The Refectory in Waverley

Very busy. Great staff great food. Massive place outdoors as well. Dog friendly.

Lovely building. Friendly staff. Tried some of the "nibbles" on the menu which were superb ! The mains were Crispy Beef on Salad with Cashews ( Excellent ) and A Quiche Lorraine which , my partner, felt was far too oniony for her tastes. Having said that, we enjoyed our experience and we will come back again soon.

When you look at the menu you expect something really special. With typical starters priced at £9/£10, desserts at £9 and main courses at £18 upwards (unless you have a salad), it's clear that this place is aiming at quality and expecting you to pay for it. However, if our experience was anything to go by, in practice what you end up with is something that is actually pretty average and therefore overpriced. A large group of us met up here for an evening meal and to be fair, all plates were clean after eating so there was nothing much wrong with the offering. But the total cost was eye-watering compared with what you can get elsewhere for the same quality. With so many people it was good to look across the range of dishes and compare notes. One of the standard main courses was not available - unfortunate but it happens. More curious was how two dishes were described. The mushroom, cheese and tarragon Kiev would have been better described as an arancini, as that's what it was, and the blackberry panna cotta looked like a sloppy purple blob on the plate. All the above might read as rather 'picky'. But if you set yourself up as a place that offers a high end quality menu at above average prices then you just have to deliver on that. The Refectory didn't do it for us. So if you are happy to eat in a decent venue and pay through the nose for the privilege then by all means try the Refectory. You could do a lot worse but there are also more value for money options around.

Just had a lovely meal at The Refectory, great food and excellent service. Shout out to Finn B who was outstanding throughout….

Well what can I say? I am the world’s best food critic and would find even the smallest faults with service, food, Atmosphere. But I can’t. The greeting perfect. Table service perfect. Food Michelin star. Value exceptional.

Very nice place, very nice staff, good atmosphere, ample parking. Nicely presented food that could use a bit more attention on flavours and could also stick a bit better to the descriptions on the menu. *Update a year later: full five stars. The food is perfect and the price is remarkably reasonable. I had to check the receipt because I couldn't believe it was correct, but it was.

Service and ambience was excellent. Food was very expensive for the portions that were delivered. Not what I was expecting.

Fab family meal, service was so good, really good food

A wonderful venue with great food and welcoming very helpful staff. There is also an outdoor covered Informal area outside. The venue has a lot of history and was once a barn. However a lot has changed over time and it has become a cosy warm environment.

What a lovely pub and atmosphere. We went as a family for Christmas Eve dinner and were treated with great food, fast and friendly service, and a really convivial atmosphere.

Amazing food and a lovely atmosphere! Unfortunately, the waiters had to be asked to tidy the table despite it clearly needing to be cleared, which should have been noticed when dessert was served. Overall, this pub is beautifully decorated and would highly recommend

Went for lunch with a friend during busy Christmas period. While there were many diners and large parties the waiting staff were exceptional, welcoming and very efficient. We were warned there may be a delay but this was minimal and much less than other places which were less busy. The food was excellent with prices in range of the going rate. Management had clearly prioritised staffing levels which made everything work like clockwork. Well done The Rectory. Will certainly be returning in 2025. If you are thinking of dining, I suggest you book ahead.

Great pub, great food. We had our work Xmas meal here and could not be more pleased. Would definitely come again

Very impressed with the building....very inviting. Staff were lovely and attentive. It went from empty to packed within half an hour probably because it was good fare, large portions at keen prices, and lots of return customers. So booking advisable, though they accommodated us as walk ins. Worth mentioning the very good gluten free menu. Definitely coming back!

Beautiful venue, excellent food and service. We are definitely going back. It's a bit of a drive for us but worth it. Service and everything as good as the first and previous times. Manager, waiters and waitresses are excellent people.

The pub staff were fabulous, helping my friend who had trapped her hand in the car door, very attentive & caring.Our lovely waitress was attentive & chatty, the menu has a wonderful range of dishes & our food was absolutely delicious. Great range of ales available & the actual pub was warm & extremely cosy with lovely seating areas. 1st time visit & will definitely be back again. Well done for getting it so right .

Very good food with good choices

Vicky was our waitress. She was amazing! Nothing was too much effort for her. We were a table of fussy annoying women 😄 and she was fantastic with each and every one of us! Really really fantastic service which should be recognised!!!!!!! Thank you Vicky!

Opening early, and on a manic Christmas Sunday service, to help a dad in need was unbelievable and I’m extremely grateful for your support. Thanks

Amazing food and the service from Ted was outstanding. Food tasted as good as it looked. Would recommend and also will return

I booked on line for 12:30 today as I was meeting a friend half way between where we live. I had my confirmation of my booking plus evidence i was coming and somehow my booking was cancelled! Must have been a glitch because I never cancelled and no confirmation of my non existent cancellation. The manager was the most rudest person I’ve ever experienced in my life. He refused to accept that there was an issue as was my fault! He just went on st me with a queue of people behind me. No apology or acceptance that something had obviously gone wrong. I’m disabled and struggled to stand whilst he was bullying me! I was waiting for my friend to join me who was lost. I will never return to this place ever. No idea what the food was like as we went elsewhere where I was told g to the staff here are leaving because of his they are being treated !

Visited Sunday 1st December 2024. Chosen as a convenient location to meet up with family. We travelled from Suffolk and Bournemouth respectively. Great ambience by the open fire, food was faultless and the service excellent. Particular thanks to the young lady who served us, utterly cheerful and charming, she helped to make the whole experience all the more enjoyable. Thank you!

Was really lovely, enjoyed the food portion sizes where spot on, had a starter and a main, filled me up. A tad pricey but well worth it. Enjoyed looking at the art on the walls and the feel of the place. Used to go as a kid when it was a harvester so was sentimental so was good to come back 30 years on and see what's changed.

Nice place, very busy. Staff pleasant, but again busy, maybe short handed? Portions were a little on small side hence 4*, and busy staff 4*. Atmosphere was spoilt a little bit due to quite a few dogs and their barking, (I'm a dog owner and control mine better). Overall 4 out 5.

We had a big family Sunday lunch here - 22 people - and were looked after very well. Delicious food and excellent, attentive service.

Ate here a bunch of times over the last year, and really enjoy this place! Can't fault the kitchen, seems lime every dish I've had there has been executed really well. Menu could do with an extra vegan item on sometimes but it's not their specialty so definitely don't mark them down for that. Sadly, the slow service lets this resteraunt down. It seems like front of house is always one or two personal short when it's busy; big place so the team that are on have to run around a lot. The team they have on always seem to be really great, even the trainees have always come across like they know what they're doing. Tl;dr: great place, great food. The servers are great they just seem to need a couple more of them!

Excellent service food was hot and so much of it. ( glad I didn't have a starter) big slice of pork and a pinked piece of beef with all the vegetables £25.95 vfm

What a beautiful place? Definitely recommend and would love to go again. Staff all very attentive and friendly

Delicious roast lunch, stick toffee puds and tasty Guinness

Nice place, not bad food, very friendly service.

Always a treat to visit. It feels like they really take care of this place. The menu is creative and varied and we appreciate all the vegan and vegetarian options. We always receive excellent and attentive service. Keep up the great work.

The service was outstanding, food was amazing, overall, a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Excellent pub and restaurant with friendly staff and chatty locals, a great range of beers and ciders.

We had a truly fantastic time at The Refectory. For a booking of 21 people, the pub handled us with complete ease and we all had a great time! Food was delicious and brought out quickly, service was top notch and the atmosphere was cosy & welcoming. They even found us a table quickly for drinks when we showed up an hour early unexpectedly! Thank you so much Refectory team. Can’t wait to visit again soon.

Very good food! Lovely place always a pleasure!

Fantastic place. Cody, open fire, great wine, and fantastic carvery. Good portion size, not too big. Loved it

We had the Sunday roast, every cook/chef should try the food they expect their guests/clients to eat, and in this case they obviously didn't.The beef was inedible and sinuous, the roast potatoes were hard shelled and over cooked, the plates were served cold!! We left without sweet or coffee. The service staff were let down by the kitchen. I could, and would not recommend the Refectory.

Amazing service considering the amount of diners. Food was hit, generous and tatsty

The refectory is your classic traditional pub food and drink Emporium. None of it is cheap but nothing is outrageously priced unlike some other local hostelries. To my mind the thing that makes the refectory stand out is the welcome you get as you come in and the willingness of staff to stop and chat. Has that certain friendly landlord feel to it. Huge car park and plenty of outdoor seating for when the sun comes out. Recommend the puddings and definitely sample a couple of beers before settling on one. Update : fifth Star added because this venue simultaneously does not automatically add service to your and definitely earns it. There is nothing more satisfying than adding a tip for good service rather than it being assumed.

If you wish to take your dog on your family meal be aware when booking that dogs are only allowed in the bar and the outside area and not in the main restaurant.

We came here recently for dinner on my wife’s birthday. We had visited earlier this year at lunchtime and had a good meal so it was an easy choice. The menu had a limited choice and there was no obvious stand out item for me. One steak dish of a 10 oz Ribeye was around £34. A bit pricey in my view. The food that we did have was very good. We didn’t stay for desert as the service had been very very slow. I don’t think they have enough staff to be honest. There is no greeting at the entrance - just an over worked stressed bar person pointing us to walk to the other end of the bar to be processed. We were seated by another over worked waiter type operative and then waited 10 minutes to order drinks. A further 10 minutes went by and the waiter arrived to take a food order. We declined until we had drinks on the table. To be fair the waiter looked a bit surprised that we didn’t have any drinks and went to get them himself. Food ordered, 5 minutes later the waiter returned to state that one item had run out. Another 5 minutes getting that sorted and reordering. Another 33 minutes (I timed it) to get our main course. We had skipped starters because we sensed it would be a long wait. Same with deserts …they just couldn’t cope we felt. We won’t go back ….well not for a good while. We know of plenty of other places locally that offer good food and much quicker and friendlier service. It spoils the experience of eating out. The prices aren’t cheap here and we just expect better. I noted a recent review stated it “could be so much better” and this is exactly how we felt.

One of the best meals we've ever had, such great atmosphere and fantastic/ attentive staff. I worked in the industry for 6 years and is by far one of the highest standards of food & service in a long time. Well done all, what you're doing works very well. It was so good we came back a second time in our stay in Surrey! Highest compliments to the chef (s). Rebecca & Sarah - Hackney

Just used up my tokens for £12 off my meal. Picked up some more for 2025. The system works so dont forget to pick up your vouchers!! Great service and the menu us very good. Pleasant easy atmosphere. Super service. Good range of beers, some local, and a fine wine list. Best to book because I'm not the only one who likes it here.

Very cosy and welcoming setting, we booked for a large group and staff was very nice (the wait was a bit long but we weren’t in any hurry) I recommend the steak pies with homemade crust 🥧

This was our second visit here and yet again it did not disappoint. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere and staff equally. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a marriage! Excellent and varied menu, including vast range of good gluten free options, beautiful building and knowledgeable and friendly staff. Don't pass through Godalming without stopping here! The food was out of this world - I had GF Halloumi with delicious dip and gluten free Nut Roast served with wide range of 'just right' veggies and GF gravy ... could only manage small dessert but once again, the GF Sticky Toffee pud was extremely good. My husband enjoyed the Crispy Squid, Roast Porchetta and Profiteroles ... all excellent! Highly recommend this place for dinner for two or big family/friends grouping. Plenty for everyone and special diets really do receive a first class service.

Lovely place, nice food, good service

Very nice atmosphere, good food and fantastic service

Beautiful old barn, very atmospheric and I imagine great at Christmas. The boiler had broken down so it was very cold but the roast dinners that we all had were lovely.

A very nice pub with a very nice atmosphere, we won the monthly quiz here tonight and had a very nice meal to boot (the beef feather) highly recommended.

First time at the pub. The food was excellent, the place was busy and the atmosphere on a wet lunchtime midweek was great. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed the experience and will visit again.

We loved our first visit with friends.

Poor Sunday roast - tasteless Yorkshire puddings, roasties were hard and tasted previously frozen. Barely any gravy. Won’t be eating here again! £6 for additional items on the menu like cauliflower cheese and pigs in blankets… otherwise lovely place and nice staff

Very average food. Waiting staff could benefit from some customer service training and some dress code - wearing jeans with the waistband worn around the knees somewhat clashes with this venue.

Lovely building, good service, food was fine just not particularly special/memorable. Would happily return.

Lovely location, very nice garden and staff were exceptionally friendly and food was wonderful 5/5

If I could rate this 10 stars I would. Best pub I’ve been to in a very very long time!

Good food. Excellant service. Plenty of parking in village setting.

Lovely atmosphere and great service. Staff are always very polite and warm welcoming. Food is really nice and reasonably priced. Love going there and will definitely recommend

Excellent food and great choice on menu My wife is gluten free (so really fussy!!) said it was the best that she has had Staff were first class

Very enjoyable visit to the Refectory with our two dogs, who were given VIP treatment.

Beyond terrible food. I had the prawn with rice a flatbread. The prawns were chewy, the broth cold and the rice gloopy and watery. Honestly. Save. Your. Money! I told the waitress and she said she would “feed it back to the chef”. Nothing was done about it.

Visited today and I have to eat gluten free dishes so usually I struggle to find something that won’t upset me. So imagine how surprised I was to find that their menu contains many gluten free options and that they’ll make things gluten free. I had gluten free fish and chips! Fab.

5star service and roast porchetta Just a small criticism the roast potatoes could be a bit crispy on the outside inside that are perfect

Visited on a Monday afternoon, sat outside in the garden which is absolutely beautiful. Our waitress was lovely and clearly working hard. Drinks were slow to come out and a mistake was made but this wasn’t a big deal. Calamari and halloumi fries starters were excellent. Main courses were a mixed bag! The tandoori halloumi burger was not nice at all - massive slab of halloumi just sort of covered in a raw spice tasting red marinade. Token piece of lettuce and slice of tomato in the bun, nothing else. Really disappointed in my food - especially when it was pretty pricey. The total bill was very high - the price for cordial with soda water was criminal!! Such a shame that this place just doesn’t seem to be able to get it quite right. Definitely won’t be rushing back.

Stopped in Milford to find somewhere for lunch. Found this lovely pub. Even when busy the staff were friendly and helpful had a great steak sandwich sitting outside in the gardens. Will definitely go again when passing.

The roast beef ordered today was not tender it was very hard to chew it .I also ordered a pear cider which was a another disappointment. I can't even describe the taste ,a cloudy fermented acidic drink.🤔

Yeah place was very nice, and the food was fantastic. The service was very slow. Waited 30 mins after arriving to place our order, then the food took over 40 mins to be served. When the waitress offered us dessert I asked if the wait would be as long, she laughed and said no, there is no wait for dessert. There was though, waiting about 30 mins. A great place let down by poor service.

The Refectory was recommended to us and worth the 30 mile trip. Lovely looking pub from the outside, nice garden and patio area and internally full of character. Good selection of drinks and the food was very good. Excellent service by everyone. Would highly recommend 👍

Beautiful building and lovely outside area. The main pull for me to go here was the choice of gluten free dishes on the menu. There are so many! Eveything is clearly labelled as gluten free and the servers were knowledgeable and helpful when asking about menu items. This was such a find! Highly recommend and you have to try the cheesecake. 😊

Shared a delicious meal here with family.

Very impressed with food and service. Staff were all very attentive. Ambience was excellent and very relaxing. Highly recommended

Wonderful pub. Brilliant garden 🪴

Our group went here for dinner. It is located close to godalming in a converted barn. Looks really attractive to come and eat or drink something. We were not the only ones. The place was quite packed both inside and outside and this stretched the service. We had to wait a while for drinks and also ordering the meals, as well waiting for the food to arrive. Nevertheless this pub has a great ambiance and we enjoyed talking and looking around. We ordered some nibbles to share as starters. We have took fried hallummi which tasted great, and we ordered a hummus dish with bread sticks. The number of bread sticks provided were too few. As main courses we ordered vegetarian burgers and a pasta dish. The fries were delicious and also the fried hallummi burger tasted fine which was accompanied by a mango chutney. As dessert we ordered ice cream.

Stopped after golf for drink and quick bite around 8pm. Was packed inside and out so didn’t have much hope for food. However, we were served quickly and the food arrived in a normal time frame. Ordered small plates to share which were very good.

Very welcoming pub. Gardens are fabulous, building is full of character and the staff very eelcoming. Food was plentiful and delicious.

High quality food and very friendly staff. I have been here a few times now and the food is always excellent. They have a lovely garden area and quite a big inside area. I have coeliac disease, and everything that is gluten free or can be made gluten free is labelled on the menu, and there are plenty of options! They even have a note on the bottom advising anything marked as gluten free, they ensure is cooked in a way that their will be less than 20ppm gluten in, which is very rare to come across especially in a pub! We shared starters and as they brought the food out they reminded me which ones I couldn't have. We will definitely be returning.

Staff were friendly and very efficient. Food was good. Ambience was charmingly different. A nice place to be.

Very pleasant atmosphere, lovely building,great service and very tasty Sunday roast. The outdoor terrace is lovely for summer dining.

My husband and I went to Refectory for dinner earlier this month. We used to come regularly and then they were closed for refurbishment and hadn't been back since until now, so it was great to see the new menu. It is such a lovely venue and the atmosphere was just like we expected. The food was very good and I must say the staff were really great and so efficient. The young lady that served us was quick to come back so we could order our mains as we just ordered starters and couldn't make our mind up about the mains. She really was good also at getting our drinks. It was a week night and it was quite busy so it was good that we booked online beforehand. The outside area looked very nice and we sat inside but now with the weather being so wonderful we will probably opt to sit outside next time. I had the steak salad and my husband had Halibut. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. He had Eton Mess for dessert and said it was great. It was smaller than previously which was easier for him to finish. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It is relaxed, spotless and the food is exceptional.

Perfect Sunday Roast at The Refectory Godalming 23/06/24....since their updated refurb last year this is a perfect go to place. We've been on a few mixed occasions now. Always exceptional. For non locals.... Outside and inside spaces nicely spaced with contemporary decor- a real oasis spot. Faultless service, food quality & taste and beautiful presentation. Piping hot and no problem ordering extra gravy. There's a grassy playground slightly away from main patio ( keeping excitable noise at bay) and good dogs seem welcome. Inside was full of groups 4-8 guests at tables. An intergenerational family gathering vibe and all needs catered for. Ladies loo was immaculate with lush soap and I love a basket of paper hand towels. Thoughtful as guests closer by didn't have to be distracted with the handblower noise going on and off. Lastly a mention of Josie our lovely waitress. Gave us a little smile and bit of chat who presented herself stylishly and attentively. Just what we needed after a bereavement and the lift we needed. Thankyou chef for a nourishing meal in more ways than one.

Very atmospheric barn style pub restaurant, beautifully maintained. Had a lovely meal and the staff were attentive and thoughtful, even though the place was very busy

Great food, great service, parking excellent, good time had by all, friendly staff, great for Coeliac’s as the guy is a coeliac himself

Good food, nice place helpful staff

Great food, pub , service, setting. Marvellous!

We gone there at 4 on sunday. As they are doing food all day we thought it would be fresh. Paid 25 pounds for a roast and I couldn't eat it as potatoes were rock hard,green beans raw and other vegetables just tasteless. Will not be coming again.

Lovely pub , great food , efficient friendly staff.

A local pub we have been multiple times near family. Always friendly service. Menus change which is nice as we can try many delicious dishes. Dog friendly pub. Lots of space

Update 1st June 2024..... Fantastic menu in a lovely setting, just perfect 👌 Update 1st February 2024... Great location, great food, staff, and ambience. Wonderful environment with which to meet a dear friend for lunch. Updated September 2023... Lovely location, food and kindly staff. I shall visit again.

What an absolutely amazing place. I haven't been here for a few years always used to love it. However now it is even better, incredible atmosphere, clean and stylish. But mainly super welcoming run by a superb landlord with gorgeous staff.

We went here for a beer festival , there was also a hog roast and live music. The food, staff and atmosphere was great and the pub and gardens are fantastic. We will definitely be returning soon.

It is hard to find something that would have made the experience better. The menu is extensive and varied and the food cooked really well. If I had to find something, the only meat one of our party only eats chicken and the chicken choice wasn't inspiring but she did enjoy the fish and chips. It isn't the first time we have been to The Refectory, and yesterday we booked for a party of 12 in October. Thank you for a very nice lunch.

Fantastic building, Staff were very helpful with some very vague requests that we made. Food was delicious. A great selection of Ciders.

A bit on the pricey side but well worth it! The food the service and the atmosphere are all amazing.

Must have been an off day looking at other reviews. The food was disgusting, lamb rump was 50% gristle cold and a portion that wouldn't fill my cat! But the worst thing was the price, at £56 it was nothing but a rip-off. Don't mind paying hard earned money as long as it's worth it, which this place isn't. Never again!

We last went about 2 years ago and was very underwhelmed. We thought it was time to try again and so glad we did, the food was excellent and at good prices. Now back on our regular list, we will be back very soon

Was on vacation for a week and stayed in the area. I will definitely be saving this place for when I return. The staff was absolutely amazing and the beer selection and food were delicious.

Haven’t eaten at the Refectory for a long time and was very pleased with the new menu - great location and outside space - and nice play area for the kids too

Beautiful pub with a large menu, lots of beers to choose from.

A lovely alfresco lunch on the terrace. Very friendly staff and service was excellent. We enjoyed fish and chips with mushy peas and Thai green chicken curry. Both dishes were very tasty, presentation excellent and food was hot. Thank you.