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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Cobbett’s
First revisit to this micro-pub since shortly after it became more than an off-licence in 2014. Little changed, it still features a small counter at the back, with a tiny room with a few seats to the rear and an equally small yard beyond with a single outside toilet. However, this time, the two cask beers - their Collusion with Surrey Hills and Downland's Famous Sailors (£5.00) were served by gravity from the cellar rather than from the handpumps on the bar-back. Five craft beers and three cider also on offer, all interesting. The owner is a friendly and knowledgeable fellow, and we really enjoyed our brief stop.
On 1st September 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Cobbett’s
Cobbett's is a place I've been meaning to visit for some time. I finally made it yesterday and it just about achieved my expectation that it would be the best pub in Dorking.
At the front is a typical bottle shop/off license with a good selection of bottles and cans. This room also contains the bar, with a number of handpulls and also taps for craft beers. A blackboard opposite the bar lists the beers and ciders on offer. Incidentally, this was the only place I could find in Dorking that sold real cider.
Beyond the front shop a corridor with access to the cellar leads to the "micropub" part, essentially a small room decorated in a fairly old-fashioned style and designed to accommodate a number of people who can all easily engage in conversation. Beyond that is a small kitchen/bottle-washing area which you walk through to get to the rear yard, where there is more seating and where smokers can gather. The outdoor toilet can also be found here.
Just the single real ale was on for my Tuesday visit. This was a very tasty, yet low ABV (just 3.7%) Three Blind Mice Small Town Hero. Whilst there was only one ale, I gather that a second and possibly a third are put on later in the week. Real ciders were Snail's Bank Mango Cider & Tumbledown, with a perry (Per) from Ascension. Craft beers were Whisper Floc, Unbarred Joosy, Burning Sky Robust Porter, Polly's Mosaic Vista & Downlands Reach For The Lasers. There was also a lager, if you are so inclined.
Real ale (and presumably cider) are fetched from the cellar, meaning the bar's handpulls are just for show. The landlord must have gone up and down the stairs about a dozen times during the course of my visit. I doubt he needs to have any further exercise out of work!
This is a friendly place that clearly has a good local following and it would also be my choice of hostelry if I lived in town, as the real ale and cider range is constantly changing. Dogs are also welcomed. When I arrived, I was the only customer. By the time I left, there were several others. This place can quickly fill up.
On 7th December 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Cobbett’s
A revisit, and having not long scoffed four pints of cask at Surrey Hills brewery I decided to explore the keg offerings this time (from De Molen and Hofmeister, since you ask). Everything pretty-much as I recall from previous. Visited at the wrong (or right, depending on your viewpoint) time as it was rammed not just with regular punters but also football fans from the Dorking game and also a beard of regional CAMRA types. Luckily we had an area reserved at the rear but even so it was a fairly uncomfortable experience. You really need to time your visit here.
October 2014
A new micropub as part of the off-licence. Four varying ales dispensed from gravity to the rear of the shop which can then be consumed in a room off to the left down a little corridor. Dark Star APA, Surrey Hills Shere Drop, Triple FFF Jabberwocky and Siren Craft Soundwave on my visit; all quite hefty ABV-wise and the Dark Star was quite drinkable. Prices very reasonable (beware that the blackboard prices are for take-out, add 30p-ish to drink in). There were also two keykeg beers as well but in true craft keg style, their prices were wince-inducing. The drinking room (‘Goldings Bar’) is a small (OK, cramped) homely affair with varnished floorboards and a bench running round the wall with high stools. Two tables (in reality a small bit of wood with legs) also. Breweriana, a selection of books and old GBG's to keep you occupied. Look out for the outside lav, the walls of which are decorated with pump clips and old bottle tops. There is also a teeny walled beer garden. Service was very friendly (I got a gratis ramekin of bar nibbles) and it’s a nice little place. Ultimately it’s a micropub for sampling beer rather than genial group socialising but if you want a top brewery's wares in good nick, this is the one for you. Rated 7
On 31st October 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Cobbett’s
The popularity of this off-licence/micropub has steadily increased in the years that I've been visiting. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's become rather too popular at certain times, if my recent Friday evening visit is anything to go by. There wasn't a seat in the house with the drinkers not only outside in the tiny rear beer garden, but packing out the shop area, too; it was pretty much impossible to peruse the shelves to pick up one or two for the road. Fortunately, cask and keg can be purchased to take away.
There are up to 8 cask ales (brought up from the cellar) and half-a-dozen craft keg options, as well as 2-3 ciders. Quality has always been excellent. Beer styles tend towards the pale 'n' hoppy, with a nod to the dark and full-bodied.
I'd happily return but I think that I'll try to find a quieter time.
On 24th February 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Cobbett’s Micropub
Visiting this place was my main reason for coming to Dorking. Having been to several micropubs now I can say that this one is very much on the small side. There seems little point in repeating the description of it other than to say that the beer mat collection in the small room at the back is an interesting mix of newer breweries and defunct ones like Ridley's and King & Barnes,
The beers spotted on my visit were Marble Pint & Bitter, Dark Star Green Hopped IPA and Surrey Hills Collusion which I understand is brewed in association with the people here. There were also some ciders on. I had to go for the Dark Star (£3.80) which may sound expensive but it is a 6.5% beer and for the second time im a week I forgot about the CAMRA discount. The beer came up nice and clear but was very lively which makes me wonder if not having a cooled room is detrimental to the beer given that the daytime temperatures had been above average. The beer tasted fine but I wonder how they would cope in a prolonged heat wave. That's my only reservation about this place and wished I could have stayed to try the Collusion.
There is also a discount open to all, 10% discount applies to drinks on a Tuesday. I have no idea if this negates the CAMRA discount.
On 4th October 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Cobbett’s Micropub
Only had time for a quick pint but wished I could have stayed longer,well described below, you get served at the off licence counter, then you can take your chosen beer to the small drinking room to the rear,beyond this and to the side is a small courtyard beer garden. 5 beers on ,those familiar to me were Darkstar Six Hop and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA, I tried a new beer and brewery to me Downlands Route Thirteen, a very nice pale ale at 3.5% costing a reasonable £3.00 a pint, there is a further 5% discount for CAMRA members.My first experience of a Micro Pub, and a very good experience it was too, albiet far too brief.
On 17th April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Cobbett’s Micropub
This speciality beer shop now doubles up as a micropub. You enter the off-licence section which has wall high shelves of interesting looking bottles then to the rear is a small counter with hops entwined above and scores of beermats stuck to the wall behind. Beers are listed on an adjacent board and are on stillage. Yesterday had Dark Star APA plus the excellent Revelation, Hawkshead Brewery Brodies Prime, Merrie City (HB Clark) Czechmate and something called Dead Man's Hand. Some keykeg offerings too plus ciders from Burrow Hill and Hancocks.
From here you pass through a short corridor to a room at the rear which has seating for no more than about 12 people. The intimacy this causes means that conversation amongst strangers is inevitable, it was all rather convivial. Décor in here is also mainly beermats and beer posters.
To find the single compartment WC you have to pass through the rear shop kitchen and go out through the yard beyond. It's all very different to a Wetherspoons!
I thoroughly enjoyed it here and would make a bee-line again, the pair of staff serving were also very welcoming and enthusiastic. Top notch stuff.
On 8th March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]