please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I was going back to 2010 or so, Wealdman, in response to those lamenting its demise.
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This place has been a cookery school for years, Richard. Keep up mate.
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My parents were telling me they dropped in here for lunch not long before it closed - run-down, awful decor, indifferent beer and poor (i.e. frozen, microwaved) food. I'm afraid it deserved to die. Shame it wasn't taken on by someone who could make a go of it as a pub.
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Madness to post about a pub, closed for years.
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I do miss this place!! I even traveled frequentley with my then two young girls on the bus as it was a lovely place to be, met some decent folk too including Lionel and Julie who even insisted on slicing the cheese for my youngests cheese baguettes rather than grate to save the mess on the floor!! Always a warm welcome and many a boozy night. Was sad to see this place go.
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CLOSED - now a cookery school.
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Lionel is a good man/publican - and I hope he thrives. But this idea of 'support your local pub, or you'll lose it' is rubbish. In ANY competitive market, the best will survive and I will continue to select whatever pub I choose; one would almost think we have a duty of care!
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Sad times,I see more village pubs going in this area if locals don`t back them,but most villagers don`t give a `Rats Arse` sorry to say.
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well final entry from me.had a fantastic night with those who cared about the pub and us i hope.very messy has you could guess.THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY MUCH take care.
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This pub is now closed which just goes to show that people in this part of the country don't really value a good well run genuine pub. Good luck to the landlord and his wife!
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Very sad news when a good, genuine, well run country pub closes. Just goes to show that despite an excellent landlord (and Lady!) it looks like to the locals in Abinger don't really care. Sad.
Good luck to you both.
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Good luck to you and yours Lionel,sad days.
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hi everyone just to let you know we are leaving in here end of month.sadley i've been informed the pub will be closed and possibley boarded up has it is now up for sale.so if you have got �475000 and you think you can run a country pub nows your chance.like to say thanks for the nice coomments made over the last three years and just say I TRYED. HAPPY DRINKING AND GOOD LUCK
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five words USE IT OR LOSE IT
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five words USE IT OR LOSE IT
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i'm always graetful for surreyokels comments but you know i am ok.things get me down this pub has been my life for three years now and i have worked very hard to at least make it comfy for people who may enter through the doors.it's not because im a miserable bugger you know.my good lady and i are exhausted
.i realy do try to be a good host and i am generaly think i am.i can only say sorry to those who think im a miser guts.the future of this pub and many more are looking shakey and im trying to offer people more value.unlike most around here. from the time we got here we were looking long term not just make loads of money in a short space of time then away we go.i care about this pub.
i love my surroundings.so next time you walk in any pub just have a thought for the landlord and landlady.dont just think he or she is a misery guts. when was tghe last time someone told you you tired and you said i am.
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Lionel, you have a good pub that serves good beer and fine value food - just a friendly tip: please try and cheer-up a bit, it could do wonders for the till.
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firstly happy new year to everyone.thanks for all the nice comments throughout last year cant say it's helped very much though.just to let you all know we have a great meal deal going on from 16th jan. A DIFFERENT MAIN MEAL EVERYDAY LUNCH TIME MON 12- 2PM TUES TO FRI 12-2.30PM FOR �2.50 THERES NO CATCHES JUST A HEARTY MEAL FOR STUPID MONEY HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL BEFORE THE OFFER IS OVER WHO KNOWS IF IT'S A SUCCESS WE WILL CARRY IT ON POP IN AND SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
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This is a good local pub but needs support from `Locals` as well as passing trade.
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very sorry you had a bad pint.she did not know that was the sam barrel that had run out and had not been pulled through that side.once again sorry.my beer is always kept well has you found out from previous visits.any problems should always be relayed to me.otherwise i will never know
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Went back for another visit yesterday. Asked for another pint of Counting Sheep. The barrel ran out as the woman behind the bar was pulling it. Undeterred, she went to the other bar and topped it up with something else.
It was cloudy and tasted strange, so I left it and walked out.
Next time, who knows? Who knows if there will be a next time?
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What a great pub! Click on my handle to find other comments by me, you won't find just a single comment, I say what I mean and I do review!
Evil people would call it Spartan and it is old-style simple pub decor. Wood floors to the right (but bot rough wood floors, they have armchairs in there too). To the left, carpets and a real fire (2 days ago we needed air-conditioning, today we need a fire)
Counting Sheep �2.90 a pint, Krony, �3.30. I don't know a better value pub but I worry they'll go out of business.
Never tried the food but the menu is pub-grub - scampi, lasagne, sandwiches, that kind of thing.
I've been there a couple of times in the last few days and the locals aren't as friendly as the Labrador I met today., but there again, I wouldn't want them licking my hand anyway.
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thanks to suederv for nice comments.but not sure what she means about decor.we are just a pub after all .were not into chrome and palm trees.but if she means the road side of pub thats another thing all together. would love to get it done but with a fund of around �6000 required mainly for traffic control it's out of our reach. but you will see constant changes to the pub.thanks again
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Looks nothing from the outside, decor could do with a bit more attention, but the food is really good on a Sunday - brilliant roast dinner at around �8, good choice of meats, will definitely be back for more. Staff very helpful and friendly, has a beer garden, can cater for birthday meals etc if let them know.
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Good village local should be supported more,don`t drive to quick round the sharp bend or you miss it.
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just like to say that the last reviewer clearly is not a regular of mine so would not relise the amount of hard work that has been put in to the pub over the last 2 years.by the way if anyone is interested we have live muic every month(see our boards)folk night every first sunday of the month.and on the 16th of this month epsom & ewell morris men in the evening
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Dropped in with some mates on Sunday to catch the Premiership finale. Courage Best was well kept and barmaid welcoming and friendly, doing us some chips at half time! A few locals in situ but not much else doing. Not sure where this place is headed, but with a bit of work it might be great. Moorhouse Black Cat was the second ale on, which was also good, although not my personal cup of tea!
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Whilst not absolutely and totally at its zenith, a visit to the Abinger leaves one feeling that it might be on its way.
We stopped off here by bus on Saturday as part of the local CamRA Surrey Hills Tour scheme, which weirdly includes many boozers well out of the shadow of said uplands, but this is one that actually qualifies as authentically set within that area. It is a large and imposing Victorian building, which appears to have been smartened up, and is now nicely-turned out inside as well as out, adhering to the traditional mould that one would expect on approach. There is a pleasant garden at the rear which was useful to us given the clemency of the weather. We received a decent welcome from the barmaid, who not only pulled up plenty pf pintage at record speed, but happily signed everyone's passports with good grace.
I understand food is available; we were not in the market for that and so I can't comment. Beer-wise, perhaps surprisingly, only 2 cask ales feature here, but this is probably a classic case of less is more. If they feel they can't yet sustain more pumps then that's fine, provided they keep the 2 they have in fine fettle, and keep at least 1 turning over to keep those of us seeking variety happy. Courage Best was what I assume to be the pedestrian choice for the unadventurous. However the other was far more interesting and less ubiquitous. Embarrassingly though, there my recollection ends as for the moment I can't think what it actually was!! Oh well a good afternoon must've been had. Suffice to say it'll probably worth stopping by for whatever is on.
Keep up the good work folks; I think there is more potential yet to reach here and I hope you're the right people to realise this.
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Great pub.
Enjoyed a great pint of Betty Stoggs the other weekend and a Sunday lunch. Good atmosphere and great service.
FF
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Called in on the way passed the other day 2 real ales on Courage and Broadside both well kept,nice open fire,had some good pub food and well priced (as said most mains about �6) friendly landlord what more can you ask for ??
Don`t miss the pub as it`s on a sharp bend.
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Enjoyed a couple of pints of well kept Courage Best and some very reasonably priced food (two for �8 meals, or mains around �6), while watching the football and rugby on TV.
Assume it was the landlord who was serving us, but seemed very friendly and excellent service, so full marks.
Not as chocolate boxey or gastro as other pubs in the area, but don't let that put you off.
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Just seen the GGG post will make a point of calling in when next in the area,wish the landlord the very best luck.Locals will all moan if the pub goes but dont get of their duffs to do anything about it.
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Lionel
Thanks for coming on and letting us know the situation.
Will pop in soon.
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thanks again.not sure about camra lot. thing is most people just dont know were here
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Just seen your post Lionel. Keep the good work, don't know what's the matter with Abinger locals, they must be daft not to be making use of a good pub like yours.
As a matter of interest what's the matter with CAMRA members, you would expect them to be swarming all over a decent pub like the Arms.
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Hi lionel from the abinger arms here.firstly i would like to thank you guys for your kind words.and just to let you know we are still here.and will be for a while.you never know things may turn out ok i am forever the optimist(i am a pompey supporter after all ha ha)sadley surreyokel is correct in thinking the pub is not supported by the locals we have a few that do.we will continue to improve our surroundings and offerings until the day we do depart.but we love the pub and the area and hope we can sort out the problems we have had and stay here.
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I said in my July 25 report that the locals don't seem to be supporting their pub. Looks like this was an accurate comment, when I drove past today I see that the pub is to let. What a shame, the landlord and his wife have transformed it. What a fickle lot pub goers are.
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I had never been in this pub before, but will go again. A true Pub, I wish it was my local. No pretending to be anything else. Had good beer, Adnams, good food prices, good local pub atmosphere. The car park is small and local parking not easy, with the car park full I parked a distance away, expecting the pub to be full, but only four in, so who are all the other cars?
Background music was not loud and generally I thought was not needed. Liked the Morris men and the singing inside afterwards. Bar staff very friendly, helpful. A bit old fashioned inside but that should not put you off, unless you like the spotless, blandness of other group pubs. Dog and children friendly. Has a dart board.
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I was pleased to see Oldesmithy's review, it confirms my feelings precisely. The landlord and his lady have transformed this pub and it does seem to be attracting far more passing trade than previously - and it deserves to!
One sad point; from what I've seen it doesn't look like the locals are giving the place much support which is amazing since most small communities treasure their village pub.
The Arms is a good pub and well worth a visit!
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Super real pub & friendly.
Was there on 17th July - lovely pint of Exmoor Ale (guest) & Adnams always available on handpump. Chatted with Lionel, the Landlord who was a real good bloke.
Hadn't ever been inside before so cannot comment on it's previous condition - but evident what an effort he'd put in - both inside & out.
Don't drive by or be put off by the 'main road' location - the Car Park is adjacent & you can see the Abinger Hammer clock from the pub's front door.
Delightful.
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We met a friendly barman, who was child friendly. A pint of quality ale was very welcome. This is a small locals' pub, but not xenophobic. Nice enough.
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Almost six months have passed since I last did a post on the Abinger Arms, GGG's is more up to date.
The pub has undergone a major redecoration (inside and out) and is very clean and tidy: but the important point is that it's still a village pub with an ever changing range of bitters (two at the time) from an array of brewers and occasionally a mild makes a welcome appearance. Personally I have not had a bad pint in the pub and for Surrey a pint at �2.60 is not bad.
They do food at reasonable costs (they don't try and pretend to be a Michelin stared restaurant like some of the others around this part of the world). Personally I have still only tried the ham baguette with salad which was less than �3.00 - it was fine, and the rest of the food coming out looks promising.
The pub is still dog friendly, kid friendly and if you like traditional style pubs go and have a look. The only downside is a small car park, but other parking is close by.
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A significant improvement on previous owners. I agree with Surrey Yokels's comments. It is good to have a pub that's more of a typical old fashioned pub in the midst of the many gastro pubs in the area.
They usually have a couple of real ales which are in fair condition, on Saturday it was Shere Drop, which was very good as ever, and another.
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I've been keeping any eye on this pub (i.e. making a visit from time to time) and I'm bound to say the new landlord is trying hard. There has been a massive clean-up inside and out.
Youngs is always on and there appears to be a new guest beer every week, condition of the ales is good. Food is fine and seems to be growing in popularity. Poker evenings on Thursday plus darts and a pool table.
Two big pluses for this pub. First they seem to be trying to run it as a genuine pub rather than a bistro (rare in this part of Surrey) and second it's still dog friendly.
Worth a try if you're passing.
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An update on my July 14 post. The positive news is it remains much cleaner and tidier than of old, there is an impressive offering of draught bitter, usually Youngs as the 'anchor' but a regularly changing second offering - when I last went in a few days ago Marston's LBW was on and very good it was to! There has been quite a change in the bar food menu and prices are lower. It looks pretty good and I have tried a ham baguette, it tasted very good and the price was modest. There are two big plasma TV screens in what was the public bar (mainly sport) and one small one in the saloon bar.
Negatives? Not really except that perhaps the landlord could cheer-up a bit; mark you he's a Pompey supporter so perhaps he doesn't have too much to smile about.
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The pub has changed hands and the new people are indeed ex-Blue Anchor in Reigate.
They've undertaken a big clean-up which was needed and have brought in some interesting beers - Sharp's Doombay for instance.
It's still dog friendly.
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I am told this pub changes hands in a couple of weeks time and that the new tenants will from the Blue Anchor in Reigate.
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G/K IPA 99p a pint by any chance ??????? Well it will clear their drains if they have a problem.
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The Abinger Arms now has two large plasa screen TVs in the old public bar showing Sky Sport, etc. Black Sheep has been removed by the new owners and Greene King IPA substituted.
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This is in my view a drinkers pub that`s where they seem to pitch themselves,i have always found it fine for a beer but never tempted to eat here.
It`s also in a position if you blink you`ve driven straight by.
I really hope they get someone in soon and it`s not another one to bite the dust.
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To all those lovely people who have posted somewhat poor reviews for this pub here's your chance, when I passed the pub this morning you couldn't miss the big signs proclaiming Pub business to let. One of you ladies/gentlemen could now prove just how easy it is to run a little pub in the country!
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I am told that as from this week this pub ceases to be a tenanted pub and becomes a managed pub. Let's see what happens, will we have a big operation 'tart-up'?
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There is one thing all of the reviewers seem to have lost sight of, this is a genuine country pub designed to appeal to genuine country people, i.e. very often they work in and around the locality and they often have work wear on and are accompanied by dogs. If you don't like dogs don't go anywhere near the Abinger Arms.
The beer is usually excellent and it's refreshing to find a genuine pub that hasn't been tarted up (Surrey is full of those) to try and look like something from Mayfair.
Is it 100% clean? No, but it's adequate and genuine.
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The last poster describes this awful pub accurately; perhaps with the most potential, this pub is easily the worst on the A25 between Dorking and Guildford. It has an uncaring management - with no interest whatsoever, except dogs and cats.
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Have to agree with gutzeit. Went here last weekend having always driven past but never popped in and was very disappointed. The pub was dirty and unwelcoming. There was no-one behind the bar when we came in so a man in the corner (not sure if he was the landlord but didn't move an inch the whole time we were there!) yelled "FRANKIE" and a woman appeared after a couple of minutes. We ordered a pint & a dry white wine and tried to pay with a card but was told they only accept cards for orders of �10 or more - fair enough so we asked if we could leave the card behind the bar, which she was unwilling to do - luckily we had enough cash for the round - just! The wine was sweet - either that or it had been open for weeks as it didn't strike me as a wine drinkers pub! and my husband hated the beer. "Frankie" then came down the stairs with a greyhound who took up then entire sofa in an already small pub and then someone else appeared from upstairs with two cats!! That was enough for me - I was just waiting for Rolf Harris to appear!! These people seem to only care about their regulars and animals and clearly if your face doesn't fit you're not welcome!!
Such a shame as it is in such an idyllic location and could have such potential
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i feel this once splendid pub, is now owned by a person that has bought it for himself, familly and dogs. Anything like the appearance of a customer, is a positive infringement. Even the dogs, spread out all over the floor, look highly put out, if you want to approach the bar, terrible shame. I think I will buy a pub, just for me! I don't think there is a rating mark for this pub.
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Fairly compact lounge bar with a separate dining area. Had Youngs Ordinary and Black Sheep Bitter which was ok. Unremarkable but nothing bad about it.
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Well I think its OK. Looks better outside than in, too much space taken up with very expensive food - seven quid for a sandwich is a bit much even around here - but the refurbishment brigade have been low key so far. Badger related beers in good condition. There are lots of nice pubs to choose from around here, in some areas this would be a honeypot, just here I'm afraid not the best.
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It does indeed make a welcome change, whith the kind of scruffyness that disappeared from most pubs round here years ago. Beer is fine and the food looks OK, though a bit dear considering the surroundings. However you can tell the sort of area it is when even here they can get away with advertising Christmas Dinner for �35 a head
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The beer and food were both excellent on a Sunday lunchtime, the place was not busy and the service was prompt.
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Fails to take advantage of good location, "friendly welcome" evidently on day off. Last decorated - pre-decimalisation era? - in Northern working mens club style, this is the sort of pub that makes you wonder just why you bothered to step inside - and then you remember that most Surrey pubs are rubbish, over-priced or more generally, both - so you may as well stay put. Suggest you eat and drink before you go or better still, don't.
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True to say that the pub would benefit a makeover but you can be sure of a friendly welcome by the bar staff.
Wooly - presumably 'the barking dog' is inoffensive and fits in with the surroundings. Beers OK - serve Adnams, which will do for me. Show Sky football but 'buckmilligan' please have some respect - this is a 'Chelsea' pub.
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Dorking Drinker is not wrong when he says that the interior is poor. However, the atmosphere is good (it certainly was on the night Liverpool won the Champions' League), the bar staff are friendly and the beer is more than acceptable.
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This should be a great pub, it dates back to 16th Century and is located in a great spot. However, the interior was poor and it looks like they are in the middle of decorating. A loud barking dog and no real atmosphere. On the plus side the beer was good and the Landlady friendly. We would not go there again though.
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