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A Woking pub named after one of the town's most famous residents is turning back the clocks as it celebrates a milestone birthday. The Herbert Wells turns 30 on June 4 and will be
hosting an ale festival to mark the occasion. The pub first opened as a Wetherspoons in 1995, on the site of the former Woolworths store. It is named after the famous science-fiction author
HG Wells, who wrote The War of the Worlds while living in Woking. In fact punters heading home may pass one of Wells’ creations, in the 7.6m high martian sculpture in Crown Passage. The
statue looms over Woking although isn’t quite as frightening as they appear in the book. Among the birthday events are an ale festival, which begins on Tuesday June, 3 and will showcase up
to 30 different real ales from local breweries. The breweries being showcased will be Titanic Brewery, Surrey Hills Brewery, The Tillingbourne Brewery, Loddon Brewery, Hogs Back Brewery,
Triple fff Brewery and Twickenham Brewery, as well as other local brewers. Ales are something that come up in online reviews of the pub. One customer recently wrote: “Always an excellent
selection of ales, Steve the barman is the best thing about this place, always great service, food great and nice and cheap, love this place.” Loddon Brewery are producing a birthday ale,
especially for the occasion. Bish Bosh (4.4% ABV) is a golden ale, with a zesty lime flavour and smooth finish. The name, decided after a staff vote, is pub manager Gary Hollis’ catchphrase.
On the big day itself (Wednesday, June 4) all festival real ales will be priced at a 30-year-old price - £1.49 per pint. There will also be a birthday cake. The pub will be decorated in
bunting and balloons and a 90s-themed quiz night will also take place on Tuesday, June 3, with Wetherspoon gift card prizes up for grabs. Pub manager Gary Hollis, who has been at the pub for
29 years, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating our special birthday – a significant milestone - with our regular customers, and hopefully some new ones too.”
