The Star, Godalming

This is a very pleasant and welcoming traditional pub, just off of Godalming High Street and a short walk from the train station. The entrance takes you into a room dominated by dark wood and beams with a simple seating layout along one wall with a few extra tables to the rear. There is a short L shaped bar counter with room for just four hand pumps, although further ale is provided from stilage in the cellar. A large selection of pump clips line the beams and demonstrate a strong emphasis on providing a good selection of ale. We arrived during their Easter beer festival, themed on 'Island' breweries. A small marquee at the far end of the nice beer garden offered a large range of festival ales although I felt that they were no longer in the best condition by our Sunday evening visit, presumably after having been stored outside for a long hot weekend. However, the beers we tried from behind the bar were all in excellent shape, with the Orkney IPA in particular going down well. The staff were very friendly and helpful, offering some advice on which beers we might like to try and all taking a bit of time to make sure we were okay and enjoying ourselves. We sat outside in the beer garden which has a decent amount of seating and catches the sun nicely throughout the afternoon and into the evening. There was a lounge room out here too, full of comfy sofas and with TV screens presumably used to show sport without disturbing those in the bar. It looked like there was an outdoor bar as well, but this was shuttered on our visit, so it is unclear if it ever gets used. We tried some food as well which came in decent portion sizes and was good value for money. After a long day walking around nearby Winkworth Arboretum and along the River Wey this pub provided us with some much needed refreshment in a pleasant environment. The pub certainly seemed to be doing its best to provide the community with something a bit different and should I find myself back in town again, I wouldn't hesitate to stop off here again.

Not a very good pub at all, but go if you dare.

Only GK beers today, agreed an admirable range, but all GK still. The cider choice is still good. All the guest pump clips remain on the ceiling beams but sorry, today's choice disappointed me, especially as I'd directed friends here. Less than impressed. Sorry but my rating drops from v good to average. 27 September 2008 A genuine warm welcome at this lovely 400 year old pub. The place is unusual in that it appears to be a GK house, yet has an excellent guest policy with good rotation, evidenced by the scores of pump clips hanging from the ceiling beams at the back of the main bar. The pub is also Surrey & Sussex CAMRA cider pub of the year 2008, with three real ciders plus a perry on pump yesterday plus plenty more in bottles. House beers as expected are GK IPA, Olde Trip, Abbot, supplemented by Davenports Original (Highgate), Dorset Piddle and Oakham Bishops Farewell(gorgeous). Two of the guests were on stillage in the cellar as were further ciders, the pumps are double clipped. The pub is entered via a small snug with a flagged floor, leading into the main bar with beamed ceilings. A real sun trap garden lies to the rear. Seating is a mixture of settles, traditional chairs and stools adjacent to a drinking shelf. The staff offer tasters to help you decide and carry outs are available. The forthcoming Halloween beer festival will have a West Midlands theme.....make of that what you will!

Located in the historic part of the town, the Star was originally a bakery, and became a pub around 1830. The narrow exterior hides a remarkably spacious interior with beamed bar leading to a conservatory and heated outdoor area for smokers. Although a Greene King house, up to eight real ales are available including four dispensed from the cellar, together with three real ciders and up to eight guest ciders. Meals are available throughout the week at lunchtime and Thurs-Sat evenings. Beer festivals are held at Easter and Halloween. Occasional live entertainment. Within easy walking distance of Godalming Railway Station.

Nice pub, very small bar. Sells real ale and, according to the chalkboard, sells 16 types of cider. The conservatory is non smoking.