please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Back as The Packhorse as of 2017
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I've passed this pub a number of times, but never before been in. From the outside, it looks like a family pub. In reality, it's a sports bar. Two ales from Windsor & Eton - Windsor Knot & Eton Boatman. Christmas songs were playing on the sound system. Most customers were enjoying the sunshine on the decking out the front. Handily located for the local colleges. Much prefer the Happy Man or the United Services Club and I moved onto the latter for their beer festival.
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Really friendly little place serving cheap pub grub with massive portions. We were a hungry film crew over from central London and were pleasently surprised at the prices and the speed of service. Will definitely be back if we're ever out this way again.
hetti - 20 Apr 2013 22:10 |
Inevitably known as �The Monkey�s Foreskin� by locals, this is a large roadhouse on the A30 opposite Royal Holloway College. The pub has an attractive black and white exterior and has a modern light, airy and open interior. There are plenty of big screens and I imagine caters primarily for students during term time.
Apart from the usual keg line up there were two hand pumps, only one in use, serving Windsor & Eton Windsor Knot in reasonable condition. Surprisingly for the area and type of pub, we found the prices reasonable, especially as the round included a pint of Peroni. The pub serves it�s own lager: �Funky Monkey� which, disappointingly, is just rebranded McEwans
There is a sizable patio/garden to the front, somewhat spoilt by it�s proximity to the A30, but, on the last Saturday of the Games, provided lots of comings and goings from the Olympic Rowing & Canoeing Village at the Royal Holloway.
One to try if passing, but outside term time I think!
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well what a gem if u r a sports nut. great pub w atmosphere to suit. food good. will def revisit on my nxt trip
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No I am not Katie from the Red Lion. The arrogance of some people who review pubs in the Egham area astonishes me. Because I gave the Red Lion a favourable review, I am presumed to be either Katie or Kevin because it would be quite impossible for someone to like the Red Lion.
Eghamlocal - as you are so ready and keen to announce on a public forum who you believe the users to be - why don't you tell everyone on here who you are and at least be transparent yourself?
Here's an even better suggestion - if someone expresses a point of view which isn't your own, just learn to accept that people can feel differently. The point of a website such as this is that people from different backgrounds and who come from different walks of life can post in a single forum what they think of the various establishments that they frequent. Nobody should be belittled or made to feel that their opinion is not worthwhile simply because it doesn't conform to your own. Now grow up and pull your head out of your own arse.
lxman - 11 Nov 2011 01:39 |
The last poster is correct. Katie has a number of names and badmouths every other pub in Egham, except hers (for the time being), the Red Lion. Avoid it.
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Unfortunatly for this web site, Pub-girl, and Ixman, is actually Katie from the Red Lion in Egham, so just don't take any notice.
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Been here a few times over the year. I believe the landlord here is the same gentleman who runs the Happy Man. Both pubs have Thai influences in their menus especially with regards to the specials on offer. As Pubgirl pointed out, the presentation is normally above par for pubs and the food is also of a good quality.
They also do a reasonably priced English Breakfast every morning and open at 10 for that purpose. They also have a pub grub menu which has various sharing platters to cater for students. Alcohol is a bit pricy but with the 'funky' name and vicinity to Royal Holloway they have first dibs on the students and their student loans! Good pub.
lxman - 27 Oct 2011 18:19 |
No connection to Red Lion eghamlocal lol - would hardly praise another pub if, I were. Few lunches, I have had in Monkey Forehead always been excellent and well above Red Lion in presentation and quality.
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Eghamlocal - You're telling people that they shouldn't listen to the considerably positive review given by 'pub girl' because they could be someone that you don't like? I take it you don't like the Monkey's Forehead then?
lxman - 26 Oct 2011 20:51 |
I would not pay too much attention to the comments by PUB GIRL( this is actually the two horrors that run the Red Lion in Egham) !!!
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Had sunday lunch there recently and was one of best roast beef lunches. I have ever had. Only problem unless you are a sports fan best to time your visit before or after premier matches or if weather good can sit outside.
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Nice food - full of students! Very annoying ones at that but all to be expected what with being opposite Royal Holloway.
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Excellent food and generous portions at competitive prices. Ale is also well kept. TV screens can be noisy if a match is on, so not for romantic meals out!
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Not a bad pub with reasonable priced meals. Okay to watch a match on Sky Sports but not really a pub for evening out. Would go there with mates for few beers and football but not for evening out with girl friend.
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Roadside pub with a central bar, the room wraps around either side. a modernist style pretty minimalist interior with low sofas, an unusual pastel colour scheme in green, lilac and orange. The bar area has a wooden floor but the adjacent seating section has a rather loud tartanish carpet. There is some outside seating to the front.
Rather sports oriented, with a number of screens showing this afternoon a competing mix of the Lions rugby and Wimbledon tennis.
Hogs Back Summer Ale on, the other pump was reverse clipped (Tribute).
Fancy sounding food menu but not ambitiously priced.
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Just moved to area thought I'd give it a go, O.K but I prefer a more traditional type of pub
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Had couple pints of really good beer - sorry cant remember the name - food seemed be slightly better quality than other Egham pubs - so all in all not bad pub and would return.
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Had quick pint few afternoons ago and was pleasantly surprised. Polite and pleansant service, couple nice real ales on tap. Student orientated but well like to think I am young at heart. Will visit again, just wish from where I live in Egham didnt have the walk up the hill.
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This has to be the best bar for miles around as its reputation for zero attitude tolerance stands head and shoulders above anything else locally. Great atmosphere and a excellent retro disco every monday till 11.30 with a dj called Terry Peters. Plays a real cross section of stuff from 65-95 and not just all the obvious tunes either ! He also does the musically inspired quiz night there every thursday night too with some big cash prizes to win for the top score. Ive heard it can reach �400 ! so its worth having a shot at it. Obviously it going to be a bit studenty being opposite the college but hey ! thems the breaks, trust me, this bar gets the nod from me and my mates ! Pass through sometime.
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I really like this place when it has an event on, as the people that go are really friendly, was really really good when they had a live guitarist on tuesdays, however they stopped that for some reason!! should really bring it back,
All in all, i will go here for a night out occasionally.
Nice Bar, Friendly people
anonymous - 27 Oct 2007 19:05 |
walked in thinking i had stepped into strodes college, pleasant enough though, if uneventful
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student hell ! or heaven ! would not return during term time,could be a nice pub,for everybody but the owner is only looking at one end of the market,would not return.
anonymous - 23 May 2007 16:12 |
It used to be called the royal ascot, with
great big plush blue armchairs... guess the students won it in the end
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Getting later in the day by the time we reached this pub so cannot report on the choice of beers on offer. Recall being happy with whatever I had but what really sticks in my mind is that when I fancied a quick half of a different brew the beerpumps were down for cleaning (odd on a Sat nt) but the guv, presumably the aforementioned Dave, went down the cellar to get me a glass straight from the barrel. Now that is outstanding service! Studenty feel to the place but we got a good spot at the bar and a Landlord like that undoubtedly deserves to do well.
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Now managed by Dave from the Happy Man, so ventured on down to see the hype for myself on Monday.
Have to say I was fairly impressed - there are two handpulls (both dispensing Hogsback brews on Monday) which being tended by Dave means that they were of course spot-on.
The pub itself has been repainted and brightened up to good effect. It's still aimed primarily at students, so expect loud music and some raucusness, not neccessarily the place for a quiet pint, but great for a beer drinking student, seeing as the RHUL campus boasts not one ale!
However I think he may be missing a trick - Dave needs one of those handpulls to be a Discovery/Exmoor Gold/Summer Lightening style golden beer to get some of the Magners/Carling crowd to switch, I'm not sure they'll be tempted by a Hogsback unless there's a hard sell or a promo attached...?
This place could really take off next summer.
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new management, new beers, new food, new paint.. and plenty of new beautiful staff to serve you.. gone are the days of laurel and greene king and crap microwaved chicken, this bar has been revamped in style..it holds the distinct air of an independant gastro-pub; the food is brilliant, the people are great and the drinks are still reasonably priced. Most importantly, they actually care whether you are happy or not. I recommend a visit, particulary on a tuesday when there's live music and especially on a saturday when there's a dj and room to dance..which is a rarity in egham these days!
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This place has had a major change since before the summer, for all those people who thought it wasn't as good as it used to be then you'll be happy!
It now has new owners that actually really care about the place and this shows, The place looks really fresh with new paint job and much improved food!
Also good to see all the ladies coming back to the place - once again it is a great place to be!
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good selection of brews, brilliant menu at an affordable price and it does look like the new owners really care about what their customers want ... also some great looking bar staff as well � what more could a bloke ask for ...
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Recently added this pub to my favorites list after a friend told me about it. What a great place for a pint and some food. They certainly know how to set a place out, which is so important in a sports type bar and restaurant. What can I say, but GREAT atmosphere, GREAT choice of beers, and even better, what a cracking menu at such a good price. How do they do it? Get yourself along and find out is my advice!
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After a period in the doldrums this pub is back on it's feet.New owners actually care. Beer and food now top quality. Once again friendly fit staff and lots of lovely ladies.A pleasure to drink in here.
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Pleased to see this pub's back on the right track - grateful thanks to the new peeps - the revamp's a lot more inspiring (good for your matrix lol), not to mention the fit barstaff!
Well worth a visit or two ......
PS sports-friendly and food much improved - methinks this all augurs well
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This place used to be stacked with ladies where have they gone, now it's just a sausage fest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Too bright for me - not a bad pint of Green King IPA though.
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A pub for the posher end of the RHUL student spectrum ie those who can't bear to drink inside the RHUL campus, so go 25 yards outside it. Has delusions of grandeur which occasioally come off when there's a posh car in the car park.
Basically lager and loud R&B. Used to have Flowers, which was a saving grace, but this has gone. So a bit pants then really. Unless you're from the Home Counties wanting to go out on the 'large'.
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The monkeys used to be wicked, but under new management it's turned into a drab hole. Bring back �1 a drink!!! Wednesyday was always heaving!! �1 a drink and then a drunked trip to pantiles was always on the cards! To be honest, is that not the perfect student call... It only ever gets busy now if the footballs on! Even the locals have stopped attending!
anonymous - 6 Jun 2005 12:38 |
Crap, crap, crap, crap.
The Royal Ascot might have been pretentious and stuffy, but at least it didn't think it was some kind of greco-yuppie-student hangout. Aspirational. Dull.
Mind you, the staff are nice though.
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This pub never quite managed to fulfill its potential. Possibly the most upmarket bar in Egham, and its location near the University offered a youngish clientele. However, every time I've been there on weekends, it's almost empty. Maybe I'm going out of term times!
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Good pub, �3 full English breakfast before 12, video jukebox, Golden Tee, quiz machine, good drinks promotions, one of those Heineken taps that cools your glass first, sometimes has late licences. Will miss it now I've left Royal Holloway.
Aaron - 30 Aug 2004 12:24 |
