Pottery, Kingston-Upon-Thamesback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
You're right it really is a restaurant. You don't expect when you go into a -pub- to be asked,
"Have you booked?"
No, I haven't, it's a public house not a restaurant.
From the p.o.v. of someone who values the pub fabric of a town - which should after all be for all its inhabitants, not just the well-heeled surrey moms and their cohorts - the removal of pubs such as the admittedly vile Royal Borough Arms is a kind of cultural cleansing (cf. ethnic cleansing) - "we don't want those kind of nasty people around here, they'll lower the value of our property and frighten the au pair."
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I like the venue, its decor and location, I try where possible to support local businesses. I enjoy the interesting approach that the Pottery has on 'tapas' - I do have an issue with the bread though.
The Pottery is busy and popular, as a pub and a restaurant however it should not scrimp on ingredients and this includes fresh bread. The restaurant really lets itself down by serving the frozen baguettes that any normal person would use as a last resort (in an emergency). This then leads to a problem if you decide to ask for more bread to go with your tapas - you may end up waiting for up to 15 minutes to get it - as they have to stick it in the oven first so when it arrives at the table it's too hot and if you try to cut it or tear pieces off, it caves in on itself.
Come on Pottery - push the boat out and turn yourself in to an outstanding restaurant by serving REAL fresh bread....
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Two girlfriends and I went here on Saturday night and I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the service. Firstly, they got the number of guests wrong (3 people at 8pm turned into 8 people at 8pm) and they therefore assumed we were in party mood and put us right next to the DJ. The flashing disco ball was irritating and the music prevented any conversation. The waiter, who we subsequently found out had only been there one week, didn't take our order properly and, in fact, didn't even ask me for my order. One starter and one main course arrived 15 minutes later and when we explained what we had ordered, the main course was taken away yet one person was left with a starter. Another starter arrived five minutes thereafter and eventually my starter turned up approx 15 minutes after the first one had been left. Credit to the female manager? (Maitre D'?) who was extremely apologetic and in fact asked us if we wanted to move to a quieter table away from the DJ, and the party of 20 who were just getting up to dance.
Anyway, this is all probably irrelevant, as this site is for pubs and we didn't experience the pub, just the restaurant - and although the food was edible it was nothing special and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.
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Friendly helpful staff. good food and a great atmosphere. I used it for my birthday party. The DJ they supplied and the disco were fantastic! A very friendly DJ with lots of great music. He even played every song from a long playlist I gave him. I use it regularly, as it is a very family friendly place.
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Yeah I agree with the last comment that The Royal Borough Arms was indeed diabolical. However, this is definitely not a pub. This website is called Beer in the Evening not Food in the evening.
Additionally, The Royal Borough Arms was like a holding pen for the local flotsam and jetsam. They are now able to pollute the other pubs in the area so that place did somewhat serve its purpose
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Used to be the diabolical Royal Borough Arms but now is a very smart little pub although the 'pub' aspect of it is not overstated - just one ale on (Bombardier) when the Canbury Arms, which is in some ways similar, can manage three or four including local brews? Not everybody wants to drink wine you know.
Still, having passed it many a time and now finally gone in, I'm pleased I did.
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Something a little bit different - very good food, Spanish tapas sort of thing. Quite boutique and querky, but would definately recommend. Friendly staff.
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