Tilly Shilling
Unit 2 to 5, Victoria RoadFarnborough
GU14 7PG
See more about this pub on WhatPub, CAMRA's national pub guide.
This modern town centre Wetherspoon pub opened in 2011 and is dedicated to Beatrice 'Tilly' Shilling, who worked at the nearby Royal Aircraft Establishment. She designed a carburetor modification that rectified a serious fault in the Rolls Royce Merlin engines that were extensively used by RAF fighters during the Second World War, improving performance considerably. Information about her and many planes can be viewed in the pub.
Inside, it is one large rectangular open-plan lounge, laid out with tables and chairs of varying sizes. The glass frontage slides open in good weather, and this extends the pub onto the pavement outside. There is an imitation fire and TV screen at one end, giving it a homely feel there. All of the toilets are located downstairs in this pub.
Of the twelve handpumps, three are allocated to the three regular beers, at the right hand side of the bar, leaving room for five ever-changing guest ales. These are usually from smaller independents from across the whole UK with the regular appearance of beers from local breweries such as Disruption is Brewing and Hogs Back. They try to present the guest beers in colour order, light to dark as you look at the pumps. Although this cannot be guaranteed. The fridges also stock a wide range of bottled and canned beers from far and wide and Black Dragon still cider in a box. Although the pub opens at 8am for breakfast, alcoholic drinks are not available until 9am onwards.
The pub enthusiastically supports the bi-annual Wetherspoon Beer Festivals and also occasional brewery tap takeovers.