BITE user comments - oldhippybeer
Comments by oldhippybeer
The William Bray , Shere Guildford Surrey
Day 2 of my return to the village and a visit to the Bray after being treated like a lepper at the one down the road. Very bright and brash but surprised to get a very good pint of Doombar after my last trip here. Still noisy and overpriced but friendly staff and a good atmosphere including some locals who for some mad reason are no longer allowed in the other pub. This is a strange village.
The food was however brilliant
6 Dec 2011 10:44
So this place has at last had a clean up and now looks just like any other chain pub or hotel reception. Totally devoid of character.
The beer is very good however but the standard of the food is appaling. What is even worse is the attitude of the staff, that is if you can ever find someone to serve. They are rude unhelpful and generally missing.
I know a good number of the locals from my time in the village years back and they have little good to say for the way they are treated. It is apparently according to a staff member now the opinion of management that the reason the pub has been doing so badly over the last few years is the strong local element that use the place. WRONG!! the place is under used because few people return after being treated like they dont matter and being served sub standard food. The locals are stuck with it, they were here long before the current set up arrived and will be there long after they have gone that is if they dont go the whole way and turn it into a burger king or the like. Costa Cofee signes everywhere, in a village pub, madness.
6 Dec 2011 10:38
After a rather unpleasant experience with the beer up the road we thought we would go back to a pub we have known and loved over the years. Just over a year ago on my last trip to the village I reported the sad state of this place so I was pleasantly surprised to find a much more laid back atmosphere and some friendly staff. This place is still looking a bit tired and in need of some renovation but the staff are making a good job of what they have, clean and tidy. Much to my delight they seem to have at long last sorted out the beer. A very nice pint of Adnams was consumed followed by a guest beer that I had never heard of and forgive me but I have forgotten the name but the landlord recommended it and we were not disappointed. We didn�t try the food as we had eaten up the road on this trip but it looked good as it came past us. Maybe the rather brash new boy up the road has made them up their game but whatever the reason we will be back if only to get a decent pint in the village
6 Jul 2010 08:11
The William Bray , Shere Guildford Surrey
Back in my old haunt of Shere for the first time for over a year and thought I would try the new kid on the block. Very nicely done compared to its days as the Prince of Wales. Bright, sharp and crisp with an interesting menu. I had a very nice well presented piece of fish and the wife went for the Bray burger which looked fantastic and got a good report from her, all served by very attentive and friendly young ladies. It is a shame the same friendliness does not extend to the bar where the rather gruff barman seemed totally disinterested in our enquiries regarding the ales. Shere drop was barely drinkable and as for the normally reliable and rather wonderful Doom Bar this was cloudy, sour and rather unpleasant exactly matching the character of the barman. It is a shame that a place with such potential is let down in this manner. Oh for a pub that can do both beer and food.
6 Jul 2010 08:03
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??
2 Jun 2009 22:58
Not sure who actually owns this but who cares.
Very smart, clean and crisp. Very fine ale Shere drop, and very nice Ranmore, plus on my visit youngs and bombadier.
I have heard great reports of the food and the restaurant was packed, the food that came passed us looked very nice. A tad pricey in all departments but if you are getting quality the extra is well worth it. This place could cause some real problems for the rubbish down the road. A real pleasure to visit.
Good luck to the new people----- whoever they are.
2 Jun 2009 22:52
Back after 2 month break.
No change, the beer is still awfull, the food is over priced and at best bland but the service is better.
Probably because of the lack of customers, oh what a surprise!!!
2 Jun 2009 22:46
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.
3 Apr 2009 18:01
Fine food and service fairly priced.
A very good range of beers served by staff who know their ale.
Very impressed with the Horsham bitter, an absolute joy.
This is one of the better pubs in the area
3 Apr 2009 17:57
This place has become more like the local youth club being run by the kids who seem to take it as an insult if any customer has the nerve to actually want to get served.
Very poor ale. Quite what is a "Cask mark".
The draught beers I have tried there are virtually undrinkable. The lager is OK and although I dont partake a friend informs me the Guiness is good.
This has been a regular haunt of mine for many years and it is so sad to see just how bad this place has become.
Lets hope that the new pub in the village will get them to up their game.
3 Apr 2009 17:54
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The White Horse, Shere
That time of year again--- a visit to my old village. This place has got even worse than my last call. If I want a microwave meal then the local coop would be a cheaper and better quality option. No locals, apparently they have all been banished to the pub up the road which given the unfriendly atmosphere in this place can only be an improvement. Beer OK but the place is dead and more than one member of staff looks like they have been chewing wasps. Such a shame as I have many happy memories of this place back in the days when it was a real pub.
29 Oct 2012 11:57