GUILDFORD RIVERSIDE PUB THE BRITANNIA OFFICIALLY REOPENS AFTER A £300K REFURBISHMENT

Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, officially celebrated the reopening of its newly renovated Guildford riverside pub, The Britannia, with a packed pub of regulars and invited guests on Monday night (February 24).

The pub on the banks of the River Wey has undergone a stylish £300,000 transformation, with full internal decoration, new artwork on the walls, and refurbished seating.

Its brand new bar, which features an extensive selection of Shepherd Neame’s award-winning beers, was extra busy as regulars crammed in to raise a glass to its new look.

Shepherd Neame Chief Executive Jonathan Neame addressed those assembled, saying: “It is always a source of great pride for us at the Brewery to complete a renovation like this. It is a real team effort, with all parts of the business coming together to create something really special.

“A lot of the investment we made here was behind the scenes, including a new kitchen, and the latest cellar technology ensuring the beer in your glasses is served perfectly!

“We know how popular ‘The Brit’ is, as is it known locally, and we want to ensure that this fantastic pub remains at the centre of its community for many years to come.”

The Britannia was officially opened by Cllr Sallie Barker, Mayor of Guildford, who quipped about how she had been a barmaid at The Star Inn in Guildford – also a Shepherd Neame pub – 40 years ago, and went on to confirm her bar credentials by expertly pulling the first official pint.

She added: “It is a great privilege for me to be here. This is a place we use for so many reasons - people come to meet others, to celebrate, to sort out all of life’s problems over a pint and, for me, to recover from a few council meetings!”

Jonathan Neame also presented a cheque for £1,000 to Neil Wheeler, Managing Director of Guildford-based charity Halow Project, which supports local young people with learning disabilities into work, both paid and voluntary.

Open throughout the week from 12 noon, The Britannia serves food from 12 noon to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon to 7pm on Sunday, ranging from a delicious selection of light bites, sharing platters and pub classics using locally sourced ingredients, to its speciality, ‘Pie Corner’ offering a selection of three or more flavours of fresh, handmade pies each day. 

It has several large screens for guests to watch sporting events, and will continue to run its popular live music events. 

You can find The Britannia Inn at 9 Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BE, by calling 01483 572160 or by visiting www.britanniaguildford.co.uk.