Pub Awards: Best Cider finalist - Star Inn, Godalming, Surrey

As with all pubs in the category, the Star’s reputation relies on word of mouth. In this case, someone must be shouting loudly as Thompson receives visitors from as far away as the US.

Refreshingly, this pub doesn’t shun bottled fruit ciders, which means drinkers include everyone from the ‘amateur’ to the ‘hardcore’. As a result, the vast cider offer is dramatic and interesting, ranging from familiar bottled brands all the way to unique local varieties that Thompson collects himself.

Kitchen

A small kitchen produces fresh, well-cooked food, with the cheese board proving to be a hero when accompanied by a wide-ranging tasting board of ciders.

The Star Inn is idyllic, a destination venue that locals and travellers understandably love to frequent, and where regular cider and beer festivals are held in the garden. Thompson is a landlord with enviable knowledge about the drinks he stocks and, along with his staff, he loves to share that information.