Astolat, Guildford

Venue photo

filler

Description: The name comes from the town in Arthurian legend, home of Elaine, and often associated with Guildford. This medium-sized venue has recently been refurbished and is now run by Mike. It has plain wooden tables and chairs. These are decorated with art prints, old photos, and posters advertising forthcoming events. The ceiling in the main bar is painted wood cut with inch and a half parallel grooves and the large air-conditioning units, now found in many pubs. The large number of picture windows at the front where there's a patio and along one side would let in vast amounts of sunshine when the venetian blinds are opened. Beers on offer include Carling, Coors, Stella Artois as well as Guinness, John Smith's and traditional Butcombe bitter. The bottled beers include Peroni and Corona. Also the usual selection of alcopops, mixers and spirits. Entertainment is provided by a jukebox, fruit and quiz machines, a pool table, a fuseball table, dart board and board games. Live music is currently on some Saturday nights.

Address: 9 Old Palace Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7TU

Tel: 01483 455560

Map: Find the Astolat on Google Maps

Bands: Dave Raphael Band, The : Debbie Giles Band, The : Fluke : Frayed Not : Nigel Bagge band, The : Rik Martin Trio, The : Rhythm Pigs, The

Barley Mow, Shepperton

Venue photo

filler

Description: Old fassioned english pub, with framed cigarette card collections, bar mats and memorabilia covering the walls. The curved wooden bar with display rail looks like its been there forever. A wide selection of lagers, Fosters, Carling etc. Real ales including Hound Dog, St George Special, Porterhouse, T.E.A., and the usual selection of wines and spirits. The pretty young barmaids make you feel welcome. Live jazz on wednesday night and rock on saturdays. It was The Morning Advertiser's Pub of the Year 2005.

Address: 67 Watersplash Road, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 0EE

Tel: 01932 225326

Map: Find The Barley Mow, Shepperton on Google maps

Bands: Band X : Blue Beyond : Casinos, The : CHADWICK, Roland : Chevrons, The : Cry Wolf : Debbie Giles Band, The : Fast Buck : Kindred Spirit : Moonshine : Old Blue Moses : Rik Martin Trio, The : San Remo Jazz Band : Sharpees

Boileroom, Guildford

Description: This venue has recently been refurbished and extended. Most of the bare brickwork walls have been covered over and painted a deep blood red. The unused area where the small bar used to be, now has a white wall, onto which they can project various images and information about who's playing. The most visible change though, is the long-awaited removal of the two vertical steel girders from in front of the stage, which is now straight, rather than curved. All these alterations together with a smaller sound booth and an extension housing new toilets has increased the venue's capacity to 300.  
   The walls are decorated with posters advertising forthcoming events, as well as menus for the in-house noodle bar. There is also a plethora of posters plastered to the ceiling by the bar, highlighting past glories. Familiar names include The Martin Harley Band, The Parlotones, The Great Outdoors, and Subsource. These are illuminated by a string of fairy lights, left over from christmas.
   The stage now features improved LED lighting and speaker stacks. There is also a new removable security barrier to prevent persistent over-enthusiastic fans from climbing on stage. This was in heavy demand on a recent visit to see the Sex Pistols Experience, although I'm used to being in the thick of it at the front, and even with a small mostly friendly crowd, I can see a possible crush hazard. But rest assured cause if a fight ever did break out, all the pint glasses are almost indestructible plastic.
   This is a very versatile space that can be easily used for a multitude of different events simply by the addition or removal of tables and poofs (I'm sorry but I just can't find any other word to describe two-foot high square or cylindrical padded blocks) answers on a postcard please. There are also wooden benches fixed to the walls on the stage side of the room  The main bar remains much the same offering Carling, Gaymer's Cider, Grolsch, Guinness, Red Stripe, various bottled beers as well as Jagermeister and other spirits, fruity cocktails and wine by the glass.
   The Boileroom is also home to the Sizzling Wok, their speciality noodle bar offering a wide selection of curries, soups, rice and seafood dishes. There is also a smokng area/beer garden (roughly 40sqft) at the back, with a modern well-designed canopy and wooden benches. It can be accessed through an airlock, and only when the lights are green. But don't worry, it's not one of those where all the oxygen gets sucked out, so you can't breathe. I have enjoyed many a great night of live music here in the past five years since it opened, and look forward to a great deal more, now its even better.



Address: 13 Stokefields, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4LS

Tel: 01483 440022

Website: http://www.theboileroom.net/ or http://www.facebbook/theboileroom

Street Team: help by distributing leaflets and flyers in the local area and earn free entry to some gigs, and other goodies, find out more by e-mailing Lydia - lydia@theboileroom.net

Map: Find Boileroom, Guildford on Goggle maps
note: the venue is nearer the bend in the road than the map suggests



Bands: BYRNE, Maria : Charley Farley Sunday Four : GORRY, Phoebe : Harbour : HERBERT, Gwyneth : MCLAUGHLIN, Alice : Mirrorhead : NEALE, Anna : RINKS, Charlie : SPIERS, Lesley : STONE, Thom : Two Fingers of Firewater : WildStar : WILSON, Julia :

UkeJam

Cricketers, Yateley

Venue photo

filler

Description: This large venue is set back off the main road, which makes it quiet for traffic noise but easy to miss. It has two separate bars, the larger of the two is already no-smoking, and has wooden railings around the raised seating area at the rear. There is no shortage of tables and chairs, including some high stools at the bar and a couple of padded benches. The ceiling is off-white painted wallpaper and the walls are a shade of teracotta. They are decorated with art prints. In one corner is one of those dispicable snack/nuts dispensing machines that are becoming more common in pubs. The smaller bar has a few tables, a dart board and a pool table. Beers on offer include Carling, Fosters, Kronenbourg, Stella Artois, Belhaven Best Smooth, Guinness, Guinness Extra Cold, and Strongbow Cider. Also real ales Greene King IPA / Abbot + Guest Ale. They also have a large selection of wines. Entertainment is provided by fruit machines. The live music is on Friday nights.

Address: Cricket Hill Lane, Yateley, Hampshire, GU46 6BA

Tel: 01252 872105

Map: Find The Cricketers, Yateley on Google maps

Bands: Blue Beyond

Lion Brewery, Ash

Description: This venue is split into the small public bar with fruit machines and a pool table and the lounge bar. The walls are covered with old copper cooking pans and newspaper cuttings, charity certificates, photos of famous visiters and past acts who have played here. Among the beers on offer are London Pride, Carling, John Smiths, Fosters, and Kronenbourg 1664. The usual selection of wines and spirits. It also has a small raised stage area. Live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The large TV projector and screen for sports. Live music with a jam on Thursdays, and bands on Friday and Saturday nights.

Address: 104 Guildford Road, Ash, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU12 6BT

Tel: 01252 650486

filler

Website: http://www.lionbrewery.co.uk

Map: Find The Lion Brewery on Google maps

Bands: Band X : Big Dog and the Bite : Blood Red Sky : Conner McDonald Band, The :

Crash N Burn : Debbie Giles Band, The : Led Zep Too : Lemon Pie : Lost Roberts Blues Band :

Mad Wolf : On Fire : Open Mic Night : Rainmaker : Sharpees : S.K. P. : Trolls, The

Marlborough Head, Farnham - RIP

Description: This venue has been sadly closed for many years, and now looks like being demolished as part of the regeneration of Farnham Town Centre.

Address: 14 East St, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7RX

Tel:

filler

Website: http://www.themarlboroughhead.co.uk

Map: Find the Marlborough Head, Farnham on Google maps

Bands: Broded Stills : Even After : Hanging Tree Band : Lemon Pie : Magic Bus : Mushrooms, The : Natural souls : Off the Record : One Wierd Fish : Colin Santana

Percy Lambert, Weybridge

Description: This venue has been rebranded as The Elmbridge Arms.

Address: 2 High Street, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8AB

Tel:

Website: http://www.myspace.com/thepercylambert

Map: Find The Percy Lambert on Google maps

Bands: Blue Beyond : Rik Martin Trio, The

Queen's Head, Aldershot

Description: This venue is one large room with an L-shaped wooden bar. The walls are decorated with art prints and blackboards displaying the specials and future attractions, and panelling up to the dado rail. The floor is mostly bare boards, apart from the dining area on the left hand side, which has slate tiles. There is a small patio at the rear for the smokers, and beyond it is a large beer garden. Beers on offer include Carling, Stella Artois, Grolsh, John Smith's, Fosters, Guinness, and Strongbow cider with the usual collection of mixers and alcopops, wines and spirits. The pretty young barmaids look barely old enough to drink, let alone serve, but they seem to know what they're doing. They have plenty of wooden tables and chairs. There are large windows on two sides and additional lighting is provided by some tifany style lampshades. Live music on Saturday nights and Open Mic every 3rd Monday from 26th Nov.

Address: 97 North Lane, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU12 4QJ

Tel: 01252 320716

Map: Find the Queen's Head on Google Maps

Bands: Mushrooms, The : Rik Martin Trio, The : Solid Juice

Running Horse, Bracknell

Description: This spralling venue has been sub-divided up into smaller seating areas, the bolt hole, the executive suit, etc. There is a small dance floor with disco lighting in front of the stage by the main bar. To the right is a restaurant, the hungry horse. Beers on offer include Fosters, Carling, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg 1664, Guiness, also Magners and Strongbow cider, bottled beers, wines and spirits. There are a few continental style high tables near the stage, the best place to sit to see the performance, and low wooden ones further back with long sofas to chill out with friends. The Entertainment is provided by fruit and quiz machines, with several large LCD Tvs for sports. There were a handful of over 40s there, but most of the customers were younger. Live music on Friday nights with a disco on Saturday nights. They are also running a talent contest.

Address: London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 2UJ

Tel: 01344 425215

Map: Find the Running Horse on Google maps

Bands: Blue Beyond : Debbie Giles Band, The : Rhythm Pigs, The :

Surrey Cricketers, Windlesham

Description: This large venue has a patio at the front, and a large car park at the side, and a large beer garden at the back. Inside there are plenty of tables and chairs, Unfortunately the immense size is carried inside too, all the furnature seems to be 20% bigger than necessary. This can be comforting in a chair, but the stools make you feel like Dennis Waterman in that Little Britain sketch. Don't get me wrong, they are well made, and pleasant to sit in, it just looks a little weird. The walls are decorated with blackboards showing special offers, and old posters, and art prints. The floors are bare boards, although probably very hygienic, can make the place more noisy. There are large windows on three sides which let in a great deal of natural light. All of this gives the venue a relaxing seaside feel. The long bar has upholstered stools. Beers on offer include London Pride, Spitfire, Greene King I.P.A, Carlsberg, Guinness, Carling and San Miguel, Strongbow cider and wine on tap. Live music is presently on alternate Wednesday nights. Other entertainment is provided by a large LCD TV. They also have a function room for hire. Sadly this venue no longer does live music.

Address: 55 Chertsey Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6HE

Tel: 01276 472192

Website: n/a

Map: Find The Surrey Cricketers, Windlesham on Google maps

Bands: Sadly no bands, but wait till you see Gavin and his Guitar.

Vibe, Epsom

Description: This venue has now been rebranded as XLR Bar. This venue has red painted wallpaper and leather sofas. The large windows are covered by venicion blinds. Beers on offer at the bar include Carling, Fosters, Grolsh, Heineken, Stella Artois, Guiness extra cold, and John Smith's bitter. Also Magners and Strongbow cider, bottled beers and spirits, mixers and alcopops. On live music nights they clear off the raised area on the left hand side behind the wooden railings. The first Tuesday of the month they have some acoustic bands. Other entertainment is provided by fruit and quiz machines, a dart board, they also have a large TV projector and screen for sports.

Address: 79 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1DT

Tel: 01372 819945

Website: http://www.myspace.com/theoriginalvibe

Map: Find the Vibe, Epsom on Google maps

Bands: ALEXANDER, Gavin : Finding Luna : Invisible Alex : NEALE, Anna : WildStar

Wheatsheaf, Farnham

Description: This large venue has oak beams and panelling half way up some of the walls, which are a mixture of roughly plastered with magnolia or similar paint or exposed red brickwork. Works of art, old photographs and Brewery memorabilia are sparingly used to complete the decoration. The ceiling is painted wallpaper. There are a large number of tables, wooden chairs, and pews. The long wooden bar stretches between the two main rooms. Beers on offer include Carling, Fosters, Stella Artois, with the usual selection of alcopops, bottled beers, wines and spirits. Entertainment is provided by a large LCD TVs for sports and a couple of fruit machines, a jukebox, and a pool table at the rear. They hold an Open Mic night on Thursday's with Vic's buskers, and live bands on Friday and Saturday nights.

Address: 19 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7DR

Tel: 012 5272 5132

Map: Find the Wheatsheaf, Farnham on Google maps

Bands: Blue Beyond : Blood Red Sky : Gerry Dryden Band : Old Blue Moses : Rik Martin Trio, The : Vic's Buskers / Open Mic Night

Woolpack, Elstead

Description: The main bar at this venue consists of one long room. The low ceilings are either rufly plastered or covered in painted embossed wallpaper. The carpet looks as if its been there since it opened, but thats not always a bad thing. There are a couple of black oak beams and uprights, and the walls are decorated with artworks and old photographs. The lighting is provided by some glass shaded lanterns hanging from the ceiling, which add to the cosy atmosphere. The ample seating is on old wooden pews and chairs around tables. There are fireplaces at either end of the long bar, which has a wooden glass rack above it and you can see some of the real ale barrels, each wearing a little jacket, behind the bar. It is currently being run by Chris Cooper and Leslie Gay, who purchased a 20 years lease, so they'll be there a while. Beers on offer include Carling, Guinness, and Stella Artois. A wide selection of wines are available both on tap and by the bottle. The real ales include Brakspear and Abbot along with the usual spirits and mixers. There is also a pool table, and a dart board in the back room, and a beer garden. Although it has a small car park, there is ample parking by the village green. They also have a large restaurant and function room with 10 seats. The live music is on most, but not all Sunday nights. Sad to say that I found the quiz machine at the end of the bar was more unexpected than not finding Seth there.

Address: Milford Rd, Elstead, Surrey, GU8 6HD

Tel: 01252 703106 or e-mail woolpack.country.inn@hotmail.com

Map: Find the Woolpack, Elstead on Google maps

Bands: AUSTEN, Willie : CRACKNELL, Vic : Fab Tyler Band : Hoss and The Kid : NRG : One Wierd Fish : Whatever