A Coaching Inn on the Old Portsmouth Road
The Stag on the River sits on the banks of the River Wey in the hamlet of Lower Eashing, just outside Godalming. The Grade II listed building dates to at least the 18th century. The pub’s own records trace it to 1771, when a sale document described a “tenement and dwelling house near the Mill and Mill gate.” It served as a coaching inn on the old London to Portsmouth road, which formerly crossed the river at the medieval Eashing Bridge a hundred yards downstream.
Archaeological work at the river end of the building uncovered the foundations of former stabling, confirming its coaching-house origins. In 1850 George Blackman purchased the premises for £700, along with brewing equipment valued at just under £48. The pub was fully refurbished in 2021 and is now part of the Grosvenor family, a small Surrey-based pub group recognised by the Good Hotel Guide for food, charm, and warm welcomes.
The Food and Setting
The kitchen serves contemporary British food with a strong emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes regularly, with highlights including Sunday roasts, Friday steak nights, and a weekday set lunch. Brunch and afternoon tea are also available. The wine list is well chosen and the bar keeps real ales alongside cocktails.
The main draw beyond the food is the setting. A sun-drenched terrace overlooks the River Wey, and the interior retains exposed timber beams, cosy nooks, and open fires in winter. A private dining room, the River Room, seats up to twenty.
The Rooms
Seven individually designed en-suite bedrooms offer boutique accommodation, ranging from doubles to a family room sleeping four. Each room combines rustic character with modern comfort: quality linens, neutral tones, and contemporary bathrooms. A full cooked breakfast is included for overnight guests. Dogs are welcome in selected rooms.
Eashing and the River Wey
Eashing is a quiet hamlet in the borough of Godalming, deep in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 13th-century Eashing Bridge, built by the monks of Waverley Abbey and now cared for by the National Trust, stands a stone’s throw from the pub. The River Wey towpath provides flat, easy walking south towards Godalming or north towards Guildford, while the surrounding hills offer more demanding routes across Hascombe and Hambledon.
Godalming itself, one of the oldest towns in Surrey, is a short drive away, with an independent high street, the Pepperpot town hall, and the Phillips Memorial Cloister. The area sits within easy reach of some of the county’s finest country houses, including the National Trust’s Winkworth Arboretum and Loseley Park.
