please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Kingfisher has had 'another' refurb, been closed for a couple of weeks. But management assures me this will be to everyone's benefit. They have improved their wine list apparently. I will have to check this out. :o) TJ
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My new 'fav' pub...! I've had 3 meals here in the last 2 months and all of them have been "v.good to excellent"...! The staff are actually very good (...or well trained, or both)! Welcoming you as soon as you come through the door (...that's unusual)!
A large 'L'-shaped bar; large 'restaurant' area; and 1/3 of the ample space is for use by 'drinkers-only', which is nice if you only want a drink. There are a couple of real log fires, which are excellent for these cold evenings (..or afternoons). One fire place you can "walk around" and enjoy from the other side!
A large bar area ensures you can usually always find a table, or a comfy seat somewhere, and staff are quite happy to help you get settled. One member of staff here recently commented how nice it was working with such a good team of people...!! How often do you ever hear that.... anywhere!!!?
I'm increasing my rating from 7 to 8/10. :o) TJ
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The Kingfisher is not really as bad as some of these latest comments make out (and bear in mind they were 2 years ago). I like the ol' Kingfisher, its a lovely location right on the river. I think it's better than its competitors 'The Boat House' (opposite) and The Thames Court, half a mile down the river. (Don't get me started on the Thames Court...!)
The Kingfisher food is good, I had a lovely chicken salad here last week. If you're a wine lover:- the Chilean sauv/blanc was not fantastic, certainly not NZ standard, but the Pinot Grigio was much better. Half the tables outside in the sun are reserved for customers ordering meals. There is an area for smoking outside and to the right. I like this pub! (Top 5 in Chertsey area)!
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Awful pub. Visited on Saturday afternoon but took ages to get served. Disinterested student-like staff gave poor service. No sign of anyone in charge. Food was average but grill was out of order on the day we went. Go somewhere else.
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I agree with the last comment - and it seems to be across the chain. One more person serving would make all the difference. But when you do get served the beers good and the food's imaginative. I tend to visit when it's less busy, not at peak times because it is a great place to eat and drink.
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The management here never have enough bar staff working on the bar at the weekend, so its not unusual to arrive here on a Saturday evening to find people crowding three-deep around the bar. Waiting times of 20 mins are normal, and the staff always forget "who is next" so if you are not assertive you will be ignored. Nice pub, great riverside location, very poor service.
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2nd April, 12.30pm
End of days
This will be as civilised as the day gets
One round
One round only
And then to the boathouse
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Having cycled past The Kingfisher for the past 10+ years on occasional Sunday cycles from London to Windsor, I was looking forward to eating there. Certainly it seems pretty busy. But the food�s very mediocre. I had the roast pork. The roast potatoes were white � with little hint they�d been roasted - and I was given 3 of them - 3 tiny quarter potatoes. The veg was good. The pork was good, as was the crackling, but again not much of it. But none of it was particularly hot and the portion was decidedly small. (I was visiting at Sunday lunchtime � a meal most people look forward to each week, and would assume they�d feel full afterwards.) Summary: Stingy, cool portions.
I wish I�d checked this site first. The average rating of 6 out of 10 is generous. 5 out of 10 would be more accurate. The staff are pleasant, and the beer is fine, but I can cook a better roast than The Kingfisher, and I�m no Delia Smith.
Note to Kingfisher: Get yourself some cycle hoops for cyclists to lock their bikes - this is an extremely busy cycle route on Sundays.
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Very busy pub and this may give the impression that the food is good. It is not - my wife and I visited last wednesday evening and ordered a steak pie and butterflied chicken. my pie arrived and the pastry was welded to the ceramic pot the veg was uninspiring all in all a poor show! My wife 's chicken arrived with what looked like a kraft cheese slice stuck on top not quite what was described on the menu. service poor and I must concur with a previous contributors comment about the rudeness of serving someone who has just arrived but who is obviously known to the staff over those waiting patiently sometimes for up to 10 minutes or more.
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A good pub this, although a bit of a hike from Chertsey town centre. Cosy ambience inside. The bar isn't always adequately staffed and service can be a bit slow and impersonal when it's busy (it does get very busy on hot summer weekends), but that said, last time we were in, the waitress was very happy to serve us some ice cream even though we had earlier said we weren't eating, and ice cream wasn't even on the menu! This pub for me really comes into its own on cold winter afternoons when the fire is blazing. Food quality and portion sizes are good and there's a reasonable selection of ales to choose from, including the stalwart London Pride. We live locally and come here quite often.
4_ale - 19 Jul 2010 16:40 |
This place is an absolute disaster.The bar service is a disgrace.I attended with my two sons on Friday last,we waited ten minutes to be served,watching others who had arrived after us jump the queue (the cardinal sin in bar ethics).
We then had the bright idea of standing separately at different parts of the bar,each of us holding up a banknote in the belief that one of us might be able to order a double round to avoid the wait being repeated.
After a further fifteen minutes and having watched other queue jumpers get service we left in disgust-never to return.
We did not bother with The Boathouse on the other side of the bridge as experience has shown us that the staff there are equally incompetent.
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Would be better if they lost the Manager as all he seems interested in is bossing the very busy staff around and moving glasses around the shelfs looking busy, never smiles and would happily walk past you if you have been standing at the bar for sometime...Also I agree on the Patio door keep it locked and get people to walk around out the front door as it safer for small children not getting their digits caught up in the frame....has the potential of being a true legend of a pub...
However great beer, Doom Bar 6X and usually another guest Ale so the first 2 are winners for me so well done on the ale...keep it up people and the food is pretty good large portions and good value for money....well done Chef.
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NOT TO BE RECOMMENDED. This place turns out food but has no real pub status.
On Mothers Day we went here and the staff were couping well with the volume, however BEWARE they use a solid fire exit door as the main thoroughfare to the riverside patio, the staff come flying through this all the time, the door opens outwards into the patio and as it's a solid door they have no idea what they will hit, unfortunately they hit my 3 year old daughter, the metal door handle smacked her straight in the eye socket, sending her flying and floored, leaving her bruised for a week.
The waitress was so apologetic (bless her) but the landlord was unbelievably rubbish, no apology just a defensive stance that they are allowed to use that door for access (it's a fire door) and it's never happened before. No complimentary anything, I suggested a warning sign on both sides or even pane of glass to see whats behind, I bet the large idiot has done nothing.
PLEASE DON'T BOTHER GOING, and certainly don't stand by the door!
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Not having eaten here before, I was slightly worried by the posted comments.
Work restrictions meant we had to eat early, so we arrived at noon but there was a party of six who just beat us. However, the service was prompt and our food arrived in about 15 minutes and was lovely. I ate the beef pie which was served with mashed potato and fresh vegetables. All were piping hot, the meat fell apart and the carrots and french beans were fresh and not overcooked. My friend, with a smaller appetite, had the crab cakes as a main and said they were delicious.
The plates were cleared at the end of our meal and coffee ordered and served at the table.
The pub continuously filled with punters and by the time we left there was a 30 minute wait for food indicating the pub's popularity. It is a large pub and can seat a lot of diners inside and out, so I guess a wait is often inevitable.
I shall certainly be eating there again.
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Out of our four meals, all four were very good. The staff, too, were lovely. Great lcoation on the bridge by the Thames. I must admit, I was a little too drunk to have a proper look around (been drinking whiskey in the Thamside meadows opposite, you see), but although there were a lot of people sitting and eating, and the food was good, it did still seem to feel like a proper pub to me, which is all-important.
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Out of our four meals, all four were very good. The staff, too, were lovely. Great lcoation on the bridge by the Thames. I must admit, I was a little too drunk to have a proper look around (been drinking whiskey in the Thamside meadows opposite, you see), but although there were a lot of people sitting and eating, and the food was good, it did still seem to feel like a proper pub to me, which is all-important.
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I will have to change my previous glowing report! (see my entry on 1st November 2007)
The food has seriously gone downhill. I think they are suffering with the L.O.F.L. syndrome (Left Over Fron Lunch). Had roast beef a couple of Sundays ago and it was cold and tasteless. Thought it was a one-off and went back for a burger that could have been used as a hockey puck. The salad was best before end of May which was a pity as this was end of June.
Won't be going back...
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Why the high rating? This place isn't a pub! It serves bad beer and crap food! I'm at a loss.
On a recent visit the beer was bad, the wine was paint stripper and i think my shoe would have been more tender and digestible than the lump of cow i was served and described as a 'steak '.
Also, has anyone else noticed the place smells of shit?
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We went to The Kingfisher last weekend with my 10 month old son for lunch. They had one highchair, which unsurprisingly was in use. For a pub of this size, I found this really disappointing. Our food then took a really long time to arrive and my husband's sausages were burnt and my goat's cheese and red onion parcel was just onion, with the tiniest smattering of goat's cheese. Very disappointing.
The London Pride ale was good though.
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Couldn't get in my local pub last Friday night (absolutely 'heaving'...) so came to the Kingfisher instead. It was 3/4 empty..!! The week before Christmas! Strange... anyhow, we got a seat ok! Food was good, as usual. Luv the Amstel glasses! Staff always helpful. Good pub for a quiet drink! TJ
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You went in a pub for a glass of tap water? Tight git.
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Good food and reasonable beer. Staff very friendly; especially the serving staff! Have been there a number of times and would recommend it.
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Made my second visit a couple of weeks ago, once again on a riverside walk from Putney to Windsor. And, once again, despite only wanting a glass of tap water the service was absolutely top-notch. Very friendly and polite. The food still looks wonderful as well.
Strongly recommended.
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we go into the kingfisher several times a month and just recently had a few hours there, the wine and beers are as good as ever - now by carafe as well. However the menu seems to have shrunk along with the portions compared to the last few years. But still far better to the boathouse, service and quality wise
anonymous - 8 Aug 2007 00:38 |
Big roomy pub, lots of room for groups. Decent pint of London pride. Food pretty good and very cheap.
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The Kingfisher is right next door (over the Bridge) from the Boathouse. MY advice- pop into the Kingfisher for a pint- quite a nice selection - then over to the Boayt for a meal! The KIngfisher is sister pub to Thames Court- but in my experience the quality of food and service is not up to the same standard. I live 2 mins walk from this Pub and I've only eaten there twice - and been dissapointed both times. (Although the first time my wife thought it was fine).
In summary - lovely location - decent beer and wine - but food and service is variable to be polite.
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The Kingfisher is now an ALL no-smoking pub! The only smoking allowed are the logs on the real fire!
I had a splendid steak burger (�7.50) in the bar today. And for a lager, the Amstel on tap has quite a good flavour to it. I will certainly be revisiting again soon. (Good view of Chertsey Bridge and the river from terrace tables outside, lovely in the sunny weather). 8/10 TJ
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TJ - The site the Kingfisher stands on was cleared and it isn't the same building.
I believe the building there now was actually moved from Gloustershire!
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'Nunc Est Bibendum' - Now is the time to drink!
So thats what we did at the Kingfisher!! The 'Erdinger' weiss brau was gorgeous.. the glasses so tall & sleek.. you'll never get a short pint with Erdinger (the pint line is marked on the glass..!)
'Laid back Ron' enjoyed the venue (bumped into his neighbour Angela this evening..!) ..small world!
We luvvit at the Kingfisher. Bar staff excellent, good food too. TJ
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A very pleasant watering hole..! Although 'IanBeer' I suggest you imbibe the beer next time you're passing.
As previously mentioned, you should get a decent meal here. Right next to Chertsey Bridge, and a stones throw from Shepperton Weir. What better location to sample an ale or two, or relax with a nice Chianti. Nice 'oldey-worldy pub' feel to it, wooden beams, natural stone & brick walls throughout, with a decent sized bar that you'll be able to find room at (us 'Towneys' aren't used to a place having room..!!).
Hard to imagine that this lovely refurbished old pub was only six(6)years ago all painted PINK with large black spots all around the outside...!! It was under very different management then, trying to attract the gay community! But, it didn't last very long, fortunately for us... and many more people can now enjoy this excellent river location, as a traditional pub. (A 'sister' pub to the 'Thames Court' just down the river a bit, at Shepperton Lock. Another great river pub!) My word, the people of Shepperton/Chertsey are spoilt for good pubs, aren't they..!! TJ
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Visited here last night and found it to be under staffed at the bar.
Pleasant surroundings. Good range of bitters - good prices too. I think I got a pint of 6X and a large glass of red wine for under �5....
Food got to us in 8 minutes! Obviously pre-prepared but seemed fine and excellent value. Friendly staff although they need to speed up the bar service!
Recommended.
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We ended up here today for lunch, must admit it was by default. We had such a unbelievably rude and unproffesional experience at "The Red Lion" in Russell Road that we walked out.
But to our gain. The food at "The Kingfisher" was great and much cheaper than the other pub. There was a pleasant atmosphere, friendly staff and very quick service. Would recommend and will be back. Keep up the good work.
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A foodie pub. Ate here once and it was fine. Obviously in competition with the Boathouse opposite, which is a virtually identical type of pub. Not much to choose between them I'd say..
TheGP - 12 Mar 2006 18:36 |
Passed here yesterday during a riverside walk from Windsor to Putney. Gasping for a drink, I asked for a glass of tap water. Some pubs don't like that. Not here.
I was served with outstanding courtesy and even offered ice and lemon. There was no hint of being charged and no attempt to try and sell me bottled mineral water. Upon leaving the barman thanked for my custom and said he hoped I'd enjoy the rest of my afternoon.
Superb service! If I lived anywhere near here I'd definately visit regularly. The food looked great as well. I'm giving this 10 points.
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My local - cannot fault the place. Excellant food at teriffic prices and good reasonable wine list. The staff are always friendly and efficient. It does not suffer from being part of a chain.
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I had an excellent lunch without breaking the bank!
Very good value, good service, pleasant atmosphere
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