Pub & Brewery History Group

The Old Jolly Farmers, Purley

The Pub and Brewery History Group was formed in 1995. In most years the group visits eight historic pubs and makes one brewery visit, meeting between March and November. All details are posted in the Local History Records. Over the years, we have followed the fortunes of our East Surrey pubs, with many changing hands and their character. Some have gone forever to developers while others have revived as ‘gastro pubs’, or have had their old names and character restored after a period without a true identity. Most of the pubs we choose to visit have a selection of real ales and support the CAMRA campaign. Our meetings are open to all members and guests and are generally held on the first Saturday of the months we operate. We meet at noon and most who attend stay for an optional lunch, after a short talk on the venue’s history which includes details of some of the people who have run these community hubs in times gone by. For further information or to recommend a pub for future visits, please contact Paul Sandford at info@bournesoc.org.uk.

A view of The Old Surrey Hounds in Caterham Valley, taken by Robert Warner

Some of our members have asked for pubs easily accessible by public transport, so this too has been taken into account, as has the availability of local real ales from Surrey breweries such as Dorking, Farnham, Hogs Back, Leith Hill, Pilgrim, Tillingbourne and Surrey Hills, plus cross-border examples like the Westerham Brewery. Members are encouraged to recommend their favourite pubs for future visits and to report endangered pubs. For the more distant venues, lifts might be possible if sufficient notice is given. Contact Paul Sandford.

Visits are usually held on the first Saturday of the month between March and November. We gather at noon outside the appointed venue, or, if wet, inside. See the Forthcoming Events page for details of the venues and their location.