please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Phoenix was probably the second best pub we tried in Sunbury on Saturday. Similar to the Magpie, it has a riverside location with an outdoor area at the rear overlooking the river. There is even an outdoor bar. The interior has a number of small rooms, giving it some character. Some are laid out for diners. But there are some more traditional drinkers' bars too. As a Marstons pub, it had 3 ales from them - Brakspear Bitter & Hooray Henley & Wychwood Hobgoblin. However they also had Twickenham Naked Ladies as a guest. Quite a pleasant pub. There are plenty of board games in the window of the bar and it's another place that is seemingly popular with families. Decent place.
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I "had a view" in The Phoenix the other night...! And very pleasant it was too! A tidy bar, which you can walk around, has 2 main serving areas (..don't wait by the raisable counter, staff access - 'cos u won't get served there)!
I can't comment on food here, but their selection of New Zealand wines needs boosting (from zero to sumfing..)!!
I think the Phoenix is the best pub in Lower Sunbury, at the moment. But the pub opposite (White Horse) has had a bit of a refurb lately, and could 'poach' some custom, if they play their cards correctly! watch this space :o) TJ
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Excellent Sunday roast yesterday, the best we've had for ages. Nice staff and a roaring fire. The garden is looking promising for the 'summer', too. At present, some of the tables & benches are floating in the Thames, however..............
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This pub as I remember it was a beautiful well refurbished pub, with a beautiful garden. It was always busy, it had excellent service the staff were always help full the pub had a great atmosphere great ales and great food all homemade, Now all of that's gone this great pub is rapidly losing all of its local customers who have kept this pub going with their loyal custom over the years before and after the refurbishment. I can only put this down to bad management. I only hope they can get their act together before this beautiful pub loses what custom they have left. THE SAYING GOES LOOK AFTER YOUR CUSTOMERS AND THEY WILL LOOK AFTER YOU BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM YOU HAVE NOTHING.
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Another visit with some Camra mates. All beers in good order and excellent service; I'm told chips weren't bad either. Lots of locals and much busier han most of other pubs we visited, so must be doing something right.
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I went to this pub on 22/05/12 for evening meal and drink outside as it was 29degC outside.
I went to the bar to order and was asked where are you sitting, so I said outside. They then said it was closed outside. I said ok next to the open door then, he promptly took my order. I then went to the table and found that they had closed the doors turning the pub into a glass fronted greenhouse. I asked if I could open the door an was told no as it encourages people to go outside. Shock horror people should want some fresh air on a hot sunny summer evening. It wa now too late to cancel my meal and had a full drink. I then had to sit sweating waiting for my food. My only description for the staff ryms with Friendly Banker!!
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On every visit I've make to this pub I've received a warm welcome from the locals. There is a full dining area and menu, but I go for the excellent real ales. Timothy Taylors Landlord, Black Sheep Bitter and Twickenham Naked Ladies all served in tip top condition. All �3+ but that is average for this area. The roaring log fire on a freezing winters night was also most welcome. As Arnold Schwarzenegger might say 'I'll be back'.
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This is a nice pub, the girls working there are all polite and good humoured, the beer is great and the garden a great place to sit in the summer. The dining room resembles a Blackpool guest house on a bleak day so the eating experience is poor.
The new manager Mo is the biggest mistake that owner Nigel has made, no personality, no manners, rude, abrupt to name a few traits. I wouldn't let him look after the pigeons nesting in the Whitehorse let alone a pub of this potential. Come on Nigel wake up. Score a 10 with proper managment
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have had a refit of the refit - bit better than before, the outside is especially good now, so they will cream in the punters in summer I expect
TheGP - 28 Apr 2011 15:50 |
Lower Sunbury not Leeds? I love it - the way to justify being the most expensive pub in Sunbury,
I would point out that it is Lower Sunbury, not Richmond - as this pub is more expensive than Richmond,
Not a bad pub by any means, but the beer prices alone would send me elsewhere
TheGP - 26 Dec 2010 19:37 |
There are certainly some mixed reviews on here, but am an occasional visitor (live a few miles away) and when I popped in yesterday, as always met with a warm welcome from the regulars, and an open fire that was much appreciated on a cold winters evening. Real ales in great condition were Black Sheep Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, London Pride & Twickenham Naked Ladies. Yes it's not cheap, but it's Lower Sunbury not Leeds, and great to see a pub thriving in very difficult economic times.
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My apologies-in my post of yesterday I quoted the price of a pint of Black Sheep to be �3.55-it was in fact �3.35-still very expensive,particulaly as it was not very good.
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Went here yesterday for a lunchtime pint in the knowledge that they serve Black Sheep-paid a staggering �3.55 for a mediocre pint-having paid �2.65 pint in Yorkshire last weekend for the self same beer(but better kept) .InTthe bar on the street entrance we were subjected to noisy indisciplined brats-why is this allowed-so we went and sat near the river where we had to endure to the incessant barking of a mangy dog-despite having found a pub which sells our favourite beers we shan't be back
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We always enjoy a pint or two of Taylor Landlord or Black Sheep and a bag of nuts on summer evenings overlooking the river at the end of the garden.
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I don�t think this pub could make up mind what to be. A nice little traditional looking English village boozer at the front and a trendy wine bar at the back. A few real ales on and the general atmosphere of the place is pretty good. This the first place I have ever been to where there is a minimum payment on a credit card but if you go under that, they give you change from the till. Nice but nothing special.
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For TwoPotScreamers information the review of Licence was requested by the Police, due to lack of cooperation from staff when Police were called to incidents at the pub. Please get your facts correct before accusing local residents or they may think your review needs burning as innaccurate reading material.
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No doubt the nimbies in the local area are trying to strangle the life out of another business enterprise in the area with their lame and empty reasons to curtail the opening hours of this fine establishment. Its almost Orwellian the way some residents want to hammer the local economy and reduce Lower Sunbury to a ghost town. What next on the agenda, an organised book burning night on the green for unnacceptable reading material?
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Application by Police, to Spelthorne council, for review of Premises Licence on grounds of "Prevention of Crime & Disorder"
Full application can be viewed on Spelthorne council website.
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Nice pub, I like sitting by the real log fire with a pint on cold evenings. Decent service, and always enjoy the wednesday night quiz.
The garden is great in the summer too.
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went in this pub twice recently.
looks much better
beer garden great if you are a smoker
but i was a bit shocked at the prices compared to other sunbury pubs ive been in!
young barmaid was not very inviting at all, whatever happened to service with a smile or acknowledgement maybe?!?!! so it has definatley put me off going back!
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went in this pub twice recently.
looks much better
beer garden great if you are a smoker
but i was a bit shocked at the prices compared to other sunbury pubs ive been in!
young barmaid was not very inviting at all, whatever happened to service with a smile or acknowledgement maybe?!?!! so it has definatley put me off going back!
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The first time I went into this pub I fell in love with it. I ate there twice and had huge portions. The beef was okayish but the overall vibe was great. Recommended it to friends and we went back on a warm day and the food was scanky - truely disgusting. Pasta with soggy veg and a dried herb avalanche. In its defence it was also quiet busy. Would give it another go but am keen on the Magpie more.
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A lesson in how a refit can go wrong, but whenever I go in is packed!! Maybe I am in the minority, perhaps the ploy of letting the pub fall apart and smell literally of urine made any sort of refit welcome.
I remember going in here a decade ago and it was a great pub. Theres nothing fundamentally wrong with it now, indeed if this was a mile up the road it would be the best pub by far, but I feel in comparison, it lags behind the other pubs in Sunbury. Plus the cost of a pint in here is more than Central London or Richmond!!
Concentrates on food, and civilised bad lager drinking couples, of which there are many so maybe a wise refit as they know their market impeccably! The garden is quite nice in the summer as well I guess.
TheGP - 22 Oct 2009 10:27 |
Have been recommending this pub to people for ages, due to the lovely beer garden but wish I hadn't bothered after a recent early evening visit on a very hot day.
Rasing a smile from the guy behind the bar would have been a mission. We asked him what time food was served to which he replied 6pm (it was 4.45pm) We waited patiently till 6 and then overheard a table saying they were only doing a barbeque that evening and no menu food.
There are hardly any menus around to lure you into buying food, there was no posters advertising a barbeque (one sheet of white paper and a marker pen??)
And then we overhear the owner perhaps telling a staff member how he had to have a go at the chef as he'd made such a mess at lunchtime..!!!
On that note we left, why would you risk eating there after hearing that.
Pull your socks up Phoenix.
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Went in for the first time in 7 or 8 years the other night to see what the refurb was like. Overall, slightly disappointed.
Decorwise the back is a disaster - like sitting in a new church hall. Neither soft and homely nor cool and stylish; just bland and uninviting. The front (where we sat) was fine - as pubby as ever. But the atmosphere there wasn't particularly welcoming: no sign of the owners; perfectly nice bar staff but too young, shy and inexperienced to create any sense of atmosphere, and a few locals who blanked us. Add to this the fact that the Black Sheep was a bit out of condition and I think the new owners need to put a bit more work in.
Having said that, it was an evening trip, so I'll be interested to try it at lunchtime when the sun's shining and the garden's open.
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I heard a rumour they spent over �1m re-doing the Phoenix!! So i went to check it out... what a different pub it is now! A lot of work. More space inside. Clean &tidy. WOW!! Look out 'Magpie'...! TJ
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This was always my favourite pub in Sunbury just for the garden alone. What a great improvement. The landscaped garden is lovely and a lot more "comfortable" seating. Before going into the pub we were planing on eating somewhere else, well that idea went straight out the window. We actually ended up staying for over 5 hours! I had the whitebait for starters which was really tasty and two of my friends had the lamb shanks as a main and they too really enjoyed the food. Good choice of lagers and 3 hand pulled ale's to choose from as well as a a good choice of wines. Totally agree with "The GP",the Magpie is gonna lose a lot of summer trade. If you do plan on eating, get in early as the tables get taken quickly!!!
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I'd second the comment below, the pub has been transformed, clearly a lot of money has been spent, and far more customers in there than they ever had before. The garden does look very impressive, and will be very popular in the summer. The Magpie will lose out bigstyle. They
The inside is disappointing though, they seem to have gone to the same identikit pub interior company that also did the Flowerpot. When will people realise that it is the carpets, jukebox, pool table etc. that make a pub more homely?
TheGP - 22 Mar 2008 10:15 |
I popped in to see how the much needed refurb had gone.Wow , what a difference.They are obviously having some teething problems and i hope it was this that made the barmaid so sour. Clean and tidy but unimaginative interior with a pokey exit to the garden. But the garden is a real gem, like the tardis you wouldnt imagine there would be so much space when you look from the street.Its a different world from the boxy new extension and drab interior. This must have been designed by someone else, with good quality landscaping inviting you down to the waters edge.Unusually for a small pub there is also some lawn which adds to the tranquility. Ok boozer , but the garden makes it.
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Great news for all regulars....the pub is under new ownership and management and will be having a major refit and extension starting on 7th January 2008. Watch out for fabulous new surroundings, maintaining all the old character of the pub but in a new setting with a totally new kitchen set to provide great brunch, lunch and evening meals. Riverside the will be a landscaped garden featuring outdoor cooking during the summer months and all sports TV facilities will be restored, including a decent sTV and resting area for the smokers outside!
Meanwhile the pub is still open until 5th January 2007 so why not check it ouit and meet the new friendly staff for a great pub experience.....
anonymous - 26 Sep 2007 11:34 |
Totally agree with "The GP". Myself and a few friends popped in for an afternoon drink yesterday as the weather was a bit more summer like. I much prefer this pub for it's garden compared to The Magpie but it does need a bit of a tidy up, it wouldnt take much effort and money. Cant fault the beer's though and the staff are very friendly and efficient. I am still looking forward to spending many a summers day/evening looking out across the river.
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The Phoenix probably used to be my favourite pub in Sunbury, but now is incredibly tatty. I know the building is old etc. and probably needs a fortune spending on it, but some of the other faults, such as the weeds and fag butt infested garden, could be fixed without any great expense.
The Guinness in here is still good mind.
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It looks like it falling down!
anonymous - 15 Feb 2007 14:43 |
I thought the Phoenix had closed? It looks derelict.
Can I suggest opening the curtains so people know it is open and not closing on Saturday nights?
anonymous - 19 Dec 2006 13:21 |
Hello, licencees from the phoenix here...thank you for all of your comments, gave us a right giggle reading them. As far as some of the bad comments go, we can only work with what we are given and to be honest, it's what makes the pub. The place is falling down around us yet on Friday and Saturday it is the place to be in Sunbury. The pool table and garden are great attractions, and you can always guarantee a great range of music to suit just about anybody. The atmosphere is second to none and we have to thank our great customers for that. Yes we are over 21's, but as posted previously that is because of trouble in the past from neighbouring communities. Over 21's is put in place to stop the large groups of hoodies from coming in, looking for trouble, but we are very flexible on the age restriction depending on the size of the group, and their attitude. We are a very friendly local pub and our motto is in the words of the great 90's poet SEAL "We're never gunna survive unless we get a little crazy".
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oh god not another "gastro-pub" - give it a lick of paint by all means but the appeal of the phoenix is that is not a food joint like the flowerpot or other sunbury pubs..
anonymous - 1 Dec 2006 13:15 |
My mistake, just walked down there and it looks very open to me. Just the Sunbury rumour mill working over time!
Sorry bout that!
anonymous - 12 Oct 2006 17:05 |
Was closed for a while yesterday while the finer details of a change of ownership were finalised. Previous owners have gone into receivership, but I'm told that it's all sorted and was re-opened last night. Plans for renovations - including a restaurant on the back and moving the toilets - have been approved by Spelthorne Council, so hopefully the new owners will put the cash in. God knows us poor regulars deserve it!
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Iv heard its closed down, any one with any Ideas whats occured??
anonymous - 12 Oct 2006 14:14 |
Had an smashing time in here last Sunday, stayed in the garden for most of the time then inside for a few games of pool. The owner was very friendly and the other staff too. Just wish I lived a bit nearer.
GREAT PUB!!
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Nice pub, quiet. Had a bit of rain dammage lately but still good enough pub.
anonymous - 23 Aug 2006 09:53 |
This pub is good...Well done Daren. The music is good (even I did a rock CD for the pub) which seemed to go down well. My missus has a career in the bar trade so I know what to expect from bar staff! Keep going Daren and girls.! :-)
anonymous - 18 Aug 2006 09:25 |
The Phoenix is larger on the inside than it looks from the street. The front door on the pavement opens directly into the bar..you've arrived straight away!
A deceptively big terrace at the back, over-looks a small section of the River Thames, which is quite pleasant on a sunny afternoon/evening.. watching a boat go up & down, ferrying merry locals shouting playful comments to us on shore! Ah, but I'm sure we were the merrier though..!!
One to include in your Sunbury pub-crawl for sure! TJ
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rode a motorboat alongside the rear of the pub and was shouted at by some drinkers, probably all of you lot. I am sure it was good natured though, you probably couldn't hear my response over the noise of the boat's engine, I said "Have a shower and get home to your neglected kids you smelly b*******"
anonymous - 29 Jul 2006 23:24 |
Agree with the previous comment about the Magpie..
Pleased to see that The Phoenix seems far more like it's old self again. The pool table side of the pub has now been refurbed, alas no Jukey, but the Pub was playing some excellent music inside so don't mind really.
I feared this place was being lost to the discerning pubgoer. I think the previous poster was trying to point out that it was a no nonsense pub - it is and that is a good thing, but you don't want to go too far and turn it into Chav Hell like the Three Fishes or Grizzly B to name 2 nearby examples.. The Phoenix has the balance right and is a pub I fear I will be visiting an awful lot this summer again.
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OK....The Phoenix IS A PUB! That's what pubs are supposed to be like...Over 21's stops all the Chav's going in there when there is the Feltham bowl and other pubs around. I'm in the pub a few times a week, nice staff (especially the polish one! ;-). If your looking for other pubs in the area, There's the Magpie which has been turned into a wine bar basically, The Flower Pot which is for OAP's dressed in M&S suits. The phoenix is fine for a chill out and a beer. Period.
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not bad, nice games area with pool table and a fruity.a bit shabby the previous south african landlord was a friendly bloke, but it seems the new ones only want over 21s which means i cant take my 18 yr brother for a drink there. good way to cut your customer count inhalf considering the state of the place and close proximity to the magpie, which appeals much more to the clientel your looking for. shame with a bit of work and better serving policy it could be a good local
anonymous - 26 Mar 2006 18:37 |
This place has been treated shabbily by the brewery, and has had about a dozen managers in the last six or seven years. Promises of refurbishment usually result in a new set of speakers or bigger and brighter lager pumps when the gents' have been leaking sice 1996. The owners won't invest in the kitchens to compete with the Magpie or Flower Pot, and ruined the best feature -the garden - by ripping out the grass and replacing it with bark chippings. The England football flags referred to below are actually England rugby flags - and there's also a Scottish saltire - following the 6 Nations which finished last weekend and was heavily advertised inside and out.
anonymous - 22 Mar 2006 14:01 |
Was a traditional pub! Now is militant and unfriendly. Has England football flags in the window!!! NICE. The only and best traditional pub in the Area is the Red Lion in Shepperton or the Admiral Hawke on Green Street.
anonymous - 22 Mar 2006 11:43 |
whats going on in The Phoenix? Appears to be rapidly declining - Really tatty, in fact, is now tattier than the White Horse over the road.
in decline
anonymous - 11 Dec 2005 18:39 |
Just got home to Canada after visiting UK. We had a fantastic time at the Phoenix in the sun out in the garden area. Friendly staff and regular patrons. I understand it's undergoing new management so hopefully they will get it tricked up by 2006! Can't wait to return especially to see Ted! Say hi to her for me!
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Can understand the recent comments - Last time I went in it seemed to have declined drastically. Some sort of paint job had gone badly wrong, the jukebox was hanging off the wall and the pool table out of use.
Hopefully it was just for repairs, but it does seem a bit tattier of late it has to be said.
TheGP - 29 Oct 2005 20:05 |
I recently visited this pub after reading the reveiws on it and was really surprised at how bad it was. Since then I've had another look at the rating for the bar and see that it is all very old. The staff were not friendly, there was no food and the pub was really smokey. Have to say that after visitng all pubs in Sunbury now much prefer the Admiral Hawke.
sazza - 29 Sep 2005 14:49 |
A very nice pub. Watch out for the random barmaid though - There must be a general shortage of bar staff in the area as many of the pubs down in Lower Sunbury seem to have acquired Eastern European bar staff who quite frankly, have trouble understanding the most basic of orders!
This is a very good pub though, especially in the summer when you can gaze out onto the river.
TheGP - 15 May 2005 20:39 |
Great pub, great staff, great drink, great customers. Well worth a visit to see 'Coco and Giggles' the pub clowns and their magic apples. Too many welsh and a dodgy scotsman that smells of fish. Nice crisps.
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Only wireless option here is the barmans remote control toys. Great pub, great locals. Bit run down due to lousy chain behind the place but good crack - apart from an over representative number of Welsh fans on rugby days. Fine Scotsmen!
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Nice pub, as an occasional user it can be surprisingly quiet or full and bouncing of the walls. Service is good, but can wait a while if there's a rush on the bar.
anonymous - 14 Jan 2005 23:53 |
I like drinking in the summer sunshine - this pub is good in this respect as it has a large beer garden that goes stright down to the Thames. The beer is fine and the service usually friendly - i had one weird encounter a while back, but that is a long story, and i have not seen that particular barman in there for a while. It ain't too big inside and the area around the pool table can get a little crowded at times. In general a good pub.
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Far better than the nearby Magpie, has similar facilities with a garden backing on to the river. Better beer, jukebox, food is OK, outside facilities are far better and staff friendly.
Plus not full of ponces like the Magpie. Would fully recommend.
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good food and heaving in the summer even with families. large beer garden on the thames with music outside. worth a trip from town on a sunday afternoon.
johanna - 25 Jun 2003 17:29 |
nice beer garden onto the thames. good value compared to other pubs in the area. recommended.
anonymous - 1 May 2003 10:21 |
