please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I'm not sure this pub is still a Youngs pub. There was only one real ale - Otter Amber on the one handpull. I doubt very much that Youngs would allow this. So it's probably a free house now. Although I would describe it as more of a gastropub. It was much busier than the Earl of Spencer nextdoor and despite the late hour, it seemed there were still many customers who had recently enjoyed a meal. The interior is laid out around a central bar, with a kitchen to one side. I'm not sure it's a good place to enjoy a beerintheevening, unless you're having a mealandbeerwithaspecialfriendintheevening. It certainly seems a place where couples were enjoying dates.
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Good pub (NOT little!), nice atmosphere and reasonable prices. Beer well looked after. Will use when in the area. 7, pushing 8 /10.
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First time visitor at the weekend, wow - the food was amazing! Lovely little pub, just refurbed, friendly staff (turns out it's under new management) and really good grub. Highly recommend the pie - and the kids food went down a storm too.
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Pretty good - certainly better than before! Haven't tried the food yet but looks ok. A bit lacking atmosphere when I went in but it was a Monday. Will give it another go on a busier night.
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Following Stephen's suggestion (see below), I gave the Gardeners a second chance today and I'm happy to report that things were much improved.
Had a lovely pint of Sambrook's Junction followed by a roast lamb dinner. The meal was piping hot with a generous portion of vegetables, gravy and mint sauce.
The service was friendly and efficient yet unobtrusive.
I can only think that last Sunday was a blip and I'll certainly be going back to the Gardeners.
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I am the tenant at the Gardeners and thought I ought to respond publicly with an apology to pomona who has today reviewed an experience from last Sunday.
I do not wish to make excuses for what was clearly a poor experience. We were suddenly short-staffed in the kitchen on Sunday and unfortunately had no option but to rely upon a junior member of the kitchen team to cope alone. This led to terrible delays and subsequently poorer quality than we would ever normally deliver.
I do apologise profusely for yours and the other customers' experience on Sunday. The coming and future Sundays will be better staffed and if you do choose to return, you can be guaranteed a better experience.
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Decided to go to the Gardeners for Sunday lunch last weekend. Big mistake. The menu promised a choice of 4 roasts. Only 2 were available. Two of my friends ordered the pork while another friend and I plumped for the beef.
After half an hour, we enquired after the meals as they had yet to appear. We were told that they were 'on their way'. Eventually one beef meal arrived. This was followed, about 10 minutes later, by one of the pork meals ordered.
The bar was heaving because of a Newcastle v Chelsea match and yet there were only two people behind the bar, one of whom also served the meals as and when. There was one member of staff in the kitchen.
When my food still didn't arrive, I asked if they were short-staffed. The barmaid said that they weren't expecting so many food orders (on a Sunday!).
After an hour, I asked if we could at least have some free drinks to compensate for the long wait. To her credit, the barmaid agreed to this and brought them to our table.
My meal was lukewarm and unappetising when it did finally appear.
People on neighbouring tables refused their food when it turned up and demanded full refunds. At least 4 meals were sent back to the kitchen.
This is no way to run a pub. I felt sorry for the staff because they were clearly overwhelmed and way out of their depth.
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The beer is good now, but it's a pity the pub no longer has any character and is very noisy.
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Top pub - I used to drink in there before, but now it's in a league of it's own. Seems to have attracted non-locals too, as it's very inviting, while keeping the old "diamonds in the rough" regulars.
I agree about the bogs though - black tiles makes me feel like i'm in the 80s again (not a bad thing I suppose). Top bit of grouting, mind you!
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This run of the mill Young's outlet has improved big time since my last visit. The chavy landlady and her favoured knuckle scraping clientele have gone, and the premises have acquired a long overdue makeover. The result is an airy establishment offering a good choice of beers & wines and a great menu too.,
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Unrecognisable from the old gardeners and that's a good thing. Much improved, better garden and now there are three decent pubs within 200 yards. Beer wasn't perfect but I guess from the other reviews these are teething problems with the cellar. Not sure about the black gloss tiles in the toilets. Otherwise pretty good - good luck to the new team!
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A successful refurbishment. New proprietor and staff keen to do well. Jolly nice to have Tribute on as a guest beer. Nothing outstanding about the food, but our burgers were good quality. Musak just a little too loud is my only criticism....apart from the (useless) lock on the gents lavatory.
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I have been here 4 times since the excellent refurbishment and have had 4 bad to indifferent pints of bitter. Have decided to stop visiting until I hear they have solved whatever problem they have with their cellar.
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very pleased that my locals been reborn. I dont need to wander about drinking dodgy beer any longer.
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Excellent pub. The refurbishment has done wonders and has turned this run down local pub into a local treasure. This pub offers a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere and is perfect for any age group. I have not sampled what's on offer in the food stakes as of yet but understand it is thoroughly good 'pub grub'. The Gardeners succeeded where others fall and managed to remain a real pub and for that a tip my hat and would highly recommend a visit to anyone (even if i would like to keep it for myself!).
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Re-opened! Initial impression looks ok. High seats rather like the halfway house but not their prices! 2.90 for youngs ord and 5 pence more for special. More 2morra.
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With chamge of owner and most of the contents cleared out, looks like the Gards is in for a refurb. Oh god! Look what Youngs done to the Halfway house. Sky sports is going or gone.( though at �3000+ a month it dont surprise me.)
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Oh dear,oh dear,oh dear. Having known this pub for more than 20 years, it saddens me to see it now. It has become less of a community pub and more of an (e)state pub. Ordinary upstanding locals seem to have been relaced by shuffling young people with tatoos and earrings. Slightly gangsterish atmosphere - even on a very quiet Sunday lunchtime. The product previously known as Youngs Ordinary was cloudy. The once immacualte gents toilets are now disgraceful.
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Average enough, often have glasses over the taps and only do small glasses of wine. My friends and i were actually told (by a drunken regular) that we were in the wrong pub and should go next door... Fine then, we will!
Also the dead flower arrangements out the front really need changing!
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Traditional and friendly, but Bitter was average and little to detain the non-regular.
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Nice work done to to the front garden, wood floor, glass panels and heated umbrellas. Wished I still smoked now!
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Very good, traditional Youngs local. Having seen what they have done in Putney I fear it may not stay that way for long.
anonymous - 26 Jun 2007 18:26 |
The usual Youngs local, friendly and spacious with decent Bitter but unemarkable.
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Wandered in here after a reccommendation from the CAMRA GBG 2006,A decent pint of Youngs Special went down very well. 7/10
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Friendly, traditional Youngs pub. Good pub, good atmosphere, no trouble.
anonymous - 12 Oct 2006 23:05 |
Agree with Notasaffa, locals pub and cheaper than the Earl Spencer. Youngs bitter was okay on Tuesday evening.
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Not mad about this place. A local pub for local people I suppose, which isn't a bad thing considering it's 2 doors away from the Earl Spencer.
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Visited for the first time last night. Friendly bar staff and locals, good pint of Ordinary, and reasonable prices. Not the place to take a girl you want to impress, but nice all the same.
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Youngs Beer very good seeing as it's brewed just up the road. Has resisted the rapid gentrification of the Wandsworth/Southfields area and as such is a real boon to the local community. Friendly and relaxed. Worth visiting.
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Fine traditional Youngs pub - pleasant and friendly atmosphere. Well worth calling in if in the area.
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This pub used to be a haunt for Wimbledon fans, which is a plus point. I am troubled to hear that Chelsea games can attract clientele to what a one of the better out-of-the-way boozers in the Big Smoke. Pleasant, friendly, boring: a true tuesday night boozer, and all the better for it.
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Nice little pub. Staff and locals very friendly and you don't need to take out a morgage to buy a round like next door. Isabella.
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Nice place this. You can usually bag a seat for the footie(unless Chelsea are playing!). Good for conversation and horse racing.
anonymous - 18 Dec 2004 12:10 |
Youngs pub. Pretty standard fayre. Clientele appeared at the older end of the local spectrum so not exactly buzzing, but a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with lovely flower baskets outside.
Olly - 7 Aug 2003 09:28 |
