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Detail Pages
The Britannia, Guildford
Guildford
GU2 4BE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Britannia
This is a pleasant looking place in a spot where you might not expect to find a pub a little away from the city centre and adjacent to a car park. Inside the place has been opened out to form a large rectangular room with the bar along a side wall. The bar area has an old flagstoned floor, what may be newer areas elsewhere are either carpeted or boarded. Lots of framed stuff on the walls including Kentish/brewery prints and nautical scenes. It is a pity that a car park obstructs views of the river.
It's big on food here and was busy, lots of people eating but I didn't read a menu, beers are from Shepherd Neame. Spitfire, Spitfire Gold, Bishops Finger and Whitstable Bay were on. Decor and atmosphere is a bit bland and corporate and is probably designed to suit the not really pub type who goes for a meal but it was generally ok.
On 4th September 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Britannia
The Britannia is a decent looking pub that is close to the River Wey.
Once inside there is a single oblong shaped room with the bar on the left side,the floor is part bare boarded and tiled,the seating is bench type with chairs and small stools,there are tall tables and chairs opposite the bar.
The pub is a Shepherd Neame tied house,so i was well pleased,there were five different Shepherd Neame beers on the bar,i had a drink of Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay,wihich was a very nice drink,the other real ales were Whitstable Bay IPA,Bishops Finger,Spitfire and Spitfire Special.
The pub was very busy with drinkers and people having meals on my Saturday dinner visit.
I thought this was a decent pub to have a decent drink in.
Pub visited 13/5/2017
On 21st July 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Britannia
Recent revisit found little internal change bar a slight brightening-up of some sections of the interior. Six pumps with 2x Spitfire, Sheps Gold (unavailable), Bishops Finger, Whitstable Pale and Whitstable Red IPA. The latter three beers drank well. The odd decision to cut off most of the beer garden’s sunlight via the outsized jumbrellas remains. 6.5
October 2013
A Shepherd Neame pub-by-numbers converted from a somewhat rougher Scruffy Murphys a few years back. Probably used to have a nice view over the River Wey but a car park somewhat spoils that now. Cavernous and gloomy chocolate brown interior aimed at the mid-range food market. Five Sheps ales over six pumps with one just off, including a couple of lesser-seen brews. My choice came out very well but that didn’t necessarily extend across the range of my fellow crawlees. We sat in the rear patio garden underneath a rather minging jumbrella that had gone green through a lack of cleaning/sunlight. On the way out I noted a suitcase containing various board games for punters to while away the time. A pretty middling affair. Rated 6
On 24th June 2017
- 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 Britannia
Decent quick visit to this pub today. Five different Shepherd Neame beers on offer, as well as many other drinks (obviously) showing the olympics as well. Downside was bad background music and immature staff.
On 1st August 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Britannia
Situated close to the River Wey, which runs through the centre of Guildford, on the south side of town is The Britannia, an inviting looking brick built building with a slate roof, resembling at first glance, something of a country pub.
Inside is a rather roomy single bar that is perhaps bigger than we might initially expect. There’s a rather modern, generic feel to the place with a longish bar counter, opposite which at the far side of the room, standard tables and chairs are laid out for diners. Several pillars break up the floor area, but it’s a rather nondescript interior with little of note or specific interest. Just inside the door on the left, a small area appears to cater for drinkers. The walls here are decorated with photographs of barges, reflecting the proximity of the river. There’s a few seats outside at the front, but, unfortunately, any views of the river are rather obscured by the car park in front, which I gather occasionally floods.
Live music is advertised for Thursday evening and, on Saturday October 22nd, we were promised the long awaited return of the Charlie Farley Sunday Four ( one day early, presumably ??), but it didn’t feel like the type of place where you would have expected live music.
On my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, there was a rather transient impersonal feel to the place, with several family groups in for lunch and several younger groups, seemingly students. There was no real pubby feel, nor, apparently, any regular customer base.
It’s a Shepherd Neame pub – now much more heavily represented in Surrey than they used to be. There’s 4 pumps, but, on my visit, only Bishops Finger at 5% ABV and £ 3.25p was available. When I politely expressed my disappointment and surprise at the lack of choice, the young barman explained that it had been a “heavy night” last night with other beers running out. Somewhat gloatingly, but hopefully tongue in cheek, he added that there had been “more people leaving more drunk than they would have expected”.
Taking all in all, it’s a reasonable pub, but it’s not worth specifically going out of your way to visit
On 7th November 2011
- rating: 6
[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 Britannia
Fairly plain-looking pub, but it is in a fine position overlooking the River Wey navigation. The original room layout has been opened out to form one large 'L'-shaped bar with fairly modern furniture and decor. In good weather, the front terrace is probably the place to be, but there is also a less scenic patio beer garden to the rear. Four handpumps on the counter, offering Spitfire, Bishop's Finger (£3.30), Late Red and Thatcher's Heritage cider. Overall, worth a look if in the area.
On 8th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The Britannia
Slightly rough beer drinking venue. It has never been one of my favourits but I hope they are doing a good job here because it has potential. Shepherd Neame ales.
On 20th June 2010
- rating: 2
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]