The Keep in Guildford

Enjoying my veggie sausage and mash lunch

Fabulous place for pre dinner drinks. Wide range of Gins and Rums.

Love it! So cute such a hidden gem 💎

Great atmosphere, good beer, good prices!

Stopped by on a Monday for the bluegrass jam. This is a great pub, very friendly people, great beer and service. And a big thanks to Paul and the other musicians for letting me sit in with them!

I saw a solo guitarist there last night and the atmosphere and welcome (door and bar) from the staff was first class. Sound was excellent. Largely standing. But great venue. Ryan Boldt/Deep Dark Woods was the artist (in photos)

Really nice independent pub in Guildford, I booked the 'Gin Parlour' (the upstairs room) of the Keep for a birthday get together, including food. Staff were great, really accommodating, the room was superbly kitted out on our arrival along with snacks and food, the chilli (both meat and veggie) was good and went down really well. It's a really great space - would recommend.

Lovely little pub with a cute outdoor area around the back. The staff are lovely and a good drinks collection. The toilets are limited which can cause a bit of a queue at busy times

A wonderful, discreet little back street pub with unique charm and great selection of beers and ales. Service is always top notch and drinks are served with a smile. It’s now my first point of call when visiting Guildford for an evening meal.

Lovely pub serving a good pint of beer and cider, quality crisps, and with a great atmosphere. Came in for a post Christmas shopping and carol service drink. Loved it.

Fantastic, homey, warm and welcoming. Secret garden in the summer and fireplaces in the winter. Absolutely my number of Guildford. Lived here my whole life. Also perfect for first dates!! Sofas and quiet music and on Saturday day only... Really, really.. good food!!

Had a birthday bash here! Friendly staff 👍🏻 well recommended

This tiny and historic pub retains its originality while bringing the look and feel into the 21st Century. It's lovingly decorated so it feels like home and there a tiny secret garden.

Great pub of you're a smoker! Really cute little pub, good selection of drinks, nice character but the "secret" garden has sadly become a smoking area. As that is covered and actually part of the pub, not only does the smoke ruin the garden but sat at the far end of the small pub it is all you can smell. Only lasted one drink and had to leave. Get rid of the smokers and would easily be 4 stars!

Perfectly nice pub, my only gripe is there was only one real ale on when we went, hence the one star off.

Nice pub for a drink on a Saturday night! Staff were friendly

Good fresh light bites. A nice escape from the busy high street.

Lovely cosy pub, ideal for pre dinner drinks.

Great little pub that know how's to create a relaxed and pleasant environent

Great pub tucked away but in the centre of Guildford. Lovely atmosphere with large selection of gins in particular and friendly bar staff . Will definitely be back.

Cosy pub, good selection of beers and they had Shere Drop, one of our favourites.

Nice pub with great staff and a chilled atmosphere

Great pub made excellent by land lord and lady

This place is great. I and a couple of friends recently booked the upstairs room for a joint 30th birthday party, and we and friends had such a wonderful time! Staff were friendly and so helpful - they set up the room before we arrived so beautifully, and more - just thanks for such a wonderful evening. Highly recommended. I've visited before just for their gin menu - it's the best in Guildford!

I and friends recently booked their upstairs room for a small party, and the staff were so lovely and helpful. They set the room up perfectly before we arrived and made sure we had everything we needed. We all had a great time. I would have recommended this place to anyone just on the strength of their gin menu, but I'd say definitely also consider this place for their kindness and excellent service.

This is a very nice pub opposite the Guildford castle. It's very cosy qnd pretty, and it is not loud and crowded as other places in Guildford. The menu is simple but there are a few things to have a bite if hungry. There is a warm and welcoming garden, but sadly people smoke and the smell gets to some tables. Service is great as well.

Worst food and service I've experienced in a Guildford pub

Lovely staff and nice little pub.

Friendly apart from secret garden opened into pub and smokers meant an unpleasant air

Excellent gin selection, comfortable surroundings and good atmosphere.

Lovely ambiance, excellent local beer and a huge choice of Gins!

Always good - favourite Guildford pub.

Really nice pub. Reasonable price. Very good selection of sports, especially gins. Staff helpful and friendly

In that little courtyard drinking Mount Gay rum cocktails.. just heavenly on a Balmy Sunny Day.

Nice little Guildford pub, often a bit quiter than others around. Good selection of beers and drinks but quite pricey.

Proper British public house, landlords took the time to sit with us in their lovely outdoor seating area and made us feel very welcome.

The staff are lovely, it's a cozy little local pub with a small outside patio area, i haven't eaten there, but they have a wide choice of booze and that suits me fine.

Nice little pub. Has a limited menu offering a few hot dishes and sandwiches, so good for a snack if you're drinking but not with going out the way to eat there. Better for drinks and catching up in a nice environment :D

Cosy pub that deserves a visit. It was quiet when we visited at 7.30pm on a Thursday, but got busier. Well kept beers and friendly bar staff made this an enjoyable evening

A really good pub, nothing too flashy just smashing service from people that know what they are doing, a wonderful selection of beers and gins (especially gins!)...a 'proper' pub.

The March Hare was packed so we tried the Keep, having walked past it hundreds of times over the years but never been in. We found it to be a cosy little pub with decent beer. We sat in the "walled garden section. heated enough but we kept our coats on. Had no inkling of the smoke issues raised by other reviewers - must have been lucky as no smokers that night. The barmaid must have been new as she was a bit clueless about drinks generally but no big deal. Will definitely go again.

We were looking for somewhere for a bite to eat. The Keep looked like an excellent choice, the building is really picturesque, and so in we went. It was really quiet when we visited. I will say that the decor may not be to everyone's taste, it was quite twee, and to me, it had more of a feel of a restaurant. The service was fine and the drinks were excellent, especially the range of gins. My wife was especially pleased to see that Mermaid Gin from the Isle of Wight was stocked!! We both had the home made chilli and this was really nice, plenty of flavour without being overwhelmed by spice. It was served with nachos rather than rice which was a nice change. It was just a shame that it was lacking in atmosphere when we visited, but it isn't fair to judge a venue for this when we only made one quick visit

Had the most delicious Liver and Bacon dish for lunch - so tasty and served with lovely veg. Brilliant service and a very good cup of coffee too!

The Keep is a lovely cosy Guildford pub and over the past decade or so, it has been a favourite of mine. However, I feel that the owners have recently employed disinterested, inexperienced staff who are begrudgingly serving.. To go in and have a few drinks ( happy for the custom in these recent times) and then when you wish to be served another drink past 10pm, be told they are closed because they basically can't be bothered is rather grating. Especially when said staff never ring a bell or have the courtesy to inform patrons of any last call. Add to that the fact that the advertised closing times are never observed by the staff on duty who basically want to go home when it is quiet and they have had enough. The owners should seriously take note .They may be unaware of how it is managed in their absence., but in these trying times, things like this can really tip it against their long term survival interests

If they ever opened when they said they were open and stayed open beyond 10.00 with long standing paying customers were in there drinking they might have a chance of survival. Terrible attitude from a pub that was formerly very close to my heart.

The Keep is a lovely cosy Guildford pub and over the past decade or so, it has been a favourite of mine. However, I feel that the owners have recently employed disinterested staff. To go in and have a few drinks ( happy for the custom in these recent times) and then when you wish to be served another drink past 10pm, be told they are closed because they basically can't be bothered is rather grating. Especially when said staff never ring a bell or have the courtesy to inform patrons of any last call. Add to that the fact that the advertised closing times are never observed by the staff on duty who basically want to go home when it is quiet and they have had enough. The owners should seriously take note .They may be unaware of how it is managed in their absence., but in these trying times ses, things like this can really tip it against their best interests.

Small, cosy pub with very friendly staff. Lovely location opposite the Guildford Castle.

A nice pub with great selection of gin but extremely smoky. The ‘outside’ is basically inside so be prepared to leave smelling of cigarettes. Such a shame as otherwise a nice place to go for a drink!

Great place to relax, plenty of Gin offering, highly recommended

This is a great cosy pub with comfy sofas and a relaxed atmosphere. There is a great selection of gin’s and cocktails on tap. You are able to book a table for just drinks too. The guns are so so good. This pub would have a excellent rating however they have a court yard that is open to the rest of the pub, the court yard is covered and when people are smoking the smoke drifts into the pub and it is like going back 20years and people are smoking in pubs again, it was so bad we sadly could not stay as long as we would have which was such a shame as it is lovely but the smell of smoke was so strong.

I love this pub - it’s small and cosy with friendly staff and a great selection of drinks. You can order tapas from next door as well!

This should be and could be an ideal place to visit for a drink, and so it appeared when I decided to do so for a drink. On the plus side the welcome and service was good, so why to low rating? Put simply, as a non-smoker, I could not even finish my drink before I had to get out of there, so overwhelming was the smoke and smell of stale tobacco. Whilst no one was smoking inside exactly, the small courtyard out the back is covered almost entirely with a gazebo meaning that it is all but made part of the main building. People smoking there might as well be in the main bar for all the difference ‘being outside’ makes. In addition, this has clearly been the case for some time as the smell of smoke and stale tobacco now permeates the entire inside space. I suspect that those who work there have become nose-blind over continued exposure and probably do not realise how it might be putting off visitors such as myself from visiting what is, in every other respect, a potentially very appealing place to be. However, as things stand at the moment, whilst I might now pass it regularly, I’ll be heading elsewhere for a regular pint.

Went in for a drink on a Saturday night. Huge selection of gin and whiskey. Lovely building and furnishings. What really annoyed us was the ?owner? who was sat smoking in the covered courtyard immediately by the adjoining door to the pub. The courtyard is scarcely outside, and so we were subject to the unpleasant smoke of her and her friend/ partner/ co-owner. I guess it’s legal. It’s definitely anti-social. It wasn’t the only point of poor customer service. When we arrived we had to ask to be let in by the ?owner? who was hanging out of the front door. And, when a group of 4 arrived at 10:15 they were curtly told “we’re shut”.

Really nice and relaxed atmosphere

My boyfriend and I went to The Keep after a nice meal for a drink. The lady that received us at the entrance wasn't very welcoming to be honest. At some point we realise a couple of customers were not happy with the girl serving their drinks, which somehow reflected on our service too. Our drinks were slapped on the table,staff not polite at all and more interested on their own phones. Overall it wasn't a good experience on a Saturday night.

This is a really lovely place. We just had a quiet drink but will return to try their tapas. Staff were very friendly, and to say goodbye and thanks for coming makes the world of a difference. Would definitely recommend.

Brilliant gin pub, very friendly staff, great service, about 90 different types of gin, probably the best place i’ve been in Guildford! Highly recommended!

Stopped in for a couple of drinks at the weekend. Friendly staff, a great selection of craft gins and beers and a nice, secluded outdoor seating area

A friendly and comfy pub right by Guildford castle. Reasonably priced cocktails, lovely and authentic decor. Not as hectic as some other Guildford pubs. Such a lovely find.

Nice relaxed atmosphere .... covid protocol reassuring.

Nice eve with lovely friendly service from Sara :) thank you

We popped in for a drink at about 6 ish and it was fairly quiet but started to get a bit livelier by the time we left. It's a shame it wasn't busier as there is nothing genuinely bad about the pub or the landlord and landlady, in fact, the landlady and landlord make are what makes a pub and it's nice to see an independent pub with a couple who have some character. The only negatives are the size which is made even smaller by Covid restrictions and the price, which is comparable to other Guildford places but you do get more space. I would prefer to go here and support local rather than a brewery owned pub or one of the larger establishments in Guildford.

We visit The Keep twice a month for a Sunday lunch and a film night. Jane and Brian are the perfect hosts. Great food and fantastic service . Never faltered in the years we’ve been going. They also host our annual fund raising quiz which is always a fun night with everything we could wish for laid on. Some of our guests have brought their dogs who have also left grateful to Jane for their special treats. If you like gin it’s the place to visit with a beautiful display of too many gins to count behind the bar. We look forward to returning once everything returns to normal as we miss our bi-monthly outings to The best public house in Guildford.

Cosy little pub with a decent selection on tap. Staff were friendly and approachable.

Chilled out pub with a great selection of drinks.

If you are looking for a lovely cosy setting, fantastic food and great company then the Keep has no competition in Guildford. We had a lovely Burns Night Meal last night, Scottish Broth followed by delicious haggis, all cooked perfectly. The pub was lovely and busy which gave a real buzzing atmosphere.

If you are looking for a lovely cosy setting, fantastic food and great company then the Keep has no competition in Guildford. We had a lovely Burns Night Meal last night, Scottish Broth followed by delicious haggis, all cooked perfectly. The pub was lovely and busy which gave a real buzzing atmosphere.

Amazing gin selection. Beer choices not quite there.

Nice little hideaway pub. Good selection of ales and lagers. Huge selection of gin. Recommended.

Having been rushed through our Christmas lunch at the nearby March Hare, our group popped in here to continue our festivities. We intended to stay for a round or two while exchanging secret santa presents but ended spending the most of the rest of our afternoon & evening here. Great atmosphere, cute decor for Christmas, good selection at the bar (though our non-alcoholic drinkers would’ve liked a tea / coffee / hot chocolate). No food on offer other than crisps so we moved on around 7pm.One slightly weird thing was the arrival of an older woman around 6.15pm who started huffily rearranging furniture and gathered up some part drunk drinks. We were confused as to whether she was staff or a customer! The weird thing was the upstairs loo, which looked like someone’s small sitting room with a toilet and sink in the corner...

Lovely hot food for our Christmas party. Private room upstairs was very cosy. Friendly staff.

Very nice and very busy. Lovely venue and ambiance if you don't mind a crowded pub. And,they have non-alcoholic beer. The San Miguel is lovely. Great place.

Stopped in for a drink to take a break from a hectic day of travelling and found a cosy, welcoming place with comfy seats beside the fire. Friendly staff and a reasonable selection of beer. Having a quick pint did not do this place justice.

Such a cosy and warm pub and the landlords really care about the locals. Go in and have a drink. You won't want to leave.

Cosy, clean. Lovely staff. Lovely place. Good selection of beeros!

I've always loved this little pub. Great ale and just quiet and relaxing

We popped in as unlike some evenings it was emptier than usual. Decent beer on tap and server was happy to discuss the gins which numbered approaching 100.At present, they are not capitalising on the gins to serve gin-based cocktails as they do not pretend to have an expertise, but they do have serving suggestions on hand.As others have observed, not an inexpensive place but refits don't come cheap and the Keep has had obvious work done to modernise an old pub. It would be easy to overlook the place, but had a pleasant ambiance and is worth a visit.

Friendly Guildford pub with more choice of beer these days

Visited with friends, our first time at this bar. Excellent selection of Gins available, and served with appropriate mixers and garnish in nice Gin glasses. Nice table set up with candles and background music, would definitely return and recommend.

Popped in for a beer, great selection, nice little pub with friendly staff. Recommended!

A real cracking pub just right for groups of friends for a good old chat. Love it

Nasty place! Crazy prices for a lager !£5.50??? Nuts. Not clean either ! Pipes still being cleaned on opening so had to wait ! What ya been doing all morning? Terrible

Always like this pub. Quiet and a good selection of beer and gin. Aimed at the older punter I think or people who like to have a conversation. 2 moans. Smoke from people in the outside area wafts in which is irritating. The barman wouldn't do my wife a coffee....no coffee after 8pm apparently.....seems ridiculous.

Small pub with small outside area. Good choice of well kept beers. Well presented.

Huge gin selection. Cozy pub with board games and an outdoor patio in the back. Will definitely come back.

I went for a DnD meet-up and I really liked the atmosphere. It was quiet enough that we could hear each other, and the bartender was chatty without being intrusive. I would definitely go back for another pint.

We had lunch inside, but outside is lovely too. Very kind and attentive service. Sadly I cannot eat chilli and I think the staff members name was Ella, but she was great double checking what did and did not have fresh chilli in. The food was very good and generous portion sizes. Good range of food on the menu too. If you like an old setting, good food and service, then this is the place for you. It is just off the shopping area near the castle grounds.

Fantastic Food and great choices of beer. Incredibly friendly staff and just opposite the Castle and next door to my office. Couldn't be anymore perfect! Butchers Sausages and Mash is mind Blowing amazing! Must visit for some true homely food.

What a cracking little pub this is! Tucked away off the busy High Street overlooking the Castle entrance. I work just up the road and am now a weekly visitor. Today about 12 of us visited for lunch. Our table was beautifully presented, Matt, the barman (I think that's his name!) can't do enough for you and his banter really adds to the enjoyment of visiting. Lovely food, great Sauvignon Blanc, cosy, comfortable decor, and very dog friendly - My dog even had a little bowl of dog biscuits awaiting him. Wouldn't frequent any other pub now. It's a tough world out there for pubs. I hope this one stays just the way it is!

The Keep is Guildfords gin palace with a massive selection of gins to chose from. Relatively small pub with cozy arm chairs and a patio out the back. The selection of ales and craft beers could be more thought out and perhaps local. The Wi-fi is a nightmare. A faff to logon and then it’s super slow unless you pay. Really? Cafes in the developing world had better and free Wi-fi. Men’s toilets could be cleaner.

Popped in for a drink after dinner. He ignored us at the bar. We asked what selection of vodka was available and there was only one. We asked again if there was another option and he said no and was quite rude

Great selection of gins - too many to count!! Perfect pub for any gin lover. Lovely cosy atmosphere with a selection of boardgames to choose from if you fancy a game.

Nice place for a drink.Gin seems to be the theme.

Another pub we visited we really liked it here and the Gins were good. Can recommend. Well worth going to

Good beers, Betty stogges, hogstar, Young's stout. Nice inside.

Great selection of gins, cosy pub with a courtyard to sit outside.

Nice cosy place that does fantastic Sunday roast

Nice quite pub away from Tv's and screaming adults/kids/babies🤣

Good live music, not perhaps the best place for younger kids

Delightful town centre bolt hole away from the main drag, but close enough to all main amenities. A must for anyone looking for a quiet drink and a friendly vibe. Excellent selection of gins and whiskys served expertly by knowledgeable staff.