please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub was knocked down and flats occupy the site
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Quality pub recommend it.
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This wasn't the greatest pub in Hersham/Walton, but it still had it's character.
I just find it sad to see another of our pub's closed down ("our" as in the country's). A chapter in history for Hersham is over - Like-wise around the whole country. I think that there are many contributing factors to the closing down of our pubs.
One of which is the expanding chains of "Pubs", such as J.D Wetherspoon. With their buying-power and purchases of 'end of life' alcohol, they are able to dominate towns and cities through-out the U.K. I personally feel that these places are not pubs, but more-like warehouses with seats. The atmosphere of a pub is non-existent in these chains.
Many could argue that these "establishments" offer greater opportunities for younger people, such as apprenticeships, and are able to allocate more jobs than those alike 'The Old House at Home'. I can see the argument, but to every capitalist venture, there is always a good sales-team behind them to force you to see light on the negative facts.
I also blame the breweries, for charging land-lords through the nose per-barrel, when in common-sense, one would think that it should be the other way around (of course I am sure there are factors as to why this is the case, which I am un-aware of).
The U.K is very unique when it comes to the traditional pub. Around the world there are mostly bars - Not pubs. Our pub is dying out. I feel very sad when a pub closes it's doors for the last time, and in most cases for it to be knocked down and for property developments.
I am not right-wing in any shape or form, and I feel sad to mention this within this post to mention a political party. Although I can not vote for this party, I was very enlightened to see that U.K.I.P and Nigel Farage have dedicated a part of their manifesto to saving the British Pub.
If only as a country, and in order to save what small amount of heritage we have left, we could take this more seriously. Just a thought, but how lovely and healthy would it be for community to have cooperative pubs.
I think of the laughter and warmness glow within those once-upon a time pubs and positives. I think of the happiness and community in which the British pub provideds.
R.I.P 'The Old House at Home' - You are missed already.
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I too am sorry to see this pub go for the reason I am asking where the certain percentage of unsavoury clientele are now going to drink.
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Personally I will be sorry to see the place go - I have lived nearby for 15 years and the Old House at Home was the first pub I had a pint in. It struggled on ever since with even the occasional spruce up and it was open every day - even Christmas. Now it looks very lonely and very dark. It is a grand building but down it will have to come. Not sure what the prospects are as the area nearby is industrial and locals probably wont want any more housing, social or otherwise. Only time will tell....
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Finally, after years of pathetic mis-management, the place was brought to its knees, and closed on July 11th. 2010.
It was left in a terrible state with fixtures being sold for cash in the last days.
Rumour has it the place will be bulldozed, although no planning is currently lodged.
It may be re-opened on a temporary or long term basis - time will tell.
Meanwhile at least celebrate the removal of some of the worst pub management in history.
R.I.P. Old House.
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has this pub closed down?
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The pub is a great pub and is big, landlord is a nice man.
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I have drunk in this pub for the last 11 years and it has changed very little. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a North Korean prison. Recently the management were on holiday and a replacement barman was sent from the brewery. He appeared depressed by this assignment.
Frequented occasionally by some unsavoury types although this is not the staff's fault. I drink here as it is close to my house and the beer is cheap. Although I wouldn't want it closed, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
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This pub would be so much better if they put some effort into it and sold some decent beer. All they had for the non lager drinkers was John Smiths, which didn't taste at all great.
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It's ok. Not the best and not the worst pub around. Have an evening every couple of months with a few mates. Few beers, a chat, game of cards, watch the football. Usually a good night.
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OK OK I can see why to some customers this pub isn't going to be their cup of tea, but to some people this is a great pub. I don't use it regularly, but I have been in 'now and again' and the people are generally very friendly. You get 'stares' from groups of 'lads' in a lot of pubs these days, and this isn't the only one in the area where that happens now and again. I agree that the management need to buck up their ideas but the staff do their level best and are extremely friendly and helpful - if you ask for local knowledge the staff and locals will happily engage (it's amazing what you can achieve by being polite and actually talking to people rather than by judging them by the way they look). As for the atmosphere, on match days this can be fantastic when there is a big crowd in. Some of the comments posted here are vitriolic, snobbish and based on prejudice. This claerly isn't a top of market gastro-pub for a high net worth clientele, but it isn't the nightmare the reviewers make it out to be either. Oh, and to the reviewer that said avoid the food....with you on that one!
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Oh dear!
Despite yet another splash of paint, and a few tiles in the toilets, the place descends still further into the mire. The last 'sparkle' (and I use that phrase loosely) also involved removing the bar overheads. This has had the effect of creating an almost sterile atmosphere in the place. It's a shame the same cannot be said for the toilets, which although improved are still pretty filthy. Food, although reasonably priced, can be hard to find, as the advertised serving times are more there for comedic value than information. The manager (who is also a very part time cook), will close the kitchen on a whim. This may be that he would rather stand at the end of the bar drinking a pint and watching a football game than actually perform one of the tasks for which he is employed. The regular employed staff try their best to please, but they are undermined continually by the awful incumbent management. This is the root of the problem. With small children running around unchecked, and a 'don't give a damn' attitude, nothing will improve until they are replaced with management which have at least an iota of customer service values.
Oh, and the beer is warm rubbish as well.
Avoid it like the plague.
anonymous - 3 Oct 2007 16:43 |
Is everyone missing the point? There is not getting away from the fact this pub has an element of terrible customers within. I gave it the benefit of the doubt when I got off the train and wanted to see the last 20 mins of the second half. I had a group of five blokes glaring at me as if I had invaded their living room. I had the same situation on another occassion where my football team was playing and I had just got off the train. Do not close this place down or the customers will go elsewhere. Keep them all in one place.
anonymous - 10 Aug 2007 21:00 |
When I passed this on the way to the Royal George it was the scene of a riot nearly as full-fledged as the one that shut down the Stoneleigh. Drunken youths being bundled into police vans, the lot.
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Some improvement has been made in this establishment. The internal decor was 'sparkled' several months ago. This involved new carpet, furnature, and some brighter paint on the walls, although, sadly, there's no improvement in the toilet department. Fosters still a reasonable �1.60 a pint, and doubles of Bacardi, Gordons, Bells & Smirnoff are also �1.60. Don't make the mistake of ordering a half of Fosters or a single spirit though, as these are either nearly or more expensive than their larger counterparts. The big screen has been replaced, and two 37" plasma TVs added - one of these in the new no smoking/childrens area. Bar staff are more friendly now, and although the 'construction gang' still fill the place between 4 and 7PM, the Field Common brigade have almost comletely moved on. Over 21's rule was introduced at the beginning of August, but this has been allowed to slip, and Friday nights can sometimes resemble homework club. I've increased my rating a little for the place now, and it may be worth another look if you're passing.
anonymous - 6 Oct 2005 17:33 |
Should be twinned with the Lord Hotham up the road in Molesey. Two very scary pubs. If you're looking for a drink after coming out of the railway station. Keep walking!
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If you like socialising with Gypo's, Pikeys and or Chavs this is the place for you!
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From aol blog Hersham Herald
Old House at Home
To the north of Sadcake Park, in the shade of an enormous horse chestnut tree, stands the frontage of 'The Old House at Home'. Black boards and hoardings vie for space on the unkempt front lawn proclaiming the economical delights offerred to those who might venture furtively inside. 'Hamburger, chips, cola and a packet of crisps - only �2.99!' 'Wide Screen Euro Football!' 'Fosters �1.50p per pint!' 'Come Inside - Families Welcome!'.
The pub is best visited in the post lunchtime twilight zone. As you push against the brown door you will be welcomed as the fourth customer of the day. The other three have been there since opening time. They're all male, women don't come in here. An unshaven middle-aged man with a faded tattoo of a swallow in the valley of his thumb and index finger, is in the middle of the room. Sitting at a high table huddled over a half drunk, half flat, pint of lager, he pulls the last drags out of an impossibly small rollie. Two younger men lurk in the shadows on a dark leather settee, match boxes and torn rizla papers on the table, swigging from bottles of Budweizer. The air smells of Dettol and vomit.
The barmaid tells you that the Bitter's off, and she makes a ham fisted attempt at pouring a Guinness. She eventually passes the glass over a sticky counter with froth pouring down the sides. She goes back to the corner to look at her Argos catalogue dreaming of the time she can afford a pink plastic push - along musical pram and doll at only �19.99p, for her baby Chelsea.
If you persevere until 4 o'clock, the door will open again and again and from now on, the Fosters pump will hardly stop pouring. A dozen or so men in jeans and old football shirts covered in oil, paint or plaster gulp the lager down and exchange belches and bad jokes in between slurps.
A red 'C' registered flat backed lorry overflowing with horizontal leylandii trees and scaffolding pulls up in the car park. There is no company name or telephone numbers on sides, no tax disc and a cardboard number plate on the trailer it is pulling. Some of the Hersham Caravan Community have come in to pass fifty pound notes across the bar and amuse themselves at the expense of the barmaid's bust.
Time to go.
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How the hell does this pub score >4. Go to the Royal George, or get some cans at the offie!!
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This was my local and I was sorely disappointed. Very tired looking, in dire need of investment, or better still removing completely. Unfriendly towny-types around the pool table, bored bar staff, rotten seats. Dont bother.
anonymous - 20 Aug 2004 22:46 |
Aviod. Hostile staff and customers.
Bob - 20 May 2004 14:20 |
Agree with all the comments about the OH@H - dark, grim, grubby, terrible beer, surly staff, and glumly hostile, insolently-staring chav clientele. Haven't heard any more about the rumours that it was to be demolished - it seems, regrettably, to keep on going. Go down the road half a mile to the Royal George or the Bricklayers.
(withheld) - 28 Apr 2004 17:15 |
How-on-earth has this pub has got a rating above 1 is beyond belief. My suggestions to anyone visiting this pub are: 1)Bring you own glasses (unless you don't mind drinking out of filthy ones), 2)Bring your own food (as theirs is barely edible), 3) Bring some blankets/cushions to put over their thread-bare seats 4) Bring lots of friends (to try and give the pub some atmosphere).
Simon Read - 12 Feb 2004 08:49 |
Very interesting comments. We live very near and have communicated with Scottiesh & Newcastle earlier this year. Is this pub being redevoped, if so we would be very interested in who the deveopers are. We totally agree with all the comments about this sorry state of affairs known as The Old House at Home.
Ken & Lesley Pitcher - 31 Aug 2003 16:23 |
I have been a regular at this establishment for many years. In the last year or so, the place has gone to rack and ruin.
The Gents toilet urinals have been vandalised, and so cannot flush. All the furnature is threadbare, and the whole place is generally dirty.
I also understand that Sky Sports is being switched off at the end of September - probably the final nail in the coffin.
Worth a visit only for die-hard locals now I'm afraid.
Witheld - 18 Aug 2003 09:43 |
I�ve been there twice the very first time was back in april 1997 and seccond time december 2002. Can�t say there has been any bigger changes. Same poor food and soul less service, but the beer was just great. But I must say I really enjojed the visit of the rugby club half a mile up the road. Good spirit with all those lads. Do forgive my spelling cause I�m Swedish.
Classe "The Swede" - 26 Jun 2003 02:09 |
I hear they are knocking this place down - and not before time. I've lived round the corner from this pub for 25 years (9 of drinking age) and its comfortably the worst pub, with the worst beer and clientele I have ever seen. Grim.
anonymous - 19 Mar 2003 12:10 |
Peterborough flag behind the bar! Up the Posh! Holsten Export on tap too, very nice.
anne - 3 Mar 2003 10:58 |
