please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Another great mini beer fest with 12 ales on. Where oh where are all you ale drinkers. This is a great place, so much better than certain GBG entries in nearby Godalming in my opinion.
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Went for a meal with friends last night. Boy it was busy. Food was excellent for all four of us. Ale wise we had Dark Star Hophead, Hepworths Old and Hogs Back Snout all on good form. It is an injustice that a place that sells, in my opinion, consistently good ale and across a wide range of styles is not be in the Good Beer Guide. It doesn't affect us, we know it's there, I just feel a lot of others are missing out.
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Another excellent mini beer fest this and last week. Reasonable selection, 10 ales and ciders on at once. Highlights for me were Oakham Inferno and Hammerpot Bottle Wreck porter. Nice burgers as well. Such a great place for ales; can't understand why it's been missed out of the Good Beer Guide again.
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@ThePilgrim (20th April comment).
Sad that people assume that positive comments have to be made by someone connected to the pub. I've just moved nearby and the visit on the 19th April was the first of several since then with friends and family, all of whom have enjoyed the pub. I'm happy to be critical when appropriate, but honestly can't find anything not to like about the place.
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We only went here because we were late and they do food all day.The bulding is most impressive,but I'm not too sure how much of it is genuinely old.
The menu is unpretentious, but the food was good.Service seemed a bit slow given that the place was not very busy.
The staff were friendly enough.
We were not so keen on the beer.The only one of which we'd heard (T.E.A) was off.
We are always a bit suspiciuous of "local brews" -our fears were justified,we had to back one round and the next wasn't too palatable.
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I really feel I should like this pub more than I do. The beer is excellent - good choice of local cask beer and very well looked after. The food isn't bad either and the table staff are friendly, obliging and (frankly - fellow old loafers) uniformly drop dead gorgeous. But somehow it all feels a bit of a production line. Perhaps I still can't get the carvery it was years ago out of my head. Worth going for the beer alone though - no question.
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Great choice of real ale.Lovely sun-trap out back.Interesting building considering its only about 100 yrs old.
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Nice Ad. Gastr0naut you didn`t say what position you hold in this firm !!!
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Excellent pub! Very pleased with the range of choice on the menu. Food was very good, and with many locally sourced ingredients. A very good range of local cask beers, and I was pleased to see that 'try before you buy' was offered without asking. Friendly staff. Will make this a regular place to visit, and looking forward to summer evenings in the very child-friendly garden.
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Good selection of beers and the staff allowed me to try them all before i decided will be returning to try some more
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I fully agree with MEETTHEBROW about the Refectory, terrible place. But I have eaten at the Inn on the lake a few times and the food is not as good as The White Lion in Milford. Its a smaller pub but the food is fresh, tasty and very good choice and value for money. Staff and owners very nice too.
jegao - 27 Dec 2011 13:19 |
Good range of beers/ales, however that's where the praise ends. Terrible food (worst burger I have ever had) & shocking service throughout, culminating in a wait of just under an hour for dessert. Such a shame as the building itself is beautiful, but I will never be returning and recommending everyone avoid this place. Suggest you got to The Inn On the Lake just down the road, far better value, friendly and professional service.
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An absolutely superb beer and cider festival this weekend. Thanks to everyone there for making it happen.
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Superb pints of Hophead late yesterday afternoon sitting on the patio. Keep pinching myself this superb place is so close to home.
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Now back on form after a somewhat dismal period when it tried to work out whether it was a pub or restaurant.
With new managers the staff are now lively and engaged and beer is consistently good.
Haven't eaten there, but have heard good things about the food.
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Great pub for eating or drinking. Lots of space and the old building has great charm and character. Food excellent although not the cheapest, but you feel like you get something for your money. Highly recommended.
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Superb pint of Dark Star Hophead last night and the food excellent. Still says Godalming on the address when it's in Milford
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Much better as a pub since new owners Brunning and Price took over last year. 6 ales on draft the last couple of times I've been in. All seem to be very well kept. They seem to try and keep most beers local which is good to see. Bar area larger than previously and a bit more of a pub feel, albeit a very large pub . restaurant still. Great character. Friendly staff. Havent tried the food yet, sounds great, although quite pricey. Its in Milford, not Godalming.
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THIS PUB IS IN MILFORD not godalming. How do we get the address changed?
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The Refectory had a beer festival last week with 20 beers available on a rolling program of 6 on at a time. A blackboard was kept up to date with what's on and tasting notes. Over 3 visits we had such delights as Whistable Oyster stout and East India pale ale, Dark Star Espresso and Surrey Hills Mild, all in superb condition. On most occasions we just went for a dink not to eat and were made just as welcome.
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Our most recent visit with friends from the north of England last week was met with a less than exciting range of beers. I'm afraid I still hanker for the days when a range of beer styles would be on offer from a mild through a golden to a porter or stout. Having said that the Crouch Vale I had was superb and both us and our friends found the food good and adequate but they did baulk at the price for the "round".
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Been here a couple of times lately, always a good supply of real ale. Food is adequate, but nothing special. Waiting service is non existent. Does not help that staff wear there own cloths, so if you have a question you do not know who to ask. On our last visit we ordered desserts after our meal, the waitress could only bring us a teaspoon and a fork to share, as they had a busy lunch they could not wash cutlery. It was 8.30pm with another only five other tables eating, not really putting the customer experiance first!
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This used to be our 'local' for a decent meal and there was always somethig the children enjoyed to eat. Unfortunately when we went there on 16th August just after the most recent change of hands we had some very dissapointing food and service. We were not asked once if the meal was satisfactory and almost felt we were in the way. As I was not in the mood to complain I suffered a crab linguine dish and my son and his Grandpa ham egg and chips. The eggs had been cooked in too much oil and it had leached through the ham - wooah. Having said that perhaps the burgers were good as some people did look like they had not got a problem with thier food. My advice would be to choose carefully from the menu - they won't be getting any more of my money!
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overpriced no kids menu steakburgers pink in middle puddings which would have been good were luke warm
wont use again
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Back again for another meal with a mate. Really impressed to see Surrey Hills Mild on which has just won Gold in class and third overall at the Great British Beer Festival. We had four different beers between us and all were good quality. They have a blackboard with beer tasting notes and coming soon beers, for instance Shere Drop was mentioned.
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We in Milford have waited a long time for a decent choice of tradiotinal ale. When we moved here in the early 80s the nearby Red Lion was a Gales pub, now a Tesco. At the Refectory there are 3 permanent ales one of which is badged to the "chain" we were told is brewed by Phoenix of Heywood near Manchester, and 3 changing guests. We have been 3 times in the last 10 days so have sampled most of the beers and all have been top notch. On our first visit we suggested a local brewery they may wish to have represented was Surrey Hills and on our second visit there it was. That's impressive.
The previous incumbant, Bluebeckers, and the present Brunning and Price seem to be part of The Restaurant Group and we thank them for the very sensible and welcome change.
Although there is an emphasis on food which is very good there is plenty of room for drinkers only including a super outdoor area. Seating is 60% reservable leaving the remainder for turn-ups according to the website.
The current rating for this pub is 3.5 which seems a real shame. Is there any way it can be reset as a previous contributer suggested, as it will take a long time to rise to its just level?
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Agree with Beergog. 5 real ales on when I visited and the food was excellent. Staff really friendly too.
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The refectory has been closed for a couple of weeks and has re-opened after a refurb as a Brunning and Price Pub, it looks great inside and the food and the beer were fantastic. All the previous comments can be reset as these new guys really seem to know what they are doing.
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Grim food.
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Beersupper - I stand corrected, as a little digging shows it ceased being a family concern in 2000, when it was bought up by C.I. Traders Ltd, who then sold it on to TRG in June 2005. Shame. No wonder standards and menu are in decline.
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I took my family there for a lunch time meal and there were only a handful of cars in the car park. We got shown to a table and a drinks order was taken. There was only three other tables in the whole place, with 5 members of staff on. So we thought we would get a good service as it was quiet......WRONG!!! Everything took so long to get to our table even the ordering. None of the staff are friendly with no smiles or good communication.
When we finally got are meal it was not bad for a microwave job! The desserts were ordered and my wife had the strawberry mess which the cream was totally off! I complained about the cream but i never got a apology or explanation. So with that we paid our bill and left. FOR GOOD!!!
On a positive side, its a lovely building which is clean and spacious with a good garden, just such a shame about the staff and food.
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Fantastic old building, and lovely gardens, what a shame the microwaved food doesnt live up to the surroundings. Staff friendly enough, so OK if you just want a quick drink and sit in the garden, but I wont be eating there again.
MG100 - 13 Nov 2008 15:30 |
Groinhammer sorry must disagree Bluebeckers/Edwins is anything but a family run business it`s a London Restaurant company with over a 100 outlets to it`s name.Food is still below average for a restaurant chain.
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A super pub...fantastic beer garden and location, wonderful decor (although I was surprised to read inside it's not as old as it seems!). Great food too...under new management, highly recommended.
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refectory def better than gomshall but hey ho each one to themselves
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There have been 2 incarnations of this (and this is where some previous reviewers may have to concentrate) REFECTORY since it was a carvery, and both have been a great improvement on the dreaded dry meat and mushy veg days. The current proprietor is Blubeckers, a family run business (and still is I think) since opening their first restaurant in Shepperton Square in 1977.
They have made some vital improvements to the decor, including removing the plethora of rusty farming implements nailed to the walls, a hangover from an 80�s fad best forgotten. Food quality and service is still lacking compared to their other premises, and I have yet to have hot food served after 4 visits. I hope this improves, and the team here could probably get a few pointers from their Gomshall restaurant (a preferred destination).
As for beer and atmosphere it is much the same as you would expect from any other restaurant, though the staff lack an enthusiasm that would improve the welcoming surroundings.
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Why are there no reviews viewable prior to 12 August 2008? This was always a wonderful carvery before it was taken over by whoever in 2005/6. OAPs got a discount so it was always full, but was equally excellent for a family meal or even a corporate lunch. Went there just the once under the new ownership, but walked out without spending anything because standards gad fallen, and I couldn;t understand the rules. Such a shame, as it served all of us for whatever we wanted. Haven't been there since I moved away from Godalming, but I see that things haven't improved. Miss the Refectory - as is used to be!
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Got to say honey1979 you are easily pleased if you like the food here,i have had better Birds Eye food than this in fact is it the same?And as a comment below asks why a restaurant is on this site coz a pub this ain`t.
Great interior and building. 1/10
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I went for a meal here with my family the other night. will definatley be back. What can I say great food, great atmosphere and friendly, helpful staff. Agree with you hello1973 10 out of 10 for me too.
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what a fantastic place nice food great pub will def be a regular here as not much else in the area i would recommend to anyone 10 out of 10 from me well done bluebeckers
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Another restaurant on what i thought was a pub site (not on you know)especially as it`s a very poor one at that!! 0/10 sums it up food wise,building is great.
anonymous - 13 Aug 2008 11:59 |
just awfull, even the managment can't recommend the food, shame because the interior is fantastic
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