please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Looked quite open when we walked past (yes walked past it) last week.
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Permanently closed, it would seem :-( Lights all out and doors front and back all locked half way through the time they were supposed to be open. Can't be a temporary closure because no-one has put up a board or even a scribbled note explaining the closure or saying they'll reopen. A shame, as it was a nice traditional pub.
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The Good Intent is situated in another lovely Surrey village. I was expecting to find a beer festival here, as they normally have one over the late bank holiday weekend. But a sign on the blackboard revealed that it had been postponed due to a fire in an outbuilding. The ale selection was disappointing with all but one being national brands - Sharps Doom Bar, Courage Directors, Otter Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep Best Bitter & Hogs Back TEA. Most people seemed to be drinking in the garden at the rear. I was the only person left inside. A little disappointing.
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Traditional character pub with interesting and unusual bric-a-brac on display. Doombar, Landlord and Otter as regular ales plus three guests. Varied food menu with mammoth portions. Friendly welcome too. Just a bit tricky parking on the busy road outside.
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Wonderful visit! We called in on a sunny, hot Friday lunchtime and got one of the last tables in the garden (we had the dog with us). The resident Rhodesian Ridgeback gave our dog a warm welcome.
I have never tasted better Hop Back Summer Lightning. Kept to perfection! The regulars are Otter Ales, Doom Bar, and Timothy Taylor Landlord. Summer Lghtning is a pretty frequent guest ale here and there were several others. As we were out walking we stuck with the bar menu - steak sandwich with onions and chips. Delightful! It must be a good 10 years since we were last at this pub - it certainly won't be another 10 years til we come back! Highly recommended for those who enjoy quality beers.
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This looked to be a great pub on entry for lunch and the beer was well kept - my Otter particularly so. However, we all felt the food was incredibly disappointing. Truely disgusting chilli con carne, thai red curry swimming in grease and chewy steak & ale pies. Wouldn't eat there again but might come back for beers. The service despite some of the other reviews was actually ok. Perhaps we went on the chef's day off.
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Lunchtime visit - excellent range of ales, food very good and reasonably priced. Only downside was that bar staff were more interested in their mobile phones than serving customers. Still worth a visit though.
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Fantastic pub! I don't live in the area (wish I did) but we always make a point of visiting when walking nearby. First found this pub a couple of years back and couldn't stop talking about how good it was. All the boxes are ticked for me, excellent range of ales, fanastic home cooking, friendly welcoming locals and great bar staff.
Don't change a thing!
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Yes, my mistake, there is a car park. On my first visit didn't even investigate the sort of rabbit burrow that goes through the ground floor.
It's such a great pub with plenty of character that I took the missus there before Christmas for my second visit. Apparently the chef is German and I tried one of his specialities - think it was Z�richer Geschnetzeltes mit R�sti. Excellent! Only slight criticsm is that like a lot of pubs the casual bar staff can do a lot to help or hinder the atmosphere and here I think the pub is a bit lacking.
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It has got a car park, in fact, but you need to be a fairly confident (and certainly sober) driver to negotiate the entrance, which is through a very narrow arch at the side of the pub.
I love this place, and am pleased to hear that it continues to deliver the goods. Must get in again soon.
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Very nice little village type pub. Food cooked on premises with a wide choice on chalk board menu, on the wall over a large traditional open fireplace. One area given over to dining with what looked like the usual fairly close packed tables for four. Variety of seating in rest of pub. Pub definitely shuts at 3 o'clock sharp with reminders that "we'll be closing in a few minutes". Puttenham is very accessible as it lies just off the A31 with the A3 nearby but the pub had no car park as far as I could see, and the on street parking is severely limited. Beers: Old Glory & Otter.
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Very nice pub in lovely village just off the A3. There's a good little range of beers but on my visit, they weren't in good condition - rather flat and insipid (and it wasn't hot weather). Even worse, I'm afraid, was the food, some of which was pretty rank. Avoid the fishcakes and the steak and ale pie, both of which tasted very unpleasant. Chips were pretty good though.
It's a shame cos. this is the sort of place, with its lovely location and pleasant service, that could charge more than it does for food. Perhaps they should bump the prices up a bit and invest in better quality ingredients.
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The hand-written 'sandwich-board' down the road says:-
"The Pub which is a Pub"....!
Yes folks, and what a nice little local pub it is too.
Cosy bar (i like the wine-cork notice board, v.clever!)
Luvly pub! Can't wait to chill out there again, soon! :o)
TJ
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Dropped in yesterday for a couple of very nice, well kept pints of Otter.
Nice pub, good atmosphere, friendly staff. Although we didn't eat, the food looked very good.
Obviously a very popular pub as most of tables appeared to be pre-booked. Seemed popular with walkers, runners and cyclists in addition to the locals.
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This pubs website states they are child friendly. They are NOT. We called ahead to ask if a high chair was available, we were told there was. When we got there it was not a high chair but an old, dirty booster seat with NO SAFETY STRAPS. We were not even able to sit down and had to find another pub to eat our lunch (which cost us an hour of our time on a Saturday lunch time when we should have been enjoying a day out) and a screaming hungry baby . Staff dealt with our concerns with utter contempt. We will not be going back but if you really want to go, take your own high chair and note that there are no baby changing facilities in the toilets or space to put your own changing mat. How they can call themselves child friendly is beyond belief.
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Stopped off here for a rest and a pint while walking the North Downs Way from Farnham to Guildford. Both myself and my partner were made to feel very welcome. Had a lovely, well kept pint of 'Full Steam Ahead'. Didn't try the food but would definately love to come back another time and give it a go.
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Friendly staff and a good selection of beer but the food was definitely not what I'd expected (either from previous experience or the other reviews). Large portions but very average quality and distinctly tired (e.g. not fresh) looking, stale and overdone. To cap that, one of our party was ill afterwards and I can only honestly ascribe that to what he ate, which was different to the rest of us.
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Six real ales - some usual suspects but some less likely in this area - Rev. James was particularly pleasant. We sampled a number of them - all were fine. Food very good. Prices certainly not excessive. Would certainly visit again
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I think its lovely little pub with friendly staff and locals. Food is lovely and big portions and very large menu. My favourite is The Good Intnets Sunday roast. There is always somebody to talk to and Monday quiz is fun they do also live music and bbqs will be there as often as I can
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Went for a lunchtime bevvy. Beer good. Not sure I agree with the sign outside saying The best pub in England. I can think of better pubs, however, my visit was ok.
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Popped over here for lunch, hadn't been in for 12 years or so. Lovely small village pub with a selection of 6 real ales and good honest pub food.
My wife and I both loved it and will be returning again soon, this time with reinforcements!
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Good pub, friendly staff, nice location, good beer. Recommended.
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On the whole this is a pleasant little pub tucked away in the countryside. I went on a Friday lunchtime and the amount of cars parked along the main road (the car park is a little tricky) was a clue... at 12:15 the pub was packed and I plonked myself down at the last free table! The beer list made up for it with Harveys Best, Ringwoods Best and Timothy Taylor's Landlord as regulars, and Sharp's Cornish Coaster, Caledonian 80/- and Ringwoods Forty Niner as guests. Great to see a varied and regularly changing assortment of guest ales.
Service was courteous and with only two bar staff on and so many patrons, they were doing a good job. Quite a varied food menu and average prices, so no wonder it's popular with diners. If I had one criticism it would be that my beefburger with bacon & cheese had been cremated to within an inch of it's life, but I'm guessing that's the exception rather than the norm given how busy this place is. Certainly worth a visit if you're in the area, just for the beer!
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I only get in here about once a year, but I wish it were more. A cracking pub - absolutely everything you could want. Good food, great beer (always in first class condition), friendly and efficient service, pleasant locals and a warm welcome for non-locals - all this and a blazing open fire too. Oh - and no piped music. Brilliant.
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Lovely little pub just off the A31 6 real ales with Langhams Hip Hop available plenty of people eating Fish & Chips last night and a mixture of locals and Ramblers. Well worth the visit
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I went to the beer festival over bank holiday, really superb. I always liked this pub but when my friend was charged �5 for a very average burger I was furious, even worse was when the BBQ chef took a fag break and returned to cook without washing his hands, handling sausages and bread - minging !!! not what I expect, it wouldnt have happened under the last tenants.
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I called in yesterday to find a beer festival in progress. A wide range of real ales were available - I enjoyed the Dark Star Festival. Also an excellent guitarist Tom Janssen. Check him out.
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One of the best! Called in for a break on a what is a regular run and wondered why we'd never stopped here before. Will certainly factor it into the itinerary for a longer break next time we're passing. If only it were our local.
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A lovely place! Great choice of beers (6). Friendly staff and regulars. My second visit just as enjoyable as the first. Make sure you reserve a table for Sunday lunchtime, saw some turned away disappointed.
Can't wait to return and looking forward to an outside drink when the weather improves.
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Nicely placed halfway between Guildford and Tongham on the North Downs Way path, this pub is a magnet for locals, walkers and beer-heads alike. Although the pub was heaving on the Saturday afternoon during January, the wait was worth it. Cracking pint of Surrey Hills - clean, grassy and attractive just like it's namesake. I chose the Addlestone's cider but there were pints and pints of loveliness across the taps. Very impressive....now see my review of the Tongham Brewery Shop!
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Over the past two months we've visited this pub about six times and have finally found a great local pub. There are no horrible fruit machines or music, just locals enjoying a good night out around the fire. We've also eaten there a few times as well and have been very impressed, especially with the Wednesday night fish and chips - full marks, excellent!
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Called in last week for our annual 'near-Christmas' visit. Still an absolutely cracking pub, I'm pleased to say. Warm, in atmosphere and in temperature, with a cheerful fire burning, good value food and - most important- a great selection of beers. In fact I caught the end of the barrel of Ringwood, but the Cornish Coaster was in first rate nick, and there were plenty more if you wanted something stronger, First rate; one of my all-time favourites.
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Great pub, last time i was fortunate to go there was the day after the leaving party for the last landlord. Arrived covered in mud from a bike ride looking cold and bedraggled but got the best service from the bar staff even though they had been on the lash the night before up unitl about 4pm apparently. By the sounds of it the new owners have only enhanced the atmosphere.
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Called in yesterday while walking the North Downs Way from Farnham to Guildford. The Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale and Harvey's Bitter were quite superb, the ham from the ploughmans was real ham, the sort that still tastes like it was made from a pig. Excellent.
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Went here for lunch on Sunday. Food was great, as was beer and wine (of which there was a good selection). Would definitely visit again.
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The Good Intent is a Traditional English Pub located in Puttenham, Surrey. The staff are friendly, dogs are allowed and there is thankfully no piped muzak or juke box. The food is simple but well cooked and uses mainly locally sourced ingredients, and caters for vegetarians, even going so far as to offer a home cooked nut roast on Sundays. The beer is well kept and often changing and the garden is although small very accomodating and looked after. The car park is quite small and not very easy to negotiate which is why most customers arrive on foot (ramblers, or locals), or by bicycle, or park in the street where there is ample parking for the size of the pub.
It really is like stepping back in time entering this pub, really back to the good old days of traditional values of good hearty food and cherished ales.
The only downside is that before the pub changed hands, old peculier was available on tap as a house ale ie not a 'guest beer' and was always of the highest quality. An excellent pint, especially in the winter next to their roaring log fire.
I have given a rating of 8 out of 10, but should the OP still be served there in the quality it once was this would have been 11+.
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The GI is easily the best pub in the area for the quality and range of its beer. Moreover, it is a proper village pub with a great welcome and good food. There is no muzak: the sound of convivial conversation is predominant here. If only more pubs were like it. I'd move to Puttenham but I can't afford the house prices!
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One moment you�re tanking along the A31 on the x65 bus from Guildford (10mins), the next you are strolling through a quintessential english village scene past the local church, fields beyond, and most importantly into this lovely pub. There you find a good range of six well kept ales, those listed by Maldenman featured yesterday and the pumpclips around the bar suggest a good rotation policy. Fairly quiet lunchtime (nb they close 3-6 weekdays) but there was still a local mix chatting, reading, eating, drinking, and that, indeed, is what a pub is about. Hops adorn the bar which has a fairly low beamed ceiling, room to left set up for dining, to the right a small lounge area with lovely wood-burning inglenook and, beyond, a sort of open snug. Blackboard menu offers traditional pub fayre with mains at �7-8, the burger & proper homemade looking chips (�5.50) were going well, resuscitating staff from post xmas party blues; haha, no this is not a delayed review, I think that is stylish decadence. There is a noticeboard made from old wine corks and the wine list ranges from �10-17, plus options by the glass, the red selection looked preferable. The notices include details of GI�s cycling club, about to hit the road again thurs eves., and their website shows local walks - very much the community local, great stuff!
ps. I left my bag behind & have to return to retrieve soonest, such hardship!
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Great village pub close to good walking country, with a real dedication to serving a range of good ales. A real log fire burns in the grate, and a hum of conversation dominates, rather than music. Genuinely welcoming and friendly. The house beers are Ringwood Best Bitter, Harvey's Sussex, and TT Landlord; guests were Triple fff Alton's Pride, Hammerpot Red Hunter and Ballard's Nyewood Gold.
Well worth seeking out.
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Found the Good Intent while walking the North Downs Way. Why can't more pubs be like this. Six real ales including a ruby stout in excellent condition. Friendly pub of locals, their dogs and walkers. The food is well priced and excellent value. If you are in the area its a must.
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Excellent cosy village pub where the staff make you feel right at home. Lovely atmosphere and agree with a previous comment that said 'full of people doing what pubs were meant for: drinking, eating, talking, and in general having a good time'.
Always look forward to a visit here, I wish there were more pubs like this one.
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Had lunch here midweek. Steak & ale pudding excellent and very filling. Good selection of food and ales. Even on a wet Wednesday there was a healthy buzz of conversation from the locals. Have popped in a number of times before and always been impressed. Great pub!
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Long may pubs like this keep going!
anonymous - 27 Nov 2007 10:11 |
First time visit with an old friend last Saturday. Superb selection of Beers,in a lovely cosy pub.Great food quickly delivered. Ladies behind the jump courteous and extremely easy on the eye. Wish I lived closer as it would become my local overnight. Hope to visit many more times.
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Called whilst walking along the North Downs Way and received a warm welcome. Several ales on offer, I chose Surrey Hills a local micro (not sure wether it is always on or a guest) which was in fine condition, worthy of its GBG entry.
Fairly standard pub style menu with generous oportions of tasty food.
Recommended.
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Called in recently for my (more or less) annual visit ,and was pleased to find things much as usual. Beer (Ringwood in my case) was in tip-top nick, the fire was cheerful, the service efficient and friendly, despite it's being a very busy lunchtime. No loud music (no music at all, in fact), all the bars full of people doing what pubs were meant for: drinking, eating, talking, and in general having a good time. Excellent.
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I 'discovered' this pub when I was just 18, it has never failed me in 15 years of visits.
All the best to the new folks, I hope to meet soon.
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Well dear folks, �tis the end of an era (21 years almost).
�Bugger Me� Bill has buggered off, Sgt Major Sally has stomped behind the bar for the last time and Brenda has �screech-deafened� her last victim.
But joking aside, we will all miss �The Carpenters�, Samantha and Busy also. A warm welcome was always assured and you always felt part of the wider family that was The Good Intent.
The new incumbents, Julian & Rachael Dance are now settling in and we wish them all the best in their new venture.
God bless The Good Intent and all those who sail in her.
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what can i say?Its been a year and a half since i visited this pub with my cousin and i still think aboutit and cant wait to get back(i live in the U.S.). I knew i was in the right place when we opened the door and it bumped into a big retriever sleeping in the doorway. This was the first of several dogs encamped in the pub. Apparently there had been a hunt(this was just after New Years)and the entire group had been celebrating the day with great food and of course great beer. For the life of me i cannotremember the names of all the beers because we were having such a great time with the patrons of the pub and the great character of the establishment. My cuosin Tom tells me that the name is not hung outside due to the folk lore that if it is the owner would die imminently. Further folk lore says that this pub is on a road in Chaucers Canterbury Tales? All i know is its my first stop the next time i visit Tom in Farnham. Fitzsimons
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good beer, good food and well worth a visit
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Superb pub, always has a great beer selection on and Wednesday fish and chip nights are a must!
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I wish this was my local - it's an absolute classic. As it's not, I don't get in often,but I've always found it warm, friendly and welcoming. Always drink the Young's, which has invariably been first class. Food's excellent value,too.
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Superb little local. The landlord has just received an award for the Best Landlord in Puttenham.
Current guest ales include :
Stonehenge - Sign of Spring (a nice lively green colour but tastes superb)
Coming up:
Goddard's Fuggle-de-dum (Isle of Wight beer - sounds interesting)
The food here is superb. Sue the chef prepares hearty traditional fare at reasonable (for Surrey) prices.
Barmaids awards:
Best old-timer - Sandra
Best new-comer - Lesley
Get yourself down there and give it a go - there are not many real pubs like this left.
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One of the best pubs in the world. Unpretentious, good food, friendly and great surroundings. A proper local. Try it...
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A genuine local by any measure. A great landlord and a gentleman of note.
The food here is top notch and the Wednesday fish and chips deserves a special mention.
With a cellar full of great beers and a homely atmosphere, this pub makes a great hangout.
The regular crowd here is composed of some real characters and an interesting evening in the Intent is always guaranteed.
A mixed crowd with its share of nutters and cheeky monkeys keeps this place lively. Keep a close eye on your woman if she is of relative attractiveness or youth however...A few of the regular crew become rather frisky after a couple of ales.
anonymous - 19 May 2005 11:14 |
This pub is everything a good village local should be. On a recent visit to "Billy Boys" fine establishment the following ales were on offer: Young's Bitter,
Grand Union Gold, Palmers 200 and
Theakston Old Peculier. The latter three were sampled and found to be in splendid condition.
Other beers on offer during the last few weeks have included
Arundel Gold, Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Hook Norton Old Hooky.
For the Cider Monsters amongst us, Addlestones Cloudy was also available.
Bill Carpenter also informed me that beers on offer in the near future will include Badger Best Bitter, Hogs Back Tea and Hop Garden Gold; Ringwood Best, Forty Niner and Old Thumper; Hop Back Crop Circle and Sharps Eden Ale.
anonymous - 9 Dec 2004 13:38 |
Lovely atmosphere, wonderful food and fantastic service - what more could you ask for! Probably the nicest pub in the country.
JW - London - 2 Sep 2004 15:12 |
Good ambience specially in the older part. Home cooked food is good & plentiful. Small but creative selection of real ales:- haven'y had a bad one yet.
Dick Clark - 21 Jul 2004 13:10 |
