please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Flyer is fine, but certainly not as good as it thinks it is. As others have said, it's expensive, but that seems to be the standard for Surbiton now. Certainly not a bad place, but hardly groundbreaking either.
|
Fullers pub, cost £4.20 for a pint of Red Fox, served in a jug. Quality fine.
Gastro pub so a bit bland. TV showing Sky News when I visited mid afternoon.
|
Excellent pint of Fullers Red Fox, but, £4.25 is ludicrously expensive for a pub on outer fringes of Greater London.
|
Surprisingly attractive inside; better than you'd expect. (A former bank premises.) Very handy for station (right next door) and meals looked good though not tried.
|
I thought that the Fuller's pubs in Harrow were expensive, but this pub is even more so.
Handy for the station, and I was wasting 30 minutes before catching a train, so had no time to find a pub that served reasonably priced beer. So this pub had to do.
|
I have stopped drinking in here as the beer (although good) is just too expensive. The beer (London Pride) in my local pub is just as good and 50p cheaper for a pint.
Oh well, end of the era and all that. Still a good place to go if you are hungry and have won the lottery.
|
Situated next to Surbiton train station, a fairly large open plan room served by a single bar, it serves Fullers real ale served a little too cold for my taste but once it warms up it is a decent pint.
The prices are not cheap but that does not sem to put people off as it gets busy.
Found the staff to be efficient and easy on the eye, a good place to start a tour of Surbiton.
|
Have always taken previous views on how expensive this pub is with a pinch of salt. But £4.50 for a bottle of ESB - thats around 15% more expensive than I pay in Central London Fuller's pubs. As for the supercilious staff.....
|
Get what you pay for in my opinion, staff always been great and decent ale always available, worth the money without a doubt
|
Great pub after work but it is pricey! Food is really tasty, i've always found the Pride well kept.
|
Only go in on the odd occasion now, the ESB and/or Pride always has a little bit of a weird tang nowadays, tho its obviously not your traditional real ale punter this pub is now trying to lure in.
|
SimonM, the pub is far from lifeless it does not have a modern interior and is certainly not quiet. It has taken off big time and really buzzes early doors. It is very atmospheric with high ceilings, large windows and stained glass. Cheap it is not and there are no large TV screens or excessive machines for the morons who lack any form of conversation. Service is efficient and pleasant.
In short the place is a delight even if the music is just a little too loud at times.
|
Fantastic Pub. They sometimes sell pork pies and pickles at the bar, and The Guinness is always well kept. Just what you need after a long journey from 'The Smoke'.
|
For a Fullers pub right next to a Station, this has been pretty quiet whenever I have been in. A pub with a modern interior, friendly staff and decent ale and no background noise however but somehow a bit lifeless.
|
What a stuck up hole!! Went in there with my shopping and asked for a pint of Pride, they wanted �3.35 off me for it! I said to the Barman" (As polite as he was) "I want a pint, not shares in the company!!" This is modern day Surbiton and not the days of Felicity Kendall (Great arse!) and Margot Leadbetter! The days of The Good Life Have gone, why do Company's have to play on a place name to get their Bucks? I'd ahte to ask for a bottle of Champagne as they'd probably ask which County I owned before selling it to me!
|
Came in to this place again with friends the other week. The lights and heating were off (power-cut on Victoria Road) although the pub was still packed. Says much about the place that punters are happy to sit in candlelight and the cold to enjoy the beer.
Pride (when it is on) is usually very good. Seafarers and Bengal Lancer also excellent.
You can hire out the little raised section at the back of the pub for �14.99 per person? Pretty laughable really as there was no discount or deal on the bar tariff available although a cheap bottle of bubbly and light buffet (probably a fish finger or two) was offered in the price. Perfect for a large group of 15-20 people :(
Is it possible that the management are trying to earn a quick dirty buck on the backs of decent punters? Shame.
|
Service disappointing as not one but two people were served before me with no crowded pub at all.
|
Returned yesterday evening and the place is going great guns. Excellent, polite and efficient barman. Pride excellent. The sign of a good pub is how quickly the tables are cleared of glasses etc and chairs, papers etc rearranged. This place is right on the ball so it keeps its nice fresh feel all the time. One downside was the presence of a small group of well oiled foul mouthed offshoots probably from the Epsom Derby. They had one maybe two rounds whilst getting louder and more intrusive, then were politely asked to leave which they did with minimum fuss. Another example of excellent management.
The landlord and staff deserve great praise and good support. As fullersfan said it is not just about earning a quick buck no matter what. If you produce a quality product and maintain high standards the money will follow as it surely will here.
|
Woodman101,
Making money helps but it is not the sole reason to do anything?
Although I agree that it is never nice to be spoken rudely to I have to disagree with you on your belief that all pubs, to make money, have to show the football.
I am glad that this pub is not showing the football as it brings with it some disgraceful people who behave (occaisionally) when England are winning.
From watching England supporting scum glass other England supporting scum in the last world cup outside the Elm Tree (after England lost) or the amount of swearing and violent behaviour when Croatia knocked England out of Euro Qualification (there was also a lot of trouble) it is completely understandable why football should not be shown if they (the manager) chooses not to.
Go run your own pub and put up with that for an afternoon.
A pubs reputation costs more than a bottle of bleach to clean the toilets after a football match on the TV, after the idiot punters. I bet it costs more to put the football on in the long run, paying Sky etc. .
I think it is a brave move for a pub not to show football and I wish them the best of luck.
FF
|
For Lyeemoon: First of all everyone is entitled to their opinion, thats why we live in a captialist country. However there is no need to get personal.
Obviously we have different manners. I can understand if landlords or managers are rude to people if people cause trouble, however i was asking him a question about live music and was being very polite yet he was very dismissive and had a very arrogant way of talking to me and his body language as well. I didnt do anything wrong at all yet the manner he spoke to me was appalling, if the pub wants to make money - why ban football?
You either are a manager of the pub and are just sticking up for the place or obviously think its ok for people to be rude and obnoxious towards people for no reason
|
Woodman101. Your review says more about you than it does about the pub. There are loads of tacky pubs everywhere with large TVs adorning the walls and the sound from them conflicting with loud rubbish music. A lot of the time nobody is watching or listening, they have just become part of the scene because landlords, staff and customers lack discernment and believe that is the way it has got to be.
It never used to be like that and doesn't have to be. In fact it is often suggested that the demise of pubs is due to all sorts of things but a lot of it is to do with the fact that they have become as I've described. Lager swillers' playpens!
The Surbiton Flyer demonstrates that amply. When I was there the atmosphere was created by the customers with a nice buzz of conversation and good background music. No pointless TVs, loud music or machines which often attracts people with no meaningful conversation, unless of course they're loudly sharing their sordid little lives via their mobile telephones.
More power to the Landlord's elbow for giving all the modern playthings the Spanish Archer and making the effort to return it to traditional pub status. There is no necessity to always go for the lowest common denominator which is so prevalent in this bereft country. And it's far preferable to be a snob than a slob!
|
I have been a regular for the last 4years or so at The Surbiton Flyer.
I think this is a great pub, although others argue this.
It was one of the very few pubs in the local area with some real character.
It's always been a rather bizarre pub. Sometimes being packed on a week night then empty on a Friday/Saturday night.
But it always had a great atmosphere with a good chocie of ales and lagers.
The bar staff were friendlya nd welcoming. They had Karaoke on a Wednesday and Bands on a Saturday. As well as showing the football. Also a juke box.
Sadly things have changed with new management.
They have re-marketed the pub for a more up market clientele. The juke box and karaoke night have gone. The will no longer be showing the football apart from the up coming world cup.
The place when I last visited was Very clean and the barmen was very polite and welcoming. Change is never welcomed but I think this pub is being aimed at a more upmarket audience. I hope it works. I personnaly won't be drinking there as often as I used too as a result as I prefer a more spit and saw dust local pub which this is aiming not to be. But I am sure I will pop in every now and again for old times sake.
|
Upon arrival it seems like a good pub....however as soon as you meet the owner the positive first impression diminishes sadly
I have never met such an arrogant, stuck up snobby man in my life.
They now ban football and karoake, even tho it was popular and are quietly turning it into a snobby, upper class place with ludricously over priced drinks - go to the Elm Tree or somewhere better instead
|
Visited for the first time ever early doors Saturday. Station pubs are often tacky and scruffy, this is nothing of the sort. It is wonderfully atmospheric, almost Agatha Christiesque with a booth, huge windows and stained glass. No TV on, no obvious machines and just pleasant background music with a very impressive bar. The place was nicely busy. The new owner is clearly very discerning and it can only go from strength to strength. The ESB and the Pride were excellent and there was also Seafarers.
The ideal place to have a swift one whilst waiting for your train or on the way home.
|
Very Nice and clean interior. Had London pride and was in very good form. Pleasant barmaid.
|
A single room Fuller's house near Surbiton station, a couple of slightly raised areas are carpeted, while the main bar has a wooden floor with a tiled splash zone against the bar. The bar on a side wall is polished dark wood with some etched glass mirrors. The ceiling over the bar has an attractive stained glass rooflight. Seating is mixed, but there are a few of the oft maligned high tables and backed stools. Local history photos, a few books on a shelf and 3 plasmas, presumably for sport.
Better than your usual station pub, ESB, Pride, Gales Seafarers with the HSB clip reversed. �3.30 though for ESB, but it was in fine fettle.
|
Pub nearest the station but not too shabby for all that. Fullers Seafarers Ale as well as Pride and Gales HSB if I remember correctly. Music of a Saturday night - Loudshirts were good. Also has karaoke on Wednesdays (after the football finished!). Why have they taken the sofas away from the window end, though?
|
Great pub! The management here are some of the nicest landlords i have ever met, the pub looks great now its been refurbished!
Speaking of which on Thursday 17th December i am hosting an acoustic open mic, starting at 830, it would be great to see people down there, the ones i used to do here went down really well, so pop down and enjoy some great music!
|
Been in a couple of time recently to check things out. I have now upped my rating as this does seem to be on the upturn. Very friendly barmaid who asked me what the beer was like and had a couple of lovely pints of Gales HSB. Could be a possible return to my local?
Just to let you know, they are holding a "house warming" evening on Friday 16 October.
|
December 19 is definitely a date worth putting in the diary for a shot of classic rock covers. Check out Loudshirts on facebook and myspace
|
Just to add to previous comment, i'll pop back in to see how things are...watch this space.
|
OK I was a little harsh in my previous review as it actually is not too bad a pub if you want a drink after catching a train. I was possibly getting misty eyed about when this was my every night local. It's just that recently that every time I attempt to go in its just so rammed and uncomfortable and this is no fault of anyones. Surbiton is just getting too overcrowded.
As said previously the music is well advertised and the pub is miles better than some of the towns other dives (Coronation Hall, Elm Tree etc.).
|
Still a great pub, regardless of poor reviews below. If you don't like loud live music DON'T go in, simple!
I for one love live music, especially rock bands - this bar caters perfectly for my tastes. The staff are courteous, friendly and the most gorgeous landlady! xxx for Mila
|
As a land lady of Surbiton flyer,i would like to invite NOTTASAFA to come and visit us,as we do not have a lady manager,so obviosly the lady in question is someone who is falsly claiming to be working for us and trying to damage our reputation for some reason.
|
Memo to Fullers, there's a woman who called on my workplace claiming to be the manager of this establishment. If her rude demeanour is anything to go by I wouldn't set foot in this palce.
|
Oh dear! I used to love this pub when I worked in London and was first (and last) port of call in the evening between 2001 & 2005 due to being slap bang outside the station. Fine beers and good staff and locals (inc. George Best and Bob Willis).
Sadly this pub has gone downhill recently on account of the pub being absolutely rammed at all times of every day and the beers are nowhere near as good as before.
Only one plus point now is the well advertised music evenings - if you can get in.
|
It helps if you pay attention to which pub you are writing about, comment below was meant for Black Lion - oops!!
The Flyer is under rated in my opinion, a good place to start or finish a crawl around Surbiton. Enjoyable open mike night as well last time I was in too.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2009 18:13 |
ok local pub, always busy but not a patch on The Lamb opposite
anonymous - 8 Mar 2009 18:21 |
This is the one you see when you get off your train, just by the taxi rink. Good Fullers drinks. funny place really but good.
|
Not been in since the latest refurb, apparently just a fresh lick of paint. They should keep the sofas by the front window and leave the high tables nearer the stage and side of the bar.
Just wish they would be more consistent and regular with the bands that perform there. i.e. The Loudshirts play at the end of September then not again for the rest of the year. Strange, as it is always packed when either Cry Wolf or The Loudshirts play there.
Maybe they should be given monthly residencies? Apart from that, a good, clean, lively bar. Female friendly too.
|
Seems to me to be closed every Sunday eve. Do not bother anymore.
Nidge - 16 Jul 2008 01:45 |
Gone downhill lately - Beer has started to get a bit ropey - also does not have many Guest Beers on. Usually full of chavs drinking Carling (or WKD)so not surprising really. Better off in The Victoria
|
Pride, ESB and Chiswick. Had pump clips up for the seasonals. Chiswick was quite acceptable. One bar, high tables and a few sofas.
|
One lovely traditional London pub, in a great area. Went in on Sunday 24-02-08 and Monday after. Good as it gets for me!
|
Love Fullers Pride so will continue to use the place. Came in quite early last Friday evening and the only thing to spoil our stay was the extremely loud music which nobody appeared to be listening to...why do pubs have to have the volume so high?
|
Amazing Thai food, one of the best I've tried so far. We go there for lunch twice a week, for �5 you eat. Friendly staff, clean toilets, cold beer. Worth a visit
|
Pleasant enough bar, although a bit pricey.
Strange layout and stage for the bands that play there but at least it caters for good rock music.
An earlier review states the pub being a gay meeting place, frequented by rock chicks so make of that what you will!
|
This is a stange place, the barstaff where friendly but it was so quite and it was a Friday night with no atmoshpere. They didn't seem to be able to pick a music theme either as was Spice Girls to weird country to Pink Floyd. Loos manky and the pub needs a clean.
Also they do take away food and a very complicated menu.
Decide what you are and stick to it to muddled up at the monet. Also expensive.
|
A decent pub although has been quite quiet on the occasions I have been there recently.
|
My favourite Surbiton pub by a mile, although I haven't yet been in at "commuter time". For a Saturday afternoon beer though, it's great - decent seating, good food, speedy service and clean toilets.
|
Not sure what it is with the staff here but they seem to have some kind of sixth sense! The female staff are foreign so can be tricky to get your point across at the bar but is possible if you try.
|
went to this pub for karaoke on wednesday and i have to say never again. drinks anr not that good and the prices. full of toff noses from london coming home and nipping in there from a pint.karaoke was very good but this pub is missing some thing out of 10. 4
anonymous - 19 May 2007 10:14 |
Fullers prices but it looks and smells like a Wetherspoons - it would be a lot nicer with a bit of decor... and if it was away from a Railway Station.
|
Seemed OK on my visit, although I didn't stay long because I didn't fancy sticking around for the karaoke. I'd be happy to take a pint in here whilst waiting for a train though.
|
Now open again after being shut for a refurb. Seems it took two weeks to put up new curtains and paint one wall...
|
Whats this rumour going around about the Flyer turning into a wine bar (see comments on Antelope).
The Flyer is an excellent pub and serves Pride too - what more could you want! Wine? I hope not.
|
As my last comment has been censored and removed i would like to appologise for my last comment.... When i stated the place seemed to be overrun with eastern european gangsters what i ment to say is that you have hired cheap eastern european labour to do the place up my mistake.......sorry! look foward to the reopening
anonymous - 6 Feb 2007 23:08 |
Yes pub is under new management. No pub is not being run by east european gangsters. Guys seen in pub on saturday were the builders brought in to refurbish the place and having a look around. Pub now closed for a couple of weeks and will reopen on 16th Feb.
Heard will still be running as a pub but with new decor.
Give the new owners a chance - know they run another pub and they look after their customers.
Cheers!
anonymous - 5 Feb 2007 23:43 |
Interior a bit spartan for my tastes, bare wooden and tiled floor with basic seating, though there is a leather settee. Full range of Fullers beers, well kept and served by punctual and friendly bar staff. Got a bit noisy when I was in there, a Friday evening but that may not be typical. Convenient for the station. Worth keeping on your list of pubs to visit.
|
This pub avoids the Curse of the Railway Pub possibly because it wasn't always the nearest to the station. When you come out of the station by the main entrance there is an office block to the right, on the corner of St Mark's Hill, and there used to be a pub called the Southampton. Long demolished but presumably it got the bad vibes from being the nearest-the-station. The Surbiton Flyer is definitely ok. Not brilliant but ok, and Kingston doesn't even have a pub near the station (unless you include the Artful Dodger) so that's another one in Surbiton's favour.
anonymous - 26 Nov 2006 11:08 |
Not wishing to appear too pedantic or argumentative as far as Ziggy66 is concerned but on at least 3 occasions I was sitting at the window table in the Allegro restaurant opposite the Flyer and George came out of the Flyer and came over to the Allegro. Knowing his reputation, I do not suppose for one minute that these two pubs were the only ones he had a drink in.....in fact my brother said that he saw George in the Saucy Kettle.
|
here here - seems ok around 6o/clock and does london porter
|
popped in for a quick pint just the other day and can't really fault the place. Nice interior, clean and nice staff. Bit quiet, though, but it is a pub next to a station.
|
the new guvnors have done wonders for this place at last a decent boozer in surbiton
|
actually george drunk in the vic up the road not the flyer
|
Not a lot of atmosphere but the beers are all well kept and you get good full measures. If this pub was good enough for George Best (R.I.P) then its good enough for me.
|
strange pub - quite small and looks un-pub-like. Attracts quite an elderly crowd.
|
Had a drink there on Friday (May 26), met the new couple who are running it. Seemed really friendly, and were always on the go. Hopefully the place will turn round a bit now....Good luck to them both, can't wait to back in a few weeks.
anonymous - 27 May 2006 11:18 |
heard its getting taken over this month
anonymous - 11 May 2006 03:04 |
It's been a bit "suited" whenever I've been in but maybe I've gone on Lodge nights or it might have been an Estate Agent awayday...Anywaaaay, projected voices aside, this place is worth a visit for the selection of well-kept Fullers. Very handy for the station too.
|
This is a good pub this, and the Fullers is superb. Normally, if you want to visit the worst pub in town then you go to the one by the railway station. Not in Surbiton, you don't
anonymous - 12 Jan 2006 13:46 |
Always a pleasamt atmosphere in here, the high roof means it doesn't get smokey. Staff are efficient once they see you, big pillar in the middle of the bar. Obviously have good relationship with the regulars. But the beer is worth waiting for. Well done lovely pub.
|
i was slightly put off by an ongoing argument. probably a 1 0ff though, good beers
|
Serves London Porter which is definitely a good thing in my book. Seem quite strict with troublemakers
Will2 - 28 Jun 2005 11:41 |
Not a bad pub at all, it's coming along and is good for the footie.
|
Always good for a pint after work and before the train home - and to watch the football.
|
A decent pint of Pride and good service. It's fine but not warm & inviting.
|
Popped in last Tuesday after work, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I like the new look of the pub - before the refurb it wasn't very inviting at all.
Briony - 27 Oct 2004 14:36 |
It's ok, we go for a quick beer when our pizza is being cooked yay! Bit scruffy and not v inviting for a girl on her own. Is better than it used to be though!
Jane - 17 Aug 2004 12:08 |
Went back to this pub to see if there were any changes.
Its had a bit of a paint up, staff were polite, beer was good, food looked great, didn't eat, will do next time. Fair price for a pint to, with a happy hour 4-7!
I did notice that there were more girls in, nice little area up the back, with a sofa. got a dart board in too. getting there i think
D - 14 Apr 2004 08:53 |
Outside Surbiton station. That's the only reddeming feature. Ok for post work pint. Go elsewhere for decent pub atmosphere.
anonymous - 8 Jan 2004 16:47 |
Just so...uninviting...
Rob - 31 Dec 2003 16:51 |
A nice and quiet pub. Ideal to enjoy a Football match on the big screen on Saturday & Sunday afternoons without the interuptions of Kids running around or people constantly bumping into you or blocking your view. Along with friendly staff and a reasonably priced pint, it's ideal for a quiet pint or two during the day, but wouldn't be my choice in the evening.
Graham - 5 Dec 2003 09:30 |
for men only!!! sport + lager- no thanks
goblin - 4 Dec 2003 20:44 |
I understand that the surbiton flyer is up for a refurb? meant to become a more female friendly place, brighter and more comfortable. Also meant to be getting a new manager. I hope so it seems as though it has been left alone to long.
It is a lovely little local pub, it just needs to have more people in and get the atmosphere back. Lets hope the manager has the energy to pull it off.
anonymous - 27 Nov 2003 12:42 |
What is it ?
What is it for ?
What does it do ?
Seems under utilised. Potential...
anonymous - 5 Aug 2003 13:17 |
Definitely the place to go if you like the Garfunkels in a station atmosphere.
Its a station pub people, it is what it is.
Not a night out.
DaveyBoy - 5 Aug 2003 13:05 |
It is a lovely, friendly pub by Surbiton Station and having moved away recently I miss it alot. Wide screen tv, clean toilets and reasonably priced drinks!
Kristy Wheeler - 18 Jun 2003 18:37 |
Rumoured to be a gay pub. Don't think it is, but always fairly empty as a result, despite the relatively cheap Grolsh.
Nicholas - 14 Feb 2003 15:39 |
This pub must have had more makeovers / name changes than any other pub in the country.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2002 07:30 |
Great place after work, whne no cabs home
Bridget Bewick - 11 Jul 2002 17:21 |
