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Picture of The Alfred
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Tuesday, 11th April 2023
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Requested be closed with reason - Temporary: Closed for approx three weeks for a refurb.

The Alfred, Upper Hale, Farnham

9 Bishops Road
Farnham
GU9 0JA
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Reviews of The Alfred (Average Rating: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Alfred

This is an excellent alehouse hidden away in the sort of unpromising looking residential area that you’d never imagine would be home to such a fine pub. Arriving at lunchtime on a Sunday, I found the pub as packed as it can be under the current social distancing requirements, forcing me to take a seat in a marquee attached to the side of the pub in part of the car park. Some patio heaters had been suspended from above, although sitting under one made little difference to how cold I was as the wind howled outside and the whole construction shook and flapped in a manner that suggested I might be enjoying my beer al fresco at any minute. Some tables and chairs had been arranged at suitably spaced distances from each other and some fake ivy had been hung from the support poles, creating a veil that partitioned the rear part of the tent. Back inside the pub, two rooms can be accessed from the entrance – a bar through a door to the right and a dining room straight ahead. The bar had the feel of a smart public bar, with the servery running along the rear wall and some seating around the perimeter and adjacent to the counter. The restaurant looked like a well-maintained space with some nice decorative touches in a warm feeling room that lends itself well to dining. Both rooms are bare boarded, and seating includes some high-backed settles and sturdy benches serving tables of various sizes. The servery, which can also be accessed from the restaurant side, has an unusual purple bar back and was decorated with some bright floral displays.
Three ales were available on handpull when I arrived, despite a board in the marquee listing a great many more, which I came to learn were either ‘Coming Soon’ or already long-gone. The options on this visit were Ascot Disruption Single Hop Amarillo, A Bloke Down the Pub Handy Andy and Bans & Taylor Plum Mild and I sampled a pint of each, finding them all to be in excellent shape, with the Mild being the stand out for me. Visiting at a time when the area was under Tier 2 Covid restrictions, I was expecting to have to order myself a full Sunday roast in order to sample some of their ale, but the pub have ingeniously created a ‘Drinker’s Menu’ comprising of lighter, but still substantial, plates such as scampi, soup, toasted sandwiches, scotch eggs and calamari, each served with a side salad and optional chips. I opted for the calamari, which was excellent and set me up for the long walk back into Farnham in the rain.
I really enjoyed my time here and thought it was refreshing in the current climate, to be able to enjoy a few pints without breaking the bank on a huge meal. The staff were very friendly, service was quick and the beer was excellent – all combining to create a very favourable overall impression. Of course, I would no doubt have got even more out of my time here were I not relegated to the car park, but that’s merely a result of these unprecedented times and I’d be very keen to head back out here again once things are back to normal again.

On 29th December 2020 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Alfred

Update
Spurred on by Komakinos review today, I will back up his observations, this pub really is top notch, it is now a regular stop for me at least once a week even though its eight miles from home, was in today and a group of mates and myself will be in for a lunchtime session tomorrow, Christmas eve. Normal opening hours are as per Whatpub, Mon - Thurs 5.30 - 11.00 , Fri - Sat 5.30 - 11.30 Sunday - 12.00 - 10.30. In five years drinking here I've never had a poorly conditioned beer and the staff are spot on. worth the effort to get here.

Sept 2013
I have been meaning to get here for sometime,having failed a couple of times as it seems to have restricted opening hours and doesn't appear to be open mid-week day times,and I failed to establish what they actually are on my brief visit.But I am very glad I have finally got here, a brick building with a lot of flint work on the exterior, not so common in these parts.As you enter to the right is a small room with a bar and this seems to be the public bar although not signed as such and this was the bar where everybody was on my visit. there is a second larger room with a bar and a dartboard along with plenty of seating, to me this had the appearance more of a function room than a lounge bar,it was unused while I was there.The small public bar was well attended and it seemed to me everybody were all known to each other and as such very much a local social gathering place but being a stranger I didnt feel out of place at all and felt rather comfortable here.The decor was rather plain and functional but the walls are adorned with old photos and sketches of nearby pubs from the past,many of which no longer exist but some that I can remember from my increasingly distant youth,around the bar area there are fronds of dried hops festooned around and a good scattering of beer clips from previously available ales. This pub is now called the Alfred Freehouse and this name is evidenced by the copious beer clips of many fine ales that have graced this pub attached around the bar area and gives credence to the name. Four hand pumps at the bar I was in and beers on during my visit were Ringwood Best, Banks and Taylor Dragonslayer and Milton Pegasus, the fourth was a real cider which unfortunately I cant remember what it was.I chose the Milton Pegasus, a brewery I havent been totally convinced by in the past but this was spot on, a lovely pint,I was very taken by this this pub ,a decent crowd of locals ,friendly landlord and importantly excellent beer in choice and quality,I will certainly be back and urge anyone who likes their beer and pubs to try it too,opening times permitting .

On 23rd December 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Komakino . left this review about The Alfred

A superb off-the-beaten track boozer, already well-described by the esteemed Moby Duck below, offering great service and great beer and with friendly locals and a convivial ambience in semi-traditional surrounds. Was great to have a bit of banter with the staff and locals (they're binning off WiFi in the New Year to encourage people to talk to each other!) and a pint of Ciren Ales Christmas Porter for £3.50 was in top notch form - one of five ales on display. If I didn't live so far away, I'd make a point of revisiting this place with frequency.

On 23rd December 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1074 recommendations about 1074 pubs]

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Moby Duck
Farnham, 2.09 miles, 40 min walk (show)
Aldershot, 2.64 miles, 51 min walk (show)
Ash, 5.06 miles, 1 hr 37 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Alfred, Farnham
11th Mar 2024, 22:24
Request to mark pub as closed by Moby Duck approved
 
11th Mar 2024, 22:24
Request to mark pub as closed submitted by Moby Duck, with included notes: Temporary: Closed for approx three weeks for a refurb.

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 01 September 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 01 September 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 10 August 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 27 May 2018 by Moby Duck
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 29 September 2014 by Moby Duck
  • Car Park : Yes last updated 10 August 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Child Friendly : No - Now a no under eights rule. - last updated 18 February 2022 by Moby Duck
  • Darts : No last updated 30 December 2022 by Moby Duck
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 29 September 2014 by Moby Duck
  • Function Room : Yes - From review - last updated 02 September 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 01 September 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Jukebox : No last updated 30 April 2015 by Moby Duck
  • Karaoke : No last updated 23 December 2018 by Komakino .
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 10 November 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 27 May 2018 by Moby Duck
  • Micropub : No last updated 30 April 2015 by Moby Duck
  • Pinball : No last updated 02 September 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Pool Table : No last updated 02 September 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 23 December 2018 by Komakino .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Moby Duck
  • Real Cider : No last updated 18 February 2022 by Moby Duck
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 30 December 2022 by Moby Duck
  • WiFi : No last updated 23 December 2018 by Komakino .
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