from the usual suspects. Does what it says on the tin is fair comment, although service and table clearing was better than expected on the two occasions we visited. The food is average but ridiculously cheap, especially the food + pint combos ! And the array of drinks at yesterdays prices, well what can I say !
I have to admit, I wasn't there at chucking up time and so I missed the obligatory - "Leave it Wayne ! He's not worth it !!!!" (Doh !!!!!!!!!!)
|
Decent pub, does what a Wetherspoons should.
|
Big and busy pub, slowish service, reasonable range of beers - a pretty typical Wetherspoons. Despite some posts, I've never seen any issue with the clientele - it's pretty varied, from younger drinkers, to families, to some older drinkers.
|
The service is soooo slow and at lunchtimes you generally have to clear you own table if you want to sit down. Everything happens in slow mo....walking, talking etc but they are friendly. I've seen the food, just not been brave enough to try it.
|
Service is woefully slow. DCDevil's review says it all unfortunately. Might be worth visiting early evening when it's quieter before going elsewhere.
|
Went in here for a drink after a lovely meal next door in the Slug and Lettuce. The service here is terrible. I stood at the bar for over 2 minutes before one of the staff said whos next. Half the staff were stood chatting at one end. I even made eye contact with 2 of them and still no service. The place wasn't even busy and under half full. It's very cheap and attracts 'BARGAIN' people. Vicky Pollard types can be found stood outside the door waiting for Joe'Chav'Bloggs to invite them in for a 99p drink.
|
Some of the staff need to learn that ignoring a waiting customer for one that's just come to the bar is not good practice, the English don't complain, they just never go back. And to compound the fact by admitting that you know they're a queue jumper...
The beer's fine, the prices great, it's just the service (or lack of) that needs work.
If they're busy, don't bother.
|
Went in there on Sunday, to escape from the wet weather!
Quite, despite the Monaco Grand Prix on the television, very friendly service. I sampled the "Scorpio Porter", and when this ran out had some Tongham Brewery "Hogs Back Bitter". Both beers were well kept and served.
For a Weatherspoons pub this is one of the better ones!
anonymous - 30 May 2007 10:13 |
Thanks Tim for giving us a non-smoking pub, and thank you Karen for your hard work and Brendan for the rare smile. But you should keep the children and their large, room-consuming ankle-smacking pushchairs should be confined to the back area of this enormous pub, as before; perhaps after 11.00 am. Then the adults would again be allowed to converse, drink, eat, read their papers or whatever - in peace. It would also stop your many adult clients leaving you for other pubs because of the intrusions which relate to your allowing kids everywhere. Otherwise, an excellent pub.
anonymous - 15 May 2007 17:51 |
The Jack Phillips is a VERY busy pub, frequented by all walks of life in Godalming.
The beer is rarely poor, the JP has the best variety of bitter in Godalming. I pay �1.85 for a good pint of Pedigree, on a like for like basis you can easily pay 70% more in most of the pubs in Godalming.
Being a no-smoking pub is very much in it's favour.
|
Only been into the JP on a weekend morning but for what you get its excellent value. The breakfast menu is good and the food cooked well. Speaking as a parent, its also now very child friendly. The little ones are well catered for and plenty of room with lots of high chairs. Cant yet advise what its like on a friday night but the booze looks pretty cheap as well. SITCOM.
|
Pub quiz is a waste of time here but atmosphere and the drinks range make this pub worth a visit
|
Admittedly my last comment was rather petulant. In fairness this pub is much, much better since the smoking ban, with many of the dubious characters now drinking elsewhere.
|
I have seen him smile too, and regularly have to encourage him to do so. Karen always smiles, works her socks off, and clears and cleans the tables at a great pace. If only the rest of the staff were taught to clear the tables so rapidly, and leave them nice for the next punters! But this problem with the lack of swift table clearance and cleaning seems to be endemic at Wetherspoons - we always carry our own beer mats, as sticky tables are disgusting. Sort it out Tim!!!!
anonymous - 7 Oct 2006 19:52 |
It's really simple. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! If you want finely kept real ale and, gastro pub grub off spotless antique tables, served by Mr Pub Host of the Year, it'll cost you. And as for atmosphere, you get what you make. This is one of the better examples of the Wetherspoons chain. But one point I really must argue, a few months ago, just for a brief second, I saw Brendon smile!
|
No coffees today, so no complaints!
The beer is good, the price great.
The atmosphere is quiet, but rather that than in your face, especially at lunchtime.
The staff are variable.
For a relaxed, un-smokey, cheap lunch it's hard to fault. For me that is proved by the number of suits lunching there.
|
All non smoking with an area outside for smokers. similar to all weatherspoons has great selection of drinks and reasonably priced food. Clean pub and friendly staff.
anonymous - 1 Oct 2006 21:33 |
Been in here for their bargain breakfast on a Sunday morning after the night before. Last time we were there we were trying to figure out what it reminded us of and we came up with two suggestions, 1. a cross channel ferry and 2. airport departure lounge. No atmosphere but very edible food, wouldn't necessarily go there for a pint though.
|
Wouldn't be so bad if you didn't find yourself waiting 5mins for a pint while they serve coffees.
It makes you realise what makes more money for them...
|
Must be some one who works here that put a review on The Slug and Lettuce site just after writing this guff below.Poor show guys O out of 10.Not saying The Slugs any better or worse than here
anonymous - 18 Jun 2006 18:49 |
This pub i believe i seriously underrated. There may be an excessive amount of people in on the weekends but that is the sad result of its value for money. On a weekday and Sundays the atmosphere is jolly and there are an appropriate amount of people to enjoy your evening. The theme nights are varied and enjoyable. On the whole the food is of a high standard and more recently greater effort has been taken to keep the place clean although it is a struggle with the rest of the workload. If the staff are given a chance they are generally all very friendly, helpful, and more often than not will go out of their way to help.
anonymous - 17 Jun 2006 13:46 |
average food, beer ok and for the price you cant complain
|
Now has a pub quiz on Monday night, which is surprising (but great) to see in a Wetherspoona
|
Good beer, but just another Wetherspoons not a real pub.
|
Plain and characterless Wetherspoon in harsh modern building with higher than average prices. Very popular for Sunday lunches but limited table space and over-long wait (one hour +) for meals to be served. Beer in good condition and food very tasty. Below average but not too bad.
|
Thanks for clearing that up, Karen.
|
NO where near as bad as other people describe it.
I, and many others eat there reguarly with no problems. They have an intresting selection of real ales, and the fact this is Godalmings ONLY NON-SMOKING pub should be heartily prasied.
Some of the complaints listed below are Local Council / Trading Standards issues, the fact that I've never heard 'serious' complaints makes them seem like petty gripes�
|
Prices low - hence the low calibre of some of the clientelle; even in the morning, and particularly from about 2.30 pm onwards. I certainly would never go there in the evenings. Very, very smokey, despite their 'air-con/smoke extraction', and even worse when the front windows are open, and too dark to read. Why should the non smokers, the majority in this town, have to sit in an area devoid of windows, and with the kids, where it is even darker. Why can't they locate the no-smoking area in the front window areas, as at Guildford - which, I understand, is now a Lloyds Bar? Some time ago I ate just the once at the Jack Phillips, and it was OK, but understand from others that it now varies quite a lot. We need beer mats, as the tables are rarely cleaned, so are always sticky, and all the empty stuff and residue of meals and drinks is piled onto a nearby table. Quite disgusting really! And the staff are mainly miserable and not interested! Needs a good shake up -and perhaps a sincere smile and a pleasant word on a regular basis from the staff and management.
anonymous - 15 Mar 2005 14:05 |
Really good place for a piss up. Drinks are the lowest price in Godalming and there is a massive range of ales and cocktails. Also the staff are quite young and are really easy to get on with
|
Standard Wetherspoons job, always quite busy with people who don't want to pay the normal inflated Surrey prices.
Quite large, not as big as Guildford's.
anonymous - 8 Sep 2004 16:01 |
Perhaps becoming a victim of its own success. Table cleaning is getting rarer and it can get very smokey...
Gav - 16 Apr 2004 17:12 |
Not a bad Wetherspoons, far better than Guildford's!
monty - 28 Nov 2003 16:17 |
Named after the 'local' who was the telegraph operator of the Titanic and the first to use the newly devised 'SOS' emergency morse code.
Typical Whetherspoons, but VERY big, situated on the old Waitrose supermarket site. Plenty of seating but does get very busy at times.
Centrally situated in the town.
Se�n - 22 Oct 2003 23:15 |
Claim to fame: named after a local who died on the Titanic?
Vindaloo - 30 Aug 2003 08:22 |
A weatherspoons pub, very popular eating and drinking place for locals of all ages - surprised it is not on weatherspoons pub lists. Put godalming on the map weatherspoons!
anonymous - 29 Aug 2003 17:06 |
