George Abbot, Guildford

This former Hogshead (now seemingly owned by Greene King) was surprisingly better than I envisaged. Not exactly got the nicest location with a car park and busy road sandwiching it in and the exterior is a mash of two distinctly different buildings. The interior was a bit more characterful than I was expecting, spacious but with a number of individual drinking areas to break things up a bit. I expected this to be a football/live sport kind of place but didn't spot any TVs. A few ales on, I tried the GK Abbot which came out well and the TT Landlord which was a bit more so-so. Music was loud and clientèle were (mainly) quite young. Overall it's hardly a destination pub but it's decent enough to fill a gap if between trains. The kind of place I wouldn't imagine going back to but invariably end up in eventually...

This wasn’t originally on the itinerary, but it quickly became evident that, at The White House nearby, there was no realistic prospect of getting served in anything remotely approaching what I regard as an acceptable time scale, so I voted with my feet. Before you accuse me of unreasonable impatience, I‘ll point out that, at the peak Saturday lunchtime period, there were throngs of people around the bar waiting to be served and only one person, seemingly, trying to cope with the situation. So I went here instead. It’s situated at the bottom end of the High Street. From the outside, it’s a rather uninspiring looking typical town centre Greene King chain pub. I have vague memories of coming in here yonks ago when it was a Hogshead. It’s a large rambling split level single room with low ceilings, fake wooden beams and pillars, pastel shaded walls and different seating areas. There’s some exposed brickwork in places, but there’s a modernised family restaurant feel to the place with large menus and condiments on most tables. There’s that distinct “any pub any where” feel to it. On the menu, we learn that the pub was previously called The Greyhound and dates back to the early 18th Century. The existing building was erected in 1808 to replace the original Greyhound which was demolished when the Old Portsmouth Road was improved. George Abbot was a leading figure in Guildford, building a hospital and almshouses for the people of Guildford. He was also the Archbishop of Canterbury to Henry VIII. A long bar counter has 6 pumps. 2 were serving IPA, 2 Abbott and 1 Wadworths 6X. In marked contrast to over the road, service was brisk and efficient. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the place, but I prefer somewhere with more character and atmosphere. A return visit is not envisaged

Greene King pub housed in an interesting old building near the River Wey (albeit separated by a very dull car park). Made-over inside in a rather anonymous corporate way, bur retaining some character with its old brickwork and low ceiling. Range of furniture inside, plus a few small pavement tables along the side. Six handpumps (some duplicated), offering IPA, Abbot, the seasonal Sun Dance (£3.00) and 6X as a guest. Overall, not too bad (and part of a trio of reasonable pubs along with the nearby White House and Keystone).

Has been closed - can only hope it is not permanently.

There is also still a pub quiz here every Thursday from 9pm.