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Detail Pages
George Abbot, Guildford
Guildford
GU2 4AB
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BRUMMIE STEVE left this review about George Abbot
The 4th pub I visited on a Friday night while in Guildford, really busy as the football was being shown on several screens around the pub, gave me the feeling this was more of a chain pub but was very close to the station so I would go in again if in Guildford.
On 6th March 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 39 recommendations about 39 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about George Abbot
The George Abbot is a plain looking corner pub that is handy for Guildford train station.
Once inside there is a single opened out room which runs the width of the pub,the bar faces on entry.
The floor is tiled and the seating is tall tables and chairs near the bar and normal tables and chairs elsewhere.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Wimbledon Pale which went down well as my last drink of the crawl,there was also Wimbledon Common Pale,Wimbledon Tower and GK Abbot.
The TVs were showing the Stoke v Arsenal game.
The pub was very busy on my late Saturday afternoon visit.
I thought this was a decent pub to end my Guildford pub crawl in.
Pub visited 13/5/2017
On 1st August 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about George Abbot
An open plan interior,with a couple of nooks and crannies and hidden corners,very modernised inside but with a mixture of old and new as evidenced by the bar with its traditional tiled face but topped with stainless steel,all well described by Malden man below. Beers on the bar were Greene King IPA and Abbot, Plain Ales Inntrigue and Innocence along with Nethergate Suffolk County Ale. Football was on the TV screens and the pub was quite lively. I liked this pub a lot and would include it on a Guildford pub crawl.
On 17th May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about George Abbot
The pub is clearly formed from what was once two adjoining buildings, inside there is a large semi-divided single space with a beamed ceiling although the fit out has a very modern feel. As you enter you are "greeted" by a suit of armour standing guard. The bar is along the back wall, the counter front is faced with grey and black glazed tiles and small lamps adorn the counter. Six handpumps, GK IPA and Abbot, Cottage Scrum Up plus three from Plain Ales of Wiltshire, Inspiration, Hairy Hooker (£4.00) and Sheep Dip.
The seating is at regulation height but with a random selection of chairs and tables, just one area of high benches forming a U around a centrally located large screen. Several other screens are dotted around, all had the 6 Nations rugby on yesterday.
There's a bit of exposed brickwork, some clearly recent wooden posts, a few shelves containing books and nick-nacks and a feature wall decorated with wallpaper depicting building drawings.
Food is served but I didn't see any menus mid Saturday afternoon.
Not a bad spot if a bit bland inside, I was not expecting too much but I was surprised to find the Plain Ales and enjoyed my pint while watching the last 20 minutes of the rugby.
On 15th March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The George Abbot
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...
On 8th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The George Abbot
Quick visit to see how this pub has changed in the last year. Visited this afternoon and thought the pub was in good shape, now 5 real ales on when there used to be just 2 including Old Trip and Moorhouse as well as the usual beers. Although the place is stripped out of TV's, it does not mean there isnt any atmosphere, the background choice of music was also good with Eye of the Tiger by Survivor. Definitely worth a trip and probably better than it used to be. Funny barman as well.
On 13th May 2012
- rating: 9
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The George Abbot
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
On 28th October 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The George Abbot
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).
On 13th August 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The George Abbot
Large rambling pub constructed in what feels like the underneath of a warehouse, overlooking a car park. Seems to be more of a 'circuit'-style pub than anything else, but was not unpleasant when quiet. Beers still IPA, Abbot & TEA, which was quite drinkable. It wouldn't be my first choice, but wouldn't object to dropping in again.
On 23rd April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The George Abbot
Has been closed - can only hope it is not permanently.
On 30th October 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]