The Rodboro Buildings (Lloyds No 1), Guildford

Although this huge listed building is most famous for the connection with Dennis the vehicle manufacturer that company spent less than twenty years here at the start of the twentieth century. The name Rodboro Buildings apparently came from a company called Rodboro Boots and Shoes. Wetherspoons opened it at the tail end of 1996. It is so vast I completely failed to spot the fact there was another bar upstairs. On the bar I discovered two sets of six pumps a boring one and an interesting one. The boring one had two ciders, London Pride, GK IPA, Hogs Back TEA and Doom Bore. The interesting one had Dark Star Winter Meltdown, Firebird No. 79 Golden, Wadworth's Full Sali Wassail, Triple fff I can't Remember and Windsor & Eton Canberra & Seattle Porter. These were all Locale (ish) ales apart from the Wassail. I went for the Triple fff beer (£2.70) which was in superb nick. I quite liked this place but I imagine it must be hell on earth of an evening especially at weekends. The reason for that is that it's a Lloyds No. 1 with music and late opening in the evenings. It is GBG (2015) listed and I would say rightly so.

A vast Lloyds No.1 branded Wetherspoons, converted from a former ‘specialist vehicles’ factory and that heritage is shakily reflected in the semi-industrial interior décor, a cavernous two-floored affair with some zoned ‘areas’ painted in eye-watering colour schemes plus large pillars and air conditioning ducts. A huge array of ales were available with the more interesting choices on the left-hand bank of pumps. I tried one that was new on me from a fairly local brewer (who I forget to note) that was in decent nick. We ate here and the food came out fairly swiftly and was in good order. The tables and floor were a bit unkempt and it felt like the place is simply a den for the proverbial battery hens to eat and drink really. Still, a decent local ale at under three quid means I’ll pop in here again next time I imagine.

This place is vast, even by JDW standards, it is a Lloyds No1, situated in what looks from the outside like a converted mill but which is actually a former specialist truck factory for Dennis, makers of fire engines, dustcarts etc. There are a few radiator grills and vehicle logos on the walls here and there. The pub is split level and also has an upper mezzanine with its own bar albeit with a nominal selection. Lots of exposed brickwork, probably the original metal framed windows, large ceiling ducts on view. The ground floor area with the main bar has a few changes in level, I spotted a pair of rather intimate booths, being a Lloyds there is a dance floor, thankfully it was too early in the evening for that nonsense to begin. The bar is pretty long, running along two sides, there were 6 guest ales by my reckoning plus three proper ciders, a pretty decent selection. Handy for a first or last pint near the station if visiting Guildford. One of the better 'spoons.

The usual paint-by-numbers ‘Spoons but this time housed in a fine building of Industrial heritage and over several levels. Utilised it for an early lunch and pint when arriving in Guildford and for this it was perfectly fine. We utilised the top level, which has the advantage of being close to the kitchen, so at least the staff can find you before your food goes cold, but the bar on this floor is much smaller and seems to suffer from the disappearing staff problem others have reported. So you have to time your move for when someone shows and hope not too many get in front of you. Not an overwhelming beer offering but it did include Jennings Bitter, Hammerpot Shooting Star, and a rather fine pint of Ascot Ales Penguin Porter, which was available on both bars.

Staff seem a bit unsure of themselves and it can seem awkawrd ordering food. However the Chilli was nice here.

The battered fish and chips here tasted disappointing, I would recommened eating something else from the vast menu.

It has not got any worse than previously, probably a bit better than it used to be, food arrives fairly promply after ordering, the food is basic but generally reasonable, the real ale range is normally very good, some of the staff can seem like they don't want to be working here and a little off-hand.