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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
William Cobbett, Farnham
Farnham
GU9 7QR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about William Cobbett
Character pub, with tat everywhere - no particular theme for the most part but plenty to look at, including a load of old 45rpm discs displayed on a wall behind a Perspex screen. Strip all that out and you still have a pretty characterful place which must date from the 70s as there’s no CAMRA Heritage listing. Enter through a porch though the two rooms it originally opened into here are now one. Off right is a separate room which is the smash-through into the adjoining property, all black beams and exposed brick. There's some old coins in the flagstoned floor which I only noticed once I’d got my eye in as many have been worn down. Sizeable rear patio. Five pumps with four on, a samey selection of mid-range bitters – TT Landlord, Fuller's London Pride, Sharps Doom Bar and a local brew in Hogs Back TEA which was a bit long in the tooth (NBSS 2.5). Ropey music on the go throughout, somewhat at odds with the image the pubs interior presents. I’d say it’s well-worth a visit for the interior; a review of the cask offering would make this place a nailed-on destination. Could and should be a GBG regular. 6.5
On 25th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Komakino . left this review about The William Cobbett
Slightly out of town and a good double-header with the nearby Lamb, this was a former stamping ground of my other half and she was thrilled to find it had barely changed internally in the last 20 years. This is dark inside with the aforementioned flagstoned floor and assorted paraphernalia on walls and beams including 7-inch vinyl (which reminded me of Jericho's Gardeners Arms), skateboards and foreign bank notes. There are also old photos of the pub and Farnham including one of the pub as the Jolly Farmers as mentioned by Malden man below. Presumably multi-roomed once upon a time (there an additional bar counter around the corner from the main bar to the left); an upstairs pool room houses four(!) pool tables which sit on sticky red lino floor. Four ales on in the form of Sharp's Doom Bar, St Austell Tribute and Proper Job and local Hogs Back T.E.A. with the latter in average shape. There's a decent courtyard 'back garden', repurchased from part of the car park and a pub cat is a presence, tarting himself around by going from pub bench to pub bench for attention. The nu-punk / skate metal-esque soundtrack wasn't to my taste, but overall this has more plus points than negatives and I certainly hope this remains the same for the next 20 years too.
On 21st August 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1077 recommendations about 1077 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The William Cobbett
Named after the locally born radical journalist, politician and opponent of authority who I understand lived in the black and white timbered building now appended to the main pub. The house was also a pub at the time, then known as The Jolly Farmers, a pub sign of that name remains on an inside wall of today's pub. The main door leads into an entrance lobby with separate doors which once would have divided the pub however once inside all is opened out even if there is a feel of three distinct areas. The central, main bar area has a stone flagged floor, beamed ceiling, some covered in various bank notes, liberally decorated with pump clips and beer mats. The side area to the right has a load of old 45rpm discs displayed on a wall behind a Perspex screen, bullfighting posters and other Spanish artifacts plus a fair deal of Americana including posters on the ceiling. The pub is a music venue and I guess this end is where the action takes place. The far left area has a fireplace, banquette seating, exposed brick fireplace, the TV was showing a text page of the international cricket scorecard.
Returning behind the bar beyond this end is a small games room containing a bar football table and a pinball machine, although I didn't see any pool table.
There was a reasonable beer selection, Pride and Doom Bar plus better options of Alton fff Moonshine and Brakspears Oxford Gold. A decent pub and not far from the station if you approach the A31 crossing from the end of the lane.
On 14th June 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The William Cobbett
A decent pub of reasonable size though divided up into various nooks and cranny's,rather dark inside leading to a decent atmosphere,various pump clips,agricultural artifact's and bits and pieces on the walls and ceiling plus a Tarantula in a glass tank. Beerwise several ales available ,London Pride seems to be a staple but changing guests with the likes of Darkstar,Triple fff and Hopback amongst others,a full compliment of lager and cider if ales not your thing.Conveniently situated just across the road from Farnham Maltings ,home of the Farnham Beerex in April although understandably busy at such times.A pub worth visiting if you find yourself in Farnham.
On 28th July 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]