Decent pub for sunday lunch? Godalming/Farnham/Haslemere area

[parachutes]

Hi, can anyone recommend a decent pub in the area for sunday lunch (or just does good food)? Ideally one with a play area, even better if it's by the river!
TIA

[lou33]

there is the withies in compton, it has a garden but i dont know about a play area

or the mill in elstead has a garden and a stream running through it, and a working water wheel behind glass as you go inside

[parachutes]

Hi Lou, I live not far from the Mill but someone said that the food had gone downhill recently...though I can't vouch for that! Never heard of the Withies but will look it up, thanks again.

[procrastinatingparent]

This is probably out of area but the Parrot Inn at Forest Green got a good write-up not so long ago and I hear locally that Sunday lunch is good. I don't remember a play-area but there is lots of seating outside.

[parachutes]

Thanks for that. I think the Parrot Inn is definitely worth a visit. It's a bit difficult for us to travel too far at the moment but definitely one for the future so thanks.

[LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune]

The Spotted Cow in Farnham.
www.thespottedcowpub.com/

Food is good and there is a nice play area outside for the kids. Need to book on a sunday tho.

Personally I think the Mill in Elstead is rubbish.

[Cosette]

The Squirrel at Hurtmore has just re-opened, and has a play area. Also someone mentioned to me recently that the Cyder House at Shackleford now has a play area, have been meaning to check it out but haven't yet.

[lou33]

ooh has the squirrel reopened? about time

it shut cos the owner did a runner after owing loads to the taxman i heard

i havent been to the mill for a few months but the sunday lunch was definitely v nice

the withies is a really old pub but v friendly and i have never had a bad meal thre

the inn on the lake in godalming is ok for sunday lunch i think, but i have had other food there which is a bit hit and miss, though the pizzas always look good

[Cosette]

yes the Squirrel opened on Friday, with a free glass of champagne for everyone and was packed! Food very nice (although some items were pricey). They've changed the access to the overflow carpark, and put in some more outside seating around the exterior of the pub. Heard they'd rehired some of the former staff as well.

Had a lovely lunch at the Withies last week - but it's not particularly child friendly - especially if you need to sit inside due to inclement weather.

Also been to the Mill recently, and the food was good, not amazing, but it's a reasonable family pub I think, and my DS was fascinated by the working water wheel.

[lou33]

the withies reminds me of the leaky cauldron fromt he harry potter films, with it's internal decor (the gas light dimmed effect)

i think the staff are all v nice and friendly though, and i am always seeing lots of children there when i go

[lou33]

i meant to add that i ate at the squirrel before the last landlord did a bunk and the food was really nice

i met a friend for lunch on tues last week and he wanted to go there but we went to wagagmamas in guildford instead

i will tell him it is reopened, he pays for lunch usually

[Cosette]

yes it's lovely isn't it - one of my favourite pubs. I like the inside in winter when it's wet and cold outside, as it's so warm and cosy. In the summer, it's nice to be outside in one of the arbours. I took my 2 year old and it was fine - it's more that there's no play equipment/area.

[Cosette]

the Withies that is - not the Squirrel - xposted. But yes, Squirrel is another favourite haunt - it's very convenient.

[lou33]

yes i have an aversion to pubs with play areas for some reason

i had a friend stay in one of their rooms once too, went in to have a nosey, they werent bad for the price

[lou33]

ah i meant teh squirrel when i talk about rooms

yes i like the withies, you can tell its a good place by how many cars are parked there on a weekend

the squirrel is only one junction away from me on the a3, the withies takes about 15 mins going through godalming, for me

[Cosette]

the squirrel is about 5 mins for me, via a country road and the Withies also about 15 mins, but I tend to go down the A3 and off through Compton. I used to live in Farncombe, and the Withies was (just about) walking distance - bliss.

[lou33]

i am not far from secretts, the other side of godalming to farncombe

[lou33]

oh i think the white lion in milford is meant to be ok too, though i havent eaten there myself

[Cosette]

not far from me then, though I am the other side of the A3 from you. I was at the White Lion recently too, but not to eat. They do have a big garden out the back. I seem to have been in a fair few of the local pubs in the last few weeks . The Three Horseshoes at Thursley is very nice too!

[lou33]

i was going to say about the one in thursley, tho i have never eaten in it, i have a friend who lives in the street, and he says its v nice

and there is also a park a couple of mins walk away

and hankley common isnt far to catch a view of soldiers on exercise

[Cosette]

Hankley is great, and DS loves seeing the 'shoulders' and the Chinooks that regularly fly over. I have inadvertently sauntered through a number of exercises complete with buggy and 2 mad dogs, but they don't seem to mind.

[lou33]

yes i quite like seeing them too

i walked right into the middle of an exercise by the atlantic wall a couple of weeks ago

[parachutes]

hiya, thanks for all the suggestions.
I think it's my duty to work my way through all of them and report back...I may be some time.

[Cosette]

our paths may well cross! We should have a secret mn signal .

[parachutes]

I can think of a few but I'd only end up getting myself into trouble

[lou33]

will you be going to the thai festival at secretts?