Nightlife in Guildford

The Keep is a cracking pub on Castle Street. If you’re paying a visit to Guildford Castle and you’re wondering where you can grab a drink nearby, you’ll find bare beams and brickwork and a wonderful selection of real ales and gins at this wonderful old-world pub.

In nearby Wonersh, The Grantley Arms is a fantastic village pub with more than 500 years of history. It’s recently been beautifully refurbished, transforming it into a delightful place to go for a drink or some downright delicious food and just a 15-minute drive from our Guildford hotel. It’s fully independent; we love the community atmosphere, and the grub is good enough to rival most places to eat in Guildford.

The Britannia is a great-big riverside pub opposite Millmead Lock and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. The roast is one of the best in town, and the beer garden is brilliant for getting good and sunburnt in the warmer months.

From the same people behind The Grantley Arms, in nearby West Clandon, The Onslow Arms is another fab community pub with exceptional food, drink, decor and character.

The Queen’s Head is a gorgeous contemporary pub in East Clandon. It’s part of the Red Mist family of pubs that’s well-known and much loved across the region. Trust us, the pork belly is absolutely banging. It even manages to stand out in a menu of quite marvellous pub grub.

Lastly, The Star Inn is a proper crowd-pleaser just off High Street. It’s a 16th-century boozer with real fires, a cracking courtyard garden, three floors, Kentish ales and the bragging rights to being Guildford’s oldest live music venue.

Rogues Bar is a supremely popular wine bar on Epsom Road. It’s for over 25s only, so you young tykes will need to head elsewhere. Rogues enjoys table service throughout, including its enormous beer garden, which is the best in all of Guildford. The bar has become a veritable institution, having been a part of the town’s nightlife for more than 35 years. See what all the fuss is about; it’s particularly good on the weekend.

We also love Komo. It’s a stylish cocktail bar cum live music venue that’s easily found opposite the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, both of which you can find out more about with our round-up of Guildford entertainment options. If you are planning on seeing a show, Komo is the perfect place to grab a drink beforehand. It’s so good, but just make sure that “one more drink” doesn’t lead to you missing the curtain.

Corkage is a fantastic independent wine shop on Quarry Street. It’s family-owned and a really pleasant place to go for a drink. The location in the heart of Guildford is ideal. You can purchase several wines by the glass, as well as any one of more than 150 wines by the bottle. As it’s a wine shop, you’re welcome to take them away or pay the inexpensive corkage to drink in the beautiful bar.

If you’re after club nights, Thirty3Hz on Park Street has built a reputation for being the best night out in town. It’s a great venue, spanning club, bar and terrace areas. In terms of music, it punches well above its weight by attracting global DJs to Guildford.

Alternatively, make your way to the opposite side of the river and get cheesy at Popworld. You know what to expect from one of the nation’s favourite chains of nightclubs: absolute bangers, outrageous dance moves, disco balls and dastardly drink deals. More of the same is Bar Thirteen, just over the road.