please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Three Shere Drop ales on, all delivered with a friendly welcome and a smile. What more do you want? Well, the Ranmore was a bit cloudy although it tasted fabulous. So fabulous that my partner was spinning as we tackled the steep climb back up to the North Downs Way. To be fair, the guys at the bar checked we were OK with it and I'm not afraid to sup a pint near to the end of a barrel but I'd suggest the staff just take it off sale if Ranmore misbehaves again. Sheer (Shere) heaven were the other two pints - I can't recommend the Greensand IPA enough, it's a superb pint, not too hoppy but enough to give the tastebuds a squeeze.
The pub itself is two minutes stagger from the Mill but has a the better garden to sit in. I like the Compasses.
|
The Compasses is a short stroll across its car park from the Gomshall Mill. They had 3 Surrey Ales beers on - Greensand IPA, Shere Drop & Ranmore Ale. Seemed to be more of a locals pub than the Gomshall Mill, with the latter probably focusing more on food. What struck me most about this pub was the prices. I don't think I paid any more in any of the other pubs during my Monday evening visit to Surrey. The pub has a lovely location next to the stream/river and has a beer garden alongside it. The interior is nothing particularly special.
|
Visited on a Thursday evening - our first visit for years (since the days when it was renowned for its Gibbs Mew Bishop's Tipple beer). Excellent range of Surrey Hills beer - had the Sheer Drop which was kept to perfection. Sat in the garden for an excellent (pub food) meal. I had sausages and mash in a large Yorkshire pudding - a dish which is increasingly difficult to find in Yorkshire itself these days! Thoroughly recommended. One word of caution. Only visit on a Friday evening if you like loud live jazz music!
|
As the Pilgrim says the range of 3 Surrey Hills beers was on sale but for whatever reason I didn't think was up to scratch and certainly not as good as when I first started drinking their beers. The accolade for taste must now go to Tilingbourne which the barman at the Gomshall Mill says they will always try and stock now so no need to divert to Wonersh. The Compasses Inn is definetely worth a visit though; it has a lovely garden and for food I gather it's good. One slight downer, the lounge bar smelt musty.
|
Quite quet in here for a mid Sunday afternoon, five others in the bar. Three beers on tap all from the Surrey Hills Brewery, Ranmore Ale, Sheer Drop and Greensand IPA - the latter in fine condition but that came at a price �3.90 a pint!
|
went on sunday for the Gomfest. They really needed a few tubs in the garden to ease the pressure the bar was under.Other than that a great day.Surrey Hills was excellent.
|
Good for Surrey Hills beer here, for Tillingbourne beers try the pub in Wonersh.
anonymous - 9 Jun 2012 16:51 |
We have always found the range of beers here very good and mostly on top form.
This pub could accommodate a new beer from Shere !!!!! you don`t have to go all the way to Epsom !!!!
|
Called for late luch food was very basic and 'crispy salad' came drenched in coleslaw
When I pointed out to the bar man that there was no mention of the coleslaw on the menu and that it had ruined my lunch he was dismissive and said 'no one else has ever complained' and I should have asked for no colelsaw when I ordered
He did not appologise and was in fact quite rude
We will not be back and would advise anyone else to find another pub
|
Went here Saturday night, warm hammer mild. Now only a surrey hills outlet. Nothing wrong with a well kept Surrey Hills, this was not a well kept pint. This is a very charming pub, but very dark. The barman just about served us when not on the phone. Would not have gone apart from needing a stamp for the Surrey Hills Ale Trail. Which the barman signed and then said lets see you forge this?????????????? Why.
|
The Shear Drop was well kept, but it should be for �3.60 a pint.
|
A very scruffy pub compared to others in the area, it looks like it was decorated by over enthusiatic paint ball warriors.The �3.50 a pint was slightly expensive and the ale was nearly undrinkable a very poor advert for Surrey Hills Brewery..The barman was bored and continually asked wether we were dining/having another etc.A nice little river borders the car park( probably containing a better drink) and the garden look o.k. I will not be going back.0/10
|
It seems that hello1973 has lost his/her objectivity with their only posts over the past 17 months praising the Gomshall Mill Inn on its own comments page or that of other local pubs.
|
Check out the gomshall mill innn opposite thats all i will say Sorry
|
After an entirely unintentional hiatus between visits of 12 years, I found myself back at the Compasses, as an opportunity presented itself en route to other pastures (well, almost - it was 10:50 and so we had to loiter about furtively until the doors were opened!). When we finally gained ingress, it hadn't changed much, other than the licensee, and - mercifully - the ale selection, which although only numbers three, suggested that it is now effectively the Ranmore brewery tap (dfespite numerous pump clips adorning the bar area which imply other brews do feature). We were greeted by a friendly chap (surprising given his South African accent - sorry but they aren't renowned for their charm!), and the "milk-curdling" landlady was hovering in the background. I spoke to both and they seemed well-informed and pleasant, so perhaps we shouldn't let accents or appearances be the sole judge and jury. I know this used to be an Enterprise outlet, and the landlady confirmed it still is - the beer range is thanks to her willingness (and undoubted ability) to persuade her employer that more interesting choices are the way forward, and having struck a comfortable deal with Ross at Surrey Hills. Prices weren't cheap (halves of the Ruby and the Ranmore were sampled and it came in at �3.50) but then again weren't unusual in today's country pub market. The main thing is, there is more beer and cheer to be found here than in many pubs owned by said company.
The pub itself provides a cosy interior, if a little horse-brassy, and the grounds provide excellent outdoor facilities on a hot sunny day, set beside the nearby river. If you don't fancy this there is the 11th century Old Mill Inn opposite, which looks good, but I would doubt has Surrey Hills beers as well-kept as this?
|
A very good pint but run by a landlady who can curdle milk from twenty yards.
|
Back again after a 2 month break and the beer is as ever very good. The staff seem alittle more laid back than my last visit which was to say the least interesting. Only had a bar snack but was good value and served quickly with a smile. That and fine ale what more would you want??
|
Beer was nice (from the Surrey Hills brewery); surroundings were very pleasant but the Sunday roast was average. Wouldn't come here for a meal again, but would certainly visit for more beer.
|
Interesting staff.
As always there is a good pint of well kept ale to be had here; that at least has remained a constant over the years which is why I for one return frequently.
Great garden.
|
We visited here at lunchtime and planned to eat. The drinks were overpriced and the staff unwelcoming.
Woofs - 19 Mar 2009 15:35 |
I was looking forward to the Shere Drop which was delicious, light and refreshing. A bit pricey, but we enjoyed the Roast beef and a large Yorkshire pudding that was filled with bubble and squeak, covered in spicy tom sauce and cheese. Unusually good for a main road pub.
|
This is a very pretty pub in a splendid location but it has one major problem as far as I'm concerned, you need to be very, very, rich to drink here regularly: in fact you'll find it much cheaper to haunt the environs of Kensington and Chelsea - pity they're so far away.
|
We had lunch at this pub on 20th September. It was sunny and very pleasant in the beer garden with the stream. The beer is well-kept but with a distinctive citrusy taste, bitter and pale-coloured like lager, from a nearby micro-brewery. I thought the "Shere Drop" the nicest of the 3 pints. I had a Sausage Ploughman's, the baguette bread was very fresh and delicious but the sausages were not great quality. My wife had the battered prawns which she thought were nioe. We would happily come back again.
|
Good real ale pub and pleasent location.
|
Pleaeant country pub by a stream, very nice to sit out on a warm day like today. Superb ranger of Surrey Hills: Ranmore, Gilt Complex, Shere Drop and Hammr Mild. I had the Gilt Complex which was lovely.
Close to the station although there is an infrequent service.
Recommended
|
I really cannot understand some of the comments about this lovely pub, a favourite of our family. Lovely to visit in the summer for its garden by the river, excellent food always and nice local real ale; not as good as TEA from the Hogs Back but very acceptable. Nice staff too, the landlady is great. And they allow dogs in the bar. I am visiting again in just over a weeks time!
|
Got to say i agree with GGG on the beer but the food is not very good this pub gets alot of passing trade that possibly will only call in once and not again.
anonymous - 15 Jan 2008 10:18 |
Whatever anyone's opinions on the pub I don't think anyone can question the quality of the real ale. Drank all 3 of the Surrey Hills beers last night - all excellent as usual.
|
GGG - must depend on which night you visit, we had 2 very good meals, but the beer was very poor
anonymous - 30 Aug 2007 15:49 |
Had lunch there with my daughter and mum. Mum had ham eggs and chips which was good. I had a burger which tasted like one off a trailer in the street and my 4 year old daughter had cod goujons which was the worse meal Ive ever seen. Her plate arrived with three 2 inch greasy, battered strips of cod which when you took the batter off there was barely any cod in. We paid a total of �28 and I can honestly say that for the price we paid it was the worse meal ive ever had. We basically paid for 3 plates of chips as these were plentiful. Me and my mum came out saying macdonalds would have been cheaper and nicer and thats saying something! The pub was smelly too, very dated, a little on the shabby/dirty side. Would definitely avoid if in the area.
anonymous - 2 Jul 2007 22:13 |
Am surprised to read Nick Davies' complaint about the food as I've always found it to be pretty good. Not surprised that the beer was spot on though.
|
OK for a sandwich and the beer is spot on but be careful about cooked food. Woman next to us was losing a battle with what was optimistically called lasagne, in fact about a cubic foot of stodge amid a sea of chips.
|
live music EVERY friday from 9pm- well worth a look as all acts are very talented and stretch across a large range of styles...some not to my taste but atmosphere always positive and all acts well received!
|
by far the best pub in the area!
good food, (mostly) friendly staff, and well kept beer - now in the good beer guide for the 3rd year running!!
someone here posted that the chef was not working on mon and tues which is FALSE...the chef is there but the a la carte menu is not available on these days.
well worth a visit if you're in the area
|
Not bad here...bit close to the busy road for my liking...and a bit noisy thereof....landlady extremely cold and rude in my opinion. Still, pub was ok, beers in a decent condition...food acceptable...wouldn't come back though.
|
One of the best pubs in the area for real ale, currently stocking Red River, and all 3 Surrey Hills beers, including Shere Drop which has just been awarded a bronze award at this year's Great British Beer Festival.
Whilst it's of secondary importance, the food and the garden with the river running through it are also good.
|
Had a decent restaurant meal there earlier today. Chef is there Wednesday through Sunday. Non chef food was fine other than a tomato and spinach garnish served hot which was odd. Good selection of local ales. Friendly barman. Cute ducks quacking at the bar for service which they got in the shape of a trail of bread to persuade them out of the bar. Would go again on a chef day.
|
I kicked off a sunday walk with a pint in this pub and loved it. The interior was rather quaint but the selection of real ales is rather splendid and the garden by the stream is a lovely spot.
|
This pub has the best selection and best tasting food around for the price. Prices are very reasonable and as with most pubs wine is pricey but 'normal' per glass. I have been going there for years, and as yet, there is little to fault.
One little niggle is that food has been served to me on a cold plate two or three times in about a year,so not too bad. Bills can sometimes be miscalculated but always rectified with a smile, happens to the best of us. Always book if you need an evening table just in case. Good huge menu to choose from and not your usual pub 'something and chips', although the chips ARE very good!
The Land Lady is a lovely person, OK she is a wee bit cuddly, but who cares. A 'healthy looking' Land Lady is a great ad. for the super grub she cooks. Someone wrote 'Scarey'. Maybe a bit, but not if you behave yourselves! An assertive Landlord/Lady keeps people in order. Be nice, pay your bill and you won't end up in the pot! Higly recommended.
|
Not sure what it is about this pub, but I like it! The main bar area is quite small (most of the pub is set aside for eating), but to be honest, this pub is best visited during the summer months so you can take advantage of their garden and stream, so that doesn't matter.
Need to keep a watchful eye out for birds, the white splatters all over the picnic tables are not artful decoration!
|
The landlady is a bit scary (that hair is really weird and I bet there are a few items of lost property just waiting to be found in it). She keeps really good beer though, including the lovely Surrey Hills Shere Drop, so I forgive her.
|
Admittedly, the selection of ales is good, and in summer it is a great place to while away a few pints whilst letting your little parasites...erm...children run riot. The stream is good fun and crayfish can be found easily in it. I have to say, there are better, but there is something about this pub that deserves a good belch and a hideous round of flatulence.
|
Nothing much wrong here, perfectly good stop on a particularly well pubbed stretch of road. Nice garden by the river, good range of beers, no pretensions in the food department. Could do with a lick of paint. In some areas it would be considered worth a trip out to but here there are several better options nearby. As I say worth a stop if you are passing but I must mark it down slightly to be fair to the competition.
|
If you like live music, cosy pub and good atmosphere - it is unrivalled in the area !
|
A good pub with a great selection of beers. We tried them all and they were all good. However, the atmosphere is not so good, but it was a cold Sunday night. But it seems like a cafe, rather than a cosy country pub. Remember though that the beer is good and a good selection.
|
Can't believe it's not been listed yet...Have I just blown an insider tip? An absolute must if you're in the area, right on the main street with an excellent garden/river/music on Fridays/hospitality/B&B the lot. A must: say hi to Fee from Miles
|
