Anchor, Knaphill

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Description: Friendly and casual atmosphere. Selection of Lagers (Fosters, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg 1664), bitters, wines and spirits. Has been taken over by Fullers, the beer may change, but hopefully not the too much else. Large screen TVs for watching sports. Sadly this venue has ceased doing live music.

Address: High Street, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, GU21 2PE

Tel: 01483 472677

Map: Find The Anchor on Google maps

Bands: BeatClub : BrightWhite : Catch22 : Don't Look Now : NiteTrain : Six Miles Away : Slinkie : Thrown2gether

Anchor and Horseshoes, Burpham

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Description: This medium-sized venue has plenty of parking, both at the front and side. It has some black oak beams, and off-white walls apart from the one at the rear, which is dark red. They are decorated with art prints and advertising blackboards. Beers on offer include Stella Artois, kronenbourg 1664, Fosters, John Smith's, Guinness, and Strongbow cider. Real ales include Abbot, Greene King, T.E.A., and the usual selection of wines and spirits. It has pine tables, low stools and some upholstered wooden chairs. The bands play at the back by the french doors, leading to the beer garden. There is a large old fireplace, with a wood burner, but it doesn't seem to be used. Live music on Saturday nights, other entertainment is provided by fruit machines, and a small CRT TV screen. 

Address: 194 London Road, Burpham, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1XR

Tel: 01483 504677

Map: Find the Anchors and Horseshoes, Burpham on Google maps

Bands: Another New Ending : Big Dog and the Bite : Fluke : Frayed Not : Kindred Spirit : Mad Wolf : Whatever

Astolat, Guildford

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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

Cricketers, Yateley

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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

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:

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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

Old King's Head, Hampton Wick

Description: This venue has dark blue painted ceilings, with elegant chandlers made from small discs of translucent shell. The patterned frosted glass windows help you to ignore the busy road outside. All this together with the bare floorboards gives it a modern yet classical feel. It has only recently re-furbished and re-opened after being closed for several years. On the magnolia or similarly coloured walls, is a striking designer clock, a large mirror and artwork in traditional moulded gold painted frames. The polished wood L-shaped bar is decorated with small blue leds and illuminated marble streaked panels. There are some quite comfy and probably pretty expensive high stalls round the bar. This works well when there arn't many people, but on a Saturday night it can make it hard for everyone else to get to the bar for a drink. In one corner is a fireplace complete with padded leather sofas. At the other end is a cleared area for the stage. Beers on offer include Fosters, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg Blanc, Guinness, as well as Magners and strongbow cider. A selection of bottled beers such as Corona and the usual spirits. Entertainment is provided by a large LCD screen for sports. They are open till 11:30pm Monday to Thursday, with the misnoma of happy hour on Fridays from 6-8pm, and they stay open till 1am. On Saturdays till 1am and Sundays till 10:30pm. Live music every Saturday night, solo artists and full bands. Once a month they have a tribute band (this is ticket only).

Address: 1 Hampton Court Road, Hampton Wick, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey. KT1 4AE

Tel: 0208 9778444

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

Map: Find the Old King's Head in Google maps

Bands: Blue Beyond : Donut : Echo Lab : Goodtimes : Grace : Heat Treatment : Southside : Traffica

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

Robin Hood, Guildford

Description: This smaller venue has the feel of a football or rugby club bar, this is emphasised by the team photos on the wall in one corner and the blue and white tartan carpet, left over from the last time the Bay City Rollers were in town. It has its own car park on one side and a municipal one (free after 6pm) on the other. The ceiling probably started off as magnolia-painted embossed paper but is now yellowed by years of smoking, however now all the smokers have to stand outside the door. The walls are covered with photographs of the regulars enjoyed themselves and the bands that have played there. Towards the back is a raised area which I think would surely work better as a stage for the music, though they seem to prefer the other corner. It has small diamond-pattened windows, which make it dark inside during the day. Beers on offer include Fosters, Stella Artois, Guinness. Live music on Friday nights, other entertainment is provided by fruit machines and a jukebox.

Address: Sydenham Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3RH

Tel: 01483 888307

Map: Find The Robin Hood on Google maps

Bands: Big Dog and the Bite : Overline : Retox, The : Suki's Wish

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 :

Saddler's Arms, Send

Description: This is a very traditional pub. The Main bar is dominated by black oak beams and a large fireplace (the fire is gas powered, but very well designed). A wide selection of lagers (Stella Artois, Carlsberg), ales (Spitfire, Fuller's London Pride and Directors Best, and red and white wines, Quinns, and spirits are on offer. It is run by 2 couples, Joyce & Richard, and Aimee & Clive. Once a year the pub plays host to a local band of Morris dancers. The musical entertainment includes "Open Mic Night" on Mondays (first and third) and Live Music every Saturday.

Address: Send Marsh Road, Ripley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6JQ

Tel: 01483 224209

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

Map: Find The Saddler's Arms on Google maps

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Bands: BARNES, Dean : Catch 22 : CHADWICK, Roland : CRACKNELL, Vic : Debbie Giles Band, The : DISCiples : Famous Five : Flying Tigers : Fluke : FLYNN, Mickey : Frayed Not : Fuzed : HARLEY, Martin : HUNT, Ian : JOHNSTON, Byron : Kindred Spirit : LEE, Robbie : Mosquito : Newhaw Leans Jug Band, The : Open Mic Night : Robin Bibi Band : Ruckus Blues : Scratch and Jane : SEUME, Tristan : Sultana : Thrown2Gether : Tumbling Dice : 2K : Two Plus Company : Wingspan

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