The Compasses Inn, Guildford

A very nice little pub next to the Tilling Bourne (or the river Tillingbourne, it seems to be called either) whose beer garden I recall from years ago as an exceptionally pleasant place to spend a summer afternoon, before I stopped coming here due to the service having become at best indifferent and generally taking advantage of the customer. Thus today’s visit was my first for years, and I was pleased to find a very welcoming pub once again. The three ale pumps were all serving Surrey Hills beers – Ranmore, Shere Drop and Albury Ruby - and I had a decent enough pint of the Ruby. The multitude of pump clips stuck around the bar told of many beers from different breweries served in the past. The pub is food led, though it would still be a comfortable place to come just for a drink. Food is available throughout the afternoon, as Paul has said, with fairly traditional, generously portioned pub main courses starting at around £9. We had lunch here today: my £9.75 steak and ale pie was the best I’d had for ages. The pub consists of two rooms. We chose to sit in the bar area, which felt quite dated, the lower third being wood panelled with pale walls above, and various agricultural implements around the walls and attached to beams. The restaurant area is larger and brighter, but less to our liking. I’d certainly come back here to eat or just for a drink.

Once called 'God Encompasses', the name was, it seems, regularly corrupted to 'Goat & Compasses' Subsequently the goat was dropped (as it were) to leave the name we have today (the full story is inside the pub - that's just a (garbled) summary). Anyway, enough of the history - the 21st Century visitor finds a main bar, a separate restaurant and a beer garden the other side of the Tilling Bourne. Two points are worth making: First, food is served throughout the afternoon (see picture), which gives The Compasses a huge advantage over most other pubs in the Surrey Hills, since it allows you to eat when you've completed your walk or bike ride; quality was fine and reasonably priced for the area; Second, the beer - on our visit, all 3 pumps were offering Surrey Hills beers - a quality outfit and the Ranmore slipped down very nicely (though a little pricily). I'd happily go back, if I were in the area and in need of food and drink (particularly at apparently unconventional times).