please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
An awful lot of badly kept, cloudy and stale beer being served here these days. And it's expensive too!
Some new staff in the kitchen and bar, including a manager, may be just what is needed.
I hope so.
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Decent pub and I was served by a helpful memebr of staff. Good beer range. Seated accommodation outside across the access road, nice on a summers day.
PhilR - 27 Jul 2013 11:07 |
Being local to this pub I support it but probably not as much as I used to. The pub has a lovely atmosphere and the beer is not bad and has a good selection of ales 3 I think.
The downside of this pub is that it may be a victim of its own success since with other pubs in the area people are going to the Sun. The problem is the staff or in my opinion the lack of.
My wife and I popped in the other day to get a bite to eat but the bar was empty fo at least 10 minutes and we walked out. The poor member of bar staff was running the large bar and serving tables. Please get more staff
I can see that they are trying to recruit and I wish them the best of luck, but currently this pub has everything going for it apart from the service.
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Met a friend here for lunch. Top notch pint of Harvey's Sussex and an excellent steak sandwich. Unspoilt traditional pub. There were plenty of tables available on a Friday but I understand it is best to book ahead at the weekends.
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We visited this lovely old fashioned pub on Sunday for a friend's birthday as a group of 14. As soon as we arrived we were made to feel welcome and the staff were all friendly and helpful. Several good ales on hand pumps and a lovely homely bar with lots of old beams and hops hanging from the ceiling. We had the restaurant to ourselves as we were a big group and were impressed with the good quality food (roasts, proper pub grub and very reasonably priced sandwiches and ploughmans) which was served promptly by friendly waiters and waitresses. Overall a really nice day out and we will definitely visit again, especially in the summer to make use of the picnic tables at the front of the pub on the green. If you're looking for a proper village pub then look no further - one of a dying breed. 10/10
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As a former Landlord of The Sun Inn and a resident of Dunsfold for many years, I am full of admiration for the existing owners for figting on through these difficult times. It would be a disaster for the village if the pub was ever to close and I wish Chris and Yvonne well in their discussions with Punch Taverns (who are not on my Christmas card list!)
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As a keen walker, I have tried many a pub lunch in a number of pubs in Surrey over the past 6 years. The disappointing thing is that I have seen a number of these 'made over' to gastro pubs/restaurants which normally results in a deterioration in atmosphere and an uninspired menu. Not so with the Sun at Dunsfold. It maintains it's character and good homemade pub grub. The staff are friendly and always provide a warm welcome. Please don't ruin yet another of our local pubs.
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I have a friend who lives in the village and every time myself and my husband visit from London we always go here. The Sun is great village pub, the food is excellent and my husband is alway impressed by the selection of beer/ales they have. The staff are very friendly and the pub on the hold is very welcoming. Being from London I've been to a fair few pubs and this pub can match up to a few of them but with the added bonus of having that great village feel. I would definitely recommend this pub to anyone visiting Dunsfold or any other neighbouring villages.
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Surrey born and bred. A villager for 10 years but have known this place for 35.
The Sun is our pub, welcoming for locals, visitors, families, children and dogs.
A meeting place for my great collection of friends and neighbours. Good beer, good food, log fire in the Winter, garden in the Summer, brilliant atmosphere.
Long may The Sun shine.
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I have lived in Dunsfold for more than FIVE years when I first stated to use the Sun as my local pub. Coming from the north of England were the pubs are renowned for their friendliness I was pleasantly surprised how friendly and inviting the Sun in is, particularly as I lived in London for more than 15 years. The Sun is exactly what the village needs a proper local where villagers can meet and enjoy a good drink, food when required and friendly banter. Please keep it the same as it is so important to the village.
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I've lived in the village for 18 years and worked at The Sun for 1.5 years so I know it pretty well. It's a pub that's used and loved by locals of all ages and stages in life. It does what a village pub should do - gives a social heart to the village, a place to meet and eat, a warm fire to sit by (even in the summer) and it would be a very real blow to us all - both locals and visitors from further away - if it changed to a gastro pub, or even worse, closed down. If Punch has any awareness of what is wanted from a local pub they will recognise that The Sun needs to retain it's current character, and some funds contributed towards the maintainance of a beautiful old listed building would be more appropriate. As villagers we fought to keep our shop open last year and I believe we would do the same to keep the pub as a genuine local.
saz11 - 27 Aug 2011 17:14 |
and mine.
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hes mine.
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Thank-you for your good wishes, Stroller!
Bill.
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Fair enough guys I stand corrected..
As for punch I spit on them and wish you all the best hope you havn`t got a certain Paul Thomas as your BDM if you have god help you.
Again wish you all the best.
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havnt visited yet but will pop in next wednesday,local pubs need all our support,
kevin carter
red lion
egham
(punch lease)
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Before anyone asks, yes, I live in Dunsfold; yes, this is my local; yes I know the regulars; no, I have no financial connection with this pub. However, if posting a good comment here helps to keep this pub open then I am happy to do that. I agree completely with what Boozy Bill has written. This is the archetypal village pub...no pretensions of grandeur...well-cooked and tasty "pub-grub"...a friendly and chatty clientale..and a very important social centre. A beautiful building in a superb position, maybe in need of some cosmetic attention but that's a minor point. The village needs this pub and it would be a disaster if it was turned into a restaurant or even closed down.
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Hard to find a more welcoming pub. Always a good chatty crowd and the beer is excellent.
excop - 27 Aug 2011 11:55 |
Stroller, no I am not also Tippex. I am just a villager who uses this pub frequently, having lived nearby for several years.
Why do you think it strange that two people should leave positive reviews about a pub? That is what this site is about, after all. Though far too many seem to use it for venting private and irrelevant personal gripes.
We used to have 9 commercial premises in this village, from a bank to a petrol station, from a baker to a butcher. Now all we have is a village shop, half its old size, ... that the village had to buy to keep open and The Sun Inn. Even the school has gone.
Now we are threatened with losing the pub too, the owners thinking it might make more money as a fancy restaurant. I think they are wrong personally...even Chris Evans with all his millions couldn't keep a fancy gastro-pub going nearby and the nearest gastro-pub left, also a Punch tavern is broke!
There's no trickery here, I promise you....I just want to keep my 'local', that's all.
There might well be more positive posts about this pub soon, indeed I hope there are. Again no trickery involved...just concerned locals who like the place. If they don't post here it might get used as an argument to withold lease renewal and then it will be gone forever.
If you'd tasted my homebrew you'd know why we are worried :-)
BoozyBill.
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Stroller - My name is Zoe Lindesay and my parents run the pub. We are in the middle of a rent dispute with our Landlord, Punch Taverns. Punch have used comments on this site as part of their case. Therefore, I have put a sign in the pub asking our regulars to comment. We are not trying to run adverts, we just want honest feedback. No rating given.
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Bozzybill/tippex are you one and the same running an Ad. for this pub??
I smell a Roland.
No rating given.
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My wife and I have visited the Sun regularly on our many visits to Dunsfold and have found it to be welcoming, friendly and full of atmosphere - just what a country pub should be like and long may it stay that way. Tippex.
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I see one or two others have criticised some of the prices at this pub. They might find it illuminating to learn that the pub is owned by Punch Taverns, who set both the rent, based on any profit that they think you 'could' make as their tennant AND supply the pub with liquor at a price of their choosing!
A perfect example of this is where a certain Irish cider became rather popular a couple of Summers ago. Puch told their tennant in The Sun Inn to start selling it at �4 a pint, and set their charges to him for the stuff appropriately high!
His reply?
He dropped the stuff and sold Bulmers instead....at a far cheaper price.
High prices don't always go into the landlords bank account, more likely to some over-stretched Pub-Co that can't even service its debts!
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This is our village pub, the centre of our rural life. It's where we have our Christening parties, our wedding receptions and yes...our wakes too.
It's where we go to meet our neighbours, in our Sunday best, on Christmas morning, it's where we have our birthday parties, our post cricket match 'team talks' and where we adjourn after the service on Rememberance Sunday.
This is what makes us who we are, it defines us as English.......
This is OUR village pub.
BoozyBill.
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On our visit we found the place looked a little tired needs some TLC.Beers ok not alot more to say.
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I was pleasantly surprised to find this is a secret real cider pub.
The only clue was a small faded Westons sticker in one window. Those usually mean nothing more than Stowford Press chemfizz, but I went in for a look. There was no sign of any Westons product at the bar so, thinking it was probably just an old sticker, I asked, and was told there was Westons Scrumpy on. A pint glass was taken off to a back room and brought back duely filled.
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nice pub, i don't agree with the last comment, slightly shocked.
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not very impressive and the place was filthy.
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not bad at all for a village local. 2.95 for shandy is good in my opinion.
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Mydiana you came all this way??? No comments about any pubs in Aberdeen ??? Now thats what i find Amazing !!!!!!!!!
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I came 600 miles to this pub on a whim from Aberdeen, Scotland,,,,I was not dissapointed... the ambiense was amazing and brilliant,,, and that was a wednesday morning,i really laughed at the poster displayed in the window, that Alister Darling was banned... even me being a Scot dislikes Broon and Darling...A great atmospheric pub, ive never been in one like it with great atmosphere as soon as you come in door and very welcoming...with a great vibe even though me and my mate wir only ones in, 2 blondes and 2 german tourists on a lonely wednesday morning... but hey what a place... seee you next sat night or sunday nite,, 6th or 7th dec.. just chuck me out the taxi from haslemere into the Sunn and ill have died and went to heaven,,... cany wait,,, see you there!...!just visit its amazing!!!!!!
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I called in to the Sun today hoping I might catch Biker, Simonkey7 and Cloverfield having a toe-to-toe, but instead of that I had a very pleasant pint or four of Harveys (I wasn't driving) and a chat with some friends. An excellent local pub - I only wish I lived nearer (my local is the Noah's Ark in Lurgashall - used to be a good local too, some years ago). I don't know what the beer in the Sun cost, Biker, but it was worth it.
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I agree that drinks are a bit pricey, but you'll find that most places sell pints of shandy at the same price as the normal pint (that and just a lemonade alone is costing more than �2.20 a pint these days) - if I stopped going to pubs because I was unhappy with the prices I'd just stay in with my Tesco's Crate!
The food has always been great here, not cheap but that's because you're getting good quality resturant-esq food and not wetherspoons re-heated ready meals.
Also, they have some great live music which is often hard to come by without having to go all the way to Guildford.
I agree it's definitely more of a Local Pub for Local People, though - it's just good to be one of 'em!
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Pleasant garden, good sandwiches, but �2.95 for a pint of bitter shandy is a rip-off. We won't be going there again.
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Good to see you are now getting out and about not just sticking to The Sun for your drinks simonkey7 feels better i bet!
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Biker - Not at all, I've reviewed several pubs and only one landlord took humbrage with my comment as he/she thought incorrectly I was someone they knew!
If you happen to visit the Sun whilst I'm there I will happily buy you a drink and you'll see I'm not an argumentative person at all.
I wish you well with your travels and hope to share a jar or two with you some day.
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Over-zealous? I don't think so! I agree with you that this pub has had some rough years with the last tenants losing interest in the place and moving away, but as someone who visits regularly I can see the changes that have been made in the past few months and believe me they were very much needed! I'm the first to admit it!!
Yes, the place had become grubby, but it has been given a damn good clean from top to bottom, and there is more to come, the incoming tenants have informed us that the first thing on their list is to get the decorators in, replace furniture and soft furnishings and replace those 10 year old carpets! The roof that has leaked for nearly 20 years is also due to be ripped off and replaced!
The menu will also get an overhaul along with several other improvements they have in mind. This is what I mean by people who do not know what's really happening in a place! Ok if you don't frequent a place regularly you aren't to know this, but in the same breath without knowing this why make such assumptions...
Giveusabeer - ''Nice area in parts except for the caravan dwellers.
Simonkey have you a vested interest in this pub????'' - How is this a review of the pub itself???
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My My Simonkey touchy touchy, on the pub, the pint i had (it might have been a half as it had such a big head on it don`t have a fit only joking)was fine same as the wine, we had no problem with the prices (its Surrey don`t you know).
But i will stick with my first comment on both points and your comments after go a long way to proving them correct.
ps were did i put down the pub any how???
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Biker- re-read my comments and read it properly, nowhere in there did I say that the pub could do without 'passing crowds'! Get real, so many pubs are closing everyday thanks to this government taxing beer beyond extreme and extortionate rents to brewers! This pub welcomes passing trade with open arms and is used by visiting groups of all kinds including cyclists, walkers, ornathologists, cricket clubs and many others.
What I said was that those people who pass and PUT DOWN pubs are the kind of people that are not helping the trade in general, let alone the individual premises!! Someone who visits a place and has half a bitter then feels they know enough about a place to give a supposed informed review to other potential visitors can actually do more harm than good!! None of us wants to see any pub closing so instead of bitching about the price of a pint ( quite often beyond the landlords control! ) if you feel the need to comment then make it constructive, give the pubs something to work on and improve!
I do get out and about thank you very much, and I know that the price of a pint in many surrounding pubs, including the compasses, is within 10 pence either side of a pint here so get your facts straight.
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Giveusabeer- funny how out of all your comments on pubs there's only a minute amount that actually complement any!! Are you one of lifes born complainers??? Or is it just that you only ever have half a bitter in them and never hang around long enough to appreciate them??
As for a vested interest, wrong, the interest I have is I live in this village and have drunk here for many years under many tenancies and get a bit narked at the 'passing' crowd who choose to put down places by way of assumption!! If you actually knew this pub you would know that the 'caravan dwellers' as you so call them do not frequent this pub at any time!! They go into cranleigh, guildford, godalming etc, they are not welcome here and haven't been for a very long time!!
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Nice area in parts except for the caravan dwellers.
Simonkey have you a vested interest in this pub????
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It's quite obvious that the 3 previous comments are from people who are not familiar with this pub or area at all!!
Although �3 for real ale may seem expensive, compared to its local competitors it is competitive, the food here is excellent, although at busy times it may take a while (due to a tiny kitchen) when it arrives it is fresh- not frozen as some claim, large portions and good value for money. Try eating similar dishes in other pubs around the area and you'll see what I mean. This pub is renowned for its home-made steakburgers and sunday roasts and if you dont reserve a table in advance you'll struggle to get in as the place is rammed every sunday!!
This pub did not change hands last spring, it is in the process of change at present, they have employed a new pub manager who's working very hard to take the pub forward, it looks clean and tidy, the staff are friendly and helpful, lovely setting, live music every month, well worth a visit!
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Fantastic setting and a lovely old building. Food poor since it changed hands last spring. Very expensive, but well worth it in summer, when you can sit out on the village green.
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This has to be the most expensive pub we've been to ever for real ale at �3 a pint! And its not like they spend the money on the place either.
This pub was grubby and shabby, but with someone's creativity and enthusiasm could be a lovely pub.
The loud tv did nothing for the atmosphere either. . .
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Dirty and noisy, but it is an interesting old building. We had dinner there and the four of us agreed it was the worst of frozen pub food that had spent too long in the deap fat frier. Will not be going back.
anonymous - 4 Oct 2007 19:41 |
Really good rare beef baguettes to be had here. I particularly like the fact that on a sunny when all the other pubs in the area are trying scalp you for a mediocre sunday lunch you can still turn up here and have a decent sandwich, a pint of beer and a table outside. Always friendly too.
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Beeronaut The Hawk and Harrier is now a house ,had to be closed down due to the dregs of the earth using it.
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Did this pub used to be called the Hawk and Harrier? I remember a pub in Dunsfold called that, years ago, but no sign of it now.
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Very pleasant location, extensive and fairly priced menu,
but �3 for a pint of Pride ??
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A nice pint of Harveys in an excellent location on the edge of Dunsfold's large common. Well worth the detour off the A281.
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Nice friendly pub with great staff. Great choice of ales and wines. Lovely warm atomsphere - highly recommended.
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This pub is very warm and friendly. It is run by a charming family who employ a very very attractive barman/kithchin bith called alex. I had a very satisfying experience there and my friend an i have been inducted as locals after only two visits. TOP!
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Recommended by a friend: This pub has a very good, friendly atmosphere. There is a good range of ales although, like most pubs, it is fairly expensive. It is in the picturesque village of dunsfold which is one of Surrey's most beautiful villages. It attracts some famous people including: JK (from Jamiroquai), Chris Evans and Jeremy Clarkson (Due to the Top Gear Studios and race track being near by) There are also meals provided by The Sun to some of the Top Gear Staff!!!
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