please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Literally just home from having dinner at this pub.
Staff handled the crowds well as they came out of nowhere (mix of families ordering food and general after work people). Unfortuantely as a customer that has been coming here for the last couple of years, I've witnessed the gradual but steady decline of the pub. Upon ordering food this evening, I was mildly shocked to see that two mains, one side and two drinks came in at over �30. For this price (�3.95 of that being the pint of Strongbow) I'd expect the quality of the food to be far better. �6 for a bowl of onion rings that were clearly extracted from the nearest bulk packet and slung in the deep fryer and �11 for their trademark Anglers Burger which over the last 18 months has become more salad and less meat.
Knowing me I'll persevere with it however I really do hope it improves.
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Know how to keep their beer, evidenced by an excellent tasty pint of Brakspear Bitter. Bearing in mind the price - food is only slightly above adequate, and unspectacular for vegetarians. Seemed popular with families but didn't feel like a creche either.
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I have been a fairly regular visitor to this pub over the years and have posted before about it. The pub is a pleasant place and the beer is good ( yesterday I had Ringwood FortyNiner which was spot on ). The food is usually good but one issue I have repeatedly experienced here is a very long wait for said food. There appears to be a frequent problem with co-ordinating the waiting staff and those cooking the food. I had reminded my family of this before we set out but the consensus was to still go.
Last night we had a very poor experience in this respect. We ordered a starter and a main course. Bad move. The starter came after a while. We ate it. And waited for the next course. And waited. And waited. And moaned about it. And waited again.
All in all we waited forty five minutes from ordering to the main course arriving. When it did it tasted like someone had cooked it half an hour ago and left it under a heater lamp. I was too hungry to send it back.
But we were unanimous in deciding that this has happened once too often at the Anglers for our liking and we won't be going again. If I want an evening meal in a pub I'll go elsewhere. I'm sure I can find somewhere who can get some food to me in a reasonable time.
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Went in yesterday for a meal and to watch the football. The food was excellent and although a tad on the expensive side, there was a good selection of beer. Unfortunately though, the issue of children in the bar seems to be an issue again. Despite the signs on the door saying children had to be out of the bar by 8 o'clock, when my father and I left at 10, there were still 5 children, 4 of them in school uniform (and 1 who must have only been in nursery!), wandering around the bar while their parents continued drinking. A shame really as it is a great pub with nice relaxing decor (the fish tanks are fantastic). Shame they don't practice what they preach.
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Always busy. Food very good and excellent value. Drinks are expensive compared to the food though. However well worth a visit. Beer is mainly Brakspears.
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Really lovely pub! Great food and drink!
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Nice pub, staff great, food yummy.
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Great food and friendly staff. Good selection of beer an wine, fish tanks are beautifuly kept and great to sit and look at. Sitting by the fire on comfy couches is just lovely. Thumbs up.
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Superb. Good selection of beers, wines, food and staff. The issue with children seems to have been sorted out and no children allowed after 9pm.
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Visited this pub on a friday eve although the pub was busy service and beer were very good, lovely inside with the fish tanks and decor all in all a nice eve and a nice pub
eltel - 11 Oct 2009 08:47 |
Do we assume that the Owners of The Anglers Retreat ARE the same as The Three Horseshoes nearby or have Nothing to do with either pub as suggested by "nightman" or actually have Anything to do with Anything? I don't know as the "write up" seems to be at best defamatory and at worst libellous. Could anyone clear up this matter? It seems too serious to be left "hanging" in such a way and is at least unfair without the Right of Reply. I have no axe to grind either way as I have no personal interest other than I am a Licensee and hate to see a business trashed, though ignorance.
I have visited the pub on a few occasions and I assure "nightman" that MY standards are high and have never been challenged by what I have seen there.
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Same owners as Three Horseshoes (now blueberries resturant and nothing to do with this pub) who were found guilty of all sorts of food hygine laws and fined �25,000 (biggest fine locally ever) . on that basis I will be AVOIDING this place for sure
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I have been frequenting the Anglers for quite a few years and have never had a bad meal and the choice is great. I find most of the staff very helpful and friendly.The fish tanks are beautifully kept.
I must admit although I love children sometimes there are quite a few running around and it does spoil it. Still this is my local so I will continue to support it- well done to you all!!
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Its funny... you pop into a nice little boozer by the riverside in Richmond for lunch one sunny day, with your 17 and 3/4yr old lad, who was 6ft 2ins (and with his Dad!) and he gets asked for his ID and then refused a beer!! Ho-hum.. never mind..! Then you pop into the good ol' 'Anglers Retreat' on a Friday night with the lads, and there's kids running around all over the place, climbing on the backs of sofas, making a lot of noise, tripping customers up with drinks, etc..!! Its a funny ol' world isn'tit...!! Oh how we laughed..!! TJ
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Been past this pub lots of times and it has always looks interesting. Visited this week to eat and was very impressed, burgers excellent and good value. Good range of ales (Brakspears Bitter, Gold and Wychwood Hobgoblin) plus a real log fire. Will be back for more!!
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Pop into the 'Anglers Retreat' just for a half, in passing, and admire their tropical fish...!! Where do they keep'em...? In their tanks (i said tanks, not pants..ok) ..of course!! The fish tanks are quite something. Unless you have a fish phobia...then that could be a problem. What do you call a fish with no eyes..? ..Freddy!!
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Ah, the good ol' Anglers Sanctum..! Gr8 pub! We had a Christmas meal here last Friday, place was packed. Food was good (watch the scallops tho'...!) I still love the fish-tanks! Watch that black spikey fish/urchin thingy..!! Its weird!! The French bar manageress is always helpful & efficient. Luv the AR.
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quite nice atmos. VERY busy on weekends, menu selection ok, lots of room outside for seating. i used to go to this place when it was the lucan arms, and it has changed quite a bit!
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I love sunday here, great food, great beer and some great service... Keep up the good work!!
anonymous - 6 Aug 2007 09:16 |
Nice basic Sunday lunch, slow service for a pub but price was very reasonable. Would have been nice to be offered some sauces and when I did ask they came in sachets, cafe style.
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I have been going to this pub for quite a while and have always enjoyed both eating and drinking there. Its a friendly pub with good service. However, last week I went for lunch and ended up with food poisoning from a scallop. I realise that this can happen now and then, but I am disappointed the management have not had the courtesy to reply to my letter. What sort of managememt ignores cases of food poisoning?
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TJ, now you are not alone in reviewing this pub. I think this is a great pub used to go here a lot when I lived up the road it was my local. The tables outside are great for spending sunny afternoons and evenings drinking. Food is very nice, staff are friendly, nice atmosphere what more can I say
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Quite busy on a Friday evening. And you will be lucky to get a seat. The restaurant side is popular (although the toilets seem a long way from restaurant). The bar area is always smokey, but the barstaff are usually most efficient so you don't wait too long for your drinks. I like the fish-tanks, an unusual touch! For all the people that frequent this jolly establishment.. am I the only one with a pc..? (Memo to self: 3-monthly review due in March'07..!) TJ
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The young barman tells me the live band play every last Friday in the month, and most Saturday evenings. I thought the girl singer had a particularly good voice, tackling Whitney Houston songs and other such tricky numbers!
A nice touch to an evening drinky. TJ
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The Anglers Retreat - a few blue moons ago was known as 'The Lucan Arms'. You may not see many fisherman here, but you will see plenty of fish!! Check out those fish-tanks, they're all over the place! Even an over-sized goldfish bowl on the bar..!
Deceptively big premises, currently divided into three main areas, the main entrance area (smoking area) has comfy seats & tables+chairs alike; then the long bar stretches right back to the restaurant area at the rear of the pub (often, after 9pm you can use the restaurant tables for just drinks, when they've stopped serving food - which is smoke-free). I like the restaurant, it is unique! Where else can you have a reasonable meal whilst watching all types of tropical fish (& other types - no I'm not referring to the staff!!) swimming around in various tanks all around you..! Fantastic! Unless you have a fish phobia, in which case swan off to the front part of the pub.
In the middle, there's a kind of lounge area, which is fine for relaxing while you drink.. unless its a friday night, in which case more often than not there'll be live singers or a band playing here, so it might be too loud for snoozing..!!
The live music is a boon, and worth coming for on its own. Recently, with great weather ALL the tables outside are full in the evening, so come early if you want a seat/bench outside.
One week I'm sure I saw Lord Lucan here in the bar, buts that's another tale...! What else can I say, its a great pub! I luv the 'Anglers'! Get down here & see for yourself. Quite a lively place at weekends, and quite civilised at other times too. Wifey says don't expect 'Cordon Bleu' cuisine, but hey, its a pub not the Ritz, and my steak+chips were fine thanks!
WELL DONE to the staff at Anglers Retreat, keep up the good work, and you'll keep filling the place week in week out!! If you find somewhere better in the Staines area please let me know!! TJ
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Hmm well following on from my previous comment the ales have been detiorating a bit (down to one Brakspears the other day and that wasn't great) and the waiting staff can be pretty ropey, making schoolboy errors (double-charging, not bringing over cutlery etc).
The food is very very good, and the toilets are excellent but don't bother coming here for a beer.
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This is a nice looking pub with good staff but I always feel that I sitting in a restaurant rather than a pub. It just doesn't do it for me.
chimp - 14 Apr 2006 10:33 |
Pretty nice place, Brakspears behind the bar served and kept OK.
Lots of fishtanks to keep yourself amused in a dull moment.
Not as good as the Feathers, but still a nice place to go for a Sunday afternoon.
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I once went here and had a very bad meal so didn't go back for ages. Went for lunch last week and the food was fantastic. I recommend the mushroom stroganoff. And reasonable price for the quality of the food.
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Bit dissapointed here, heard the food was good, I suppose it is if you like everything with chips and salad..
Nice atmosphere, just boring food and freezing cold inside.. LIGHT THE FIRES!
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I had a great meal last night a huge piece of Cod and chips. However the service was poor
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Yep, I can confirm that Kelly IS gorgeous. But my wife won't let me date her....
The Angler's is a pleasant pub, with Brakspear ales and they do good food. Nice outside eating area as well. One of the better places in Staines.
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Kelly behind the bar is georgous, If only she would date me.
anonymous - 28 Jul 2005 21:44 |
A big random, Beef-Eatery type of pub. Not to my tastes.
TheGP - 14 Jun 2005 13:28 |
Should be renamed the Aussies Retreat. Great food & beer. Good place for an all day session as long as you can provide your own entertainment.
Is_it - 31 Jan 2005 14:36 |
Very friendly pub with very good bar food and an even better fish restaurant attached.
Richard - 9 Nov 2004 10:02 |
this pub is extremly nice and serves great food for a very good value
Jamie - 13 Oct 2004 20:51 |
Was once asked to leave after complaining that the food was naff.Other people have told me that food was overated.Satarday evenings are heaving with diners so they must be doing something right.Beer OK,but you'll feel a bit out of place standing at the bar here.
JD - 22 Sep 2004 12:47 |
Great food, well presented and big portions too. Friendly staff.
Si - 18 Aug 2004 15:34 |
Big pub which splits in the middle to allow for a restaurant half. Good food on both sides with plenty of outside seating. Bar staff are always friendly and on the ball - and usually from Australia.
Zod - 19 Jul 2004 15:21 |
