Guildford in Bloom winners celebrated as village pub garden takes top award

DATE

October 26, 2026

The Compasses Inn in Gomshall scoops Best in Competition for its colourful hanging baskets and planters as Guildford in Bloom honours the area’s green-fingered champions.


Drinkers and staff at The Compasses Inn in Gomshall are raising a glass after the pub garden won Guildford in Bloom’s Best in Competition award.

The showstopping display of containers and hanging baskets crammed with bright colours decorates the building, filling the riverside space and is a jewel in the crown of the pretty Surrey village.

GiB judges said it was “an oasis of hanging baskets and barrel planters with a walkway across a babbling brook to an extensive garden space surrounded by planters.”

They paid tribute to the pub’s workforce who have kept the flowers watered using the stream and in tiptop condition during the extreme weather conditions.

Many customers have photographed the garden and bar manager Lynda Cook said “we have been very lucky this year”. They also won best garden in the pubs category.

Other winners were:

– Best Wildlife Garden: David Knapp
– Nature Champion: Bee Friends
– Allotment/kitchen garden experienced tenants: Les and Stella Hind of Burpham
– Tenants with less than 18 months experience: Clive and Mark of Farnham Road allotments
– Large Front Garden: Simon and Dominie Tranter
– Small Front Garden: Mary and Keith Lawrence
– Best Small Space: Sonia Paterson
– Best business garden: MMRG Limited
– Best Neighbourhood project: HMP Send Prison

Guildford in Bloom thanked all its sponsors, judges and supporters.

More on the winners and all things In Bloom at guildfordinbloom.com.

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