please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Just like the Percy Arms, but a strange name.
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Very unfriendly place will not be returning.
anonymous - 30 Aug 2012 14:13 |
very disappointing evening. wanted to go and enjoy the weather in the garden but regretted it in the end.
couldn't eat food from the 'inside' menu outside which limited us to sandwiches or burgers. were told we couldn't substitute salad for chips, which you used to be able to and 40 mins later warm not hot food arrived. our next lot of food took the same amount of time to order and arrive and starters and mains all arrived together.
returned one meal being told we would receive a complementary new one, which was just as poor as the first.
4 desserts, 3 the same and one different came out one every ten mins for half an hour (including a moldy strawberry) sarcastic reply from staff to a very reasonable question. generally very rude staff apart from the younger ones who were all very friendly towards us.
there are plenty of other pubs in the area with nice gardens where we wont be made to feel as if the staff are doing us a favor by serving us.
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Zero out of ten. The management were extremely rude, snappy and didn't seem able to cope with a busy but far from packed dinner service. I found not one but two hairs in my dinner. The manager shrugged it off and said what could he do apart from get his chefs to shave the hair off their heads! ( the replacement meal was complimentary though). If the staff are nice & apologetic you can be forgiving, but we were made to feel like they were doing us a favour by serving us! (apart from the younger staff who were nice) Don't bother, much better pubs in area....we went there for the garden and kids play area, but found the playground scruffy and several dangerous hazards...a pile of broken glass behind a tree, loose paving stones, a pair of garden shears in childs reach, and a broken/loose handrail on the steps down to the kids play area. Not an environment you want your kids running around in. An accident waiting to happen.
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Glad to be able to return. I found the car park beautifully resurfaced (at last); extended food hours (now to 10pm rather than 3pm in the week); better furniture than before (in the bar area) in terms of height for eating at; and now 5 cask beers rather than 3. The food's still expensive of course, and fewer main course options than before, but hey it's early days and I think the improvements outnumber the drawbacks.
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I've never used it as a 'restaurant', and I don't live in the village, but the Percy was handy for for a pint and a South African dish in the bar area after a country walk - and I shall certainly be back to try it again.
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You need to get out more matey.
When it was open before the food was very average,prices high and beer rubbish.
Scores on the door site gave them not very high mark either.
So to say we are waiting for this restaurant to reopen is far off the mark.
anonymous - 20 Mar 2012 18:07 |
I think i speak for the majority of Chilworth when i say that I can't wait for The Percy Arms to re-open! Nowhere in the area can produce a well cooked, awesome steak quite like The Percy! I hear it is opening on the 5th April, and I for one will be outside, waiting for the doors to open. Along with all the other loyal villagers who have missed their watering hole!
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Get your credit card ready if your going to buy a round when it reopens.
This hasn`t been a pub for years and that won`t change,money and greed come to mind.
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When it was open, was very handy for the local pint or 2 but had to watch my purse there, think on re-opening they should perhaps consider sky sports on so that we have something to watch
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This place lost it years ago, and probably kept afloat of the decline of the previously excellent but now awful Villagers in Blackheath, some 1/2 a mile away. The Percy, following extension, is a barn of a Farrow and Ball decorated characterless place, serving highly average beers (watch out for the pretend kegs) at highly above average prices (I was charged �8.50 for a large glass of house white!) matched by the hilarious rates for it's very average food offerings; a classic example of the decline of the Surrey local pub. Clients also "variable", to put it politely. Bettered easily by the excellent Queen Victoria in Shalford, about 1.5 miles away (excellent real ales and superb, reasonably-priced food). On the plus side, it does have a climbing frame for the kids, if that's worth the thick end of �5 a pint to you.
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Not missed in particular either, but handy as I am local. It is better than that other place 'The Drummond at Albury', what a poor place that is!!!
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Due to reopen April 2012,not really missed.
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looks like its RIP for this place....................unless anyone knows different???
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I must say I really don't miss it, although it was handy as it's local to me, but the place was attracting a fair amount of the local 'do as you likies'. Perhaps the landlord could get them to tarmac the car park!!!
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No great loss, this place lost it's soul years ago and we can do without another cloned gastro pub. Could have been arson by a patron waiting to get served :)
Why is the service in "modern" pubs so appalling, The Percy Arms set a benchmark for high prices and poor service, so few will miss it.
I truely hope a real publican takes it over and truns it back into a pub.
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A second fire today finished the rest of the upper floor off.
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Yes Alan your right it has and from the look of it will be closed for a good few months,wish them all the best in getting back on their feet.
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Visited for lunch on a Sunday. Service was exceptional, food was of varying quality, beer left a lot to be desired.
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Seems to have changed a lot since I was last here and now is a gastro-pub, more restaurant than pub actually. Had a couple of pints of Hardys & Hansons Olde Trip which was very good but pricey (�3.50). The food was also on the expensive side but was excellent, had the S.African bobotie + Banoffee pie for �12 mid-week deal and was really pleased with it. I don't think it's the sort of place where you'd want to spend an evening drinking, though.
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We have tried and tried to like this place bur don`t.Beer is awful food over priced and it`s not a cozy pub.
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I wonder-Stevie is this the only pub you are able to get too?? I think normal people to this site will see through your PR stint !!!!
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I have eaten here many time over the past year for Sunday lunch and I can truly say I have had a great meal every time. The carvery is legendary. Fresh vegatables, none of that frozen microwave rubbish other pubs serve up. Help yourself to spuds and veg, what more can you ask. Choice of 3 meats from 6/7 with ostrich and venison often on the list.
Some of my party did not fancy the carvery so had meals of the menu. Nice South African theme and the quality has always been great.
The staff have improved over the year and service is friendly and effecient. There is a great atmosphere in the pub and dinning room with the log fires going in the winter.
All in all a great pub and I will not be having my Sunday lunch anywhere else!
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A very modern looking pub inside, with wooden floors, bits of stone, etc. Not a typical village local.
Three real ales available. My friend and I had Ghastly Ghoul but strangely this was not served from the handpump on the bar but from a cask set into the wall at the back of the bar. Normally gravity fed beer would be a thumbs up but when we got back to our table the beer was very cold and appeared to have bubbles on the inside of the glass. I'm therefore unsure by what method this beer was actually dispensed. We let it warm up a little and it tasted fine.
Food was OK but was not super hot. I had cassoulet which in itself was fine but had no vegetable accompanyment of any description, which it was crying out for. Consequently I still felt a bit hungry after I'd eaten it. My colleague had one of numerous burgers available, a meal he described again as OK.
The staff were very friendly, although their attempt to serve us with beer at our table fell flat when the order never arrived and I had to go and get it.
This pub has all of the right ingredients to be a good one but doesn't quite make it, which is a shame.
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All kicked off in here the other night what a mess.
Pegs for sale if you get my drift.
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Great pub, just across the road from the station. We found it while rambling
across the spectacular Surrey Hills and spent a very pleasant evening there.
Just been back to The Percy for a family reunion at lunchtime - 6 adults and 3
children.
Food was great, generous portions and good value. Lovely garden overlooking St
Martha-on-the-Hill church.
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Well, it is truly dreadful. If Ted Doherty (the old landlord) came back now he would fire everyone. Staff presumably undergo some training but hard to imagine where. A circus I assume. Just like the White Horse at Hascombe, it should be a reminder to all landlords how easy it isto turn a good pub into a bad one.
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Visited there a few weeks ago on a Saturday lunchtime with my family to celebrate my birthday. Our table was booked for 1pm, we arrived at two minutes past and sat down. For the next 20 minutes nothing happened, no drinks order was taken, no menus arrived. It was reasonably busy, I'd say about 75% full.
After asking for menu and drinks we finally received some drinks at about 1.30 and our food order was taken. At 2pm no food. At 2.20 no food. We asked our waitress who told us our food was just being plated so another two minutes. At 2.40 I advised the "manager" we were leaving. Of cours I say manager but but clearly he was no managing his restaurant if he was unaware we had been waiting an hour and a half for our food.
He insisted out food was just on its way, I told him we had no interest in eating there. His "excuse" was that they were busy and they has another table of 8. Pathetic really, isn't a restaurant supposed to be busy. If they cannot cope with the bookings why accept them ? For the money of course of which they got none on mine.
The "manager" clearly thought we should have sat there for another 30 minutes as he became quite agitated with us when we left and eventually slammed the door on us as we left. How professional of him we thought as we headed to a real pub restaurant in Shere and ate decent food 20 minutes after arriving.
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Reading through the other reviews I guess this must be another pub that's much better at lunchtime (when I usually visit) than in the evening. Had excellent, if pricey, food: They do a "two courses for �10" during the week which we failed to notice in time. Had a couple of pints of "Ale-pril ale", fine beer, crap pun. Sat outside in the sun, very nice really.
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OK, so I've reviewed this pub several times, but after what happened in January early January, I felt it worth another comment.
We got there at about 6pm and were seated in the conservatory amongst what could only be described as the untidy remains of a kids party, with something like 12 or 15 kids hooning around the place. We asked to be seated on the other side of the pub, but were gently encouraged not to.
As our orders were being taken, the lights went out. Then on again. Then out, on, and finally off for good. The only lighting was from candles and the emergency exits.
Our waiter (maitre d?) shrugged his shoulders and said "it happens the same time every night". He took the remainder of our order and wandered off. About 40 minutes later, and with the temperature dropping as the front and back doors were propped open to vent the smoke from the kitchens, the food arrived.
The chips were stone cold, the steak cold and over-cooked and the spinach tepid at best. The same was true for the rest of our group, which included my father and a friend of his.
Part of me feels that they did the best in the circumstances, but the overwewhelming part of me is immensely irritated that no offer to reduce the bill was made whatseover, and my father who was paying was too polite to request it. So, we ate �200 worth of poor quality food in a dark, cold and smoke-filled crypt. For the sake of a 25% reduction in the bill, I'd forgive them. As it is, we won't be going back, despite how much we enjoy the food there.
Fail Pub.
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Well Where do I start just do not go there. I took my mother for her birthday there last night. Arrived to find Kitchen staff in the car park having a fag at around 7:00pm. Did not seem overly busy around 3 tables of diners. Nice open fire for my Mum and fiancee who feel the cold so all looking good. Nice bottle of Chablis ordered and presented at the right temperature. Ordered food - Scampi, Prawn Curry and a 10oz Rib Eye cooked without sauce. THEN IT TURNED INTO A DISASTER. The food was dreadful, the chips had been recooked from lunchtime. The Prawn Curry was excellent but the steak arrived in a BBQ sauce.
OK simple mistake so I asked to change it for a steak without sauce. The original steak appeared back after it had been washed under the tap!!! The " Director" then got involved a chap called Alf Hunter. Told me this was normal practice. Offered me another steak but by then my dinner guests had finished so I declined. Both the " Director" and the waitress were then very unfriendly and made he atmosphere dreadfull. They have the people skills of a slug. We left. with no appology offered at any time.
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Im not sure what the last poster had been smoking, but this place has recently undergone a massive refurb!!
Ate in the restaurant on Friday night - I had the Boboti, with a pint of Abbott Ale. Amazing food, good service and the pint was crystal clear. For anyone who has had a bad experience in there before - give it another go now, and I reckon you will see a massive difference.
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Used to be great for food but now it's like a Berni Inn. Needs a good lick of paint too. 5/10 is generous.
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Visited 12/12/09. Food up to usual high standard. Service slow to start, but improved until a change of staff. It may have been her first night on the job or the last, but she needs (re)training in the art of food service. Had a pint of Rocking Rudolph which was shocking.
10/10 for food. 7/10 for service. 3/10 for Rocking Rudolph.
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My husband and I went to the Percy Arms for a wedding anniversary treat as it was highly recommended by some colleagues. After reading the reviews I was slightly dubious but thought we'd still give it a go! We were the only ones in there as we had a 6.30 booking so the service was very punctual as you'd expect,the waitress did get my wine order wrong but corrected her mistake immediately.The food was superbly cooked,a decent size plate of food (we both had steak),yes-it was pricey but as it was a special occasion I thought it was acceptable for a treat.The dessert I asked for was unavailable so that was disappointing hence the 9/10 but overall we had a beautiful meal and exceptional evening.
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Went here to meet a few friends the other night left PDQ as the place was full of travelling folk not for us thankyou.
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I didn't say I didn't understand 'giveusabeer's' review did I? anyway...
I was saying that this site is meant for people to leave their comments about their own experiences re the pub. Not for people to disagree? I think we can assume people are intelligent enough to make their own decision whether to visit or not once they have read the reviews?
To answer your questions: I don't only use one pub - no, Kath (whoever Kath is) is not my mum. I believe you may think that because people don't leave reviews for every pub they visit they are somehow less qualified than yourself to have a valid opinion of a place.
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bretty, click on giveusabeer's username. You will see he's been around a bit ! I grew up in Bramley, went to this pub hundreds of times over many years. My last visit was about 3 months ago and it's still only average with well above average prices. There are plenty better in this area 6 / 10
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What did you not understand about my review brett ????? I will say it again beer awful (cask marque my arse ), food average and over the top on price.
Nice garden.
Do you also only use one pub ???
Look where others have been and get a real review, not one from a member of staff.
Is Kath your mum by any chance?
anonymous - 12 Oct 2009 11:02 |
I've been here many a time - very good food, especially the tailor made steaks. The beer I found to be of equal standard to the other pubs in the area.
Garden is really nice, great views - packed out in the Summer always a good atmosphere and very relaxing.
'Giveusabeer' please try and write a review based on your own experiences and try to refrain from commenting on what other people have said - it's an opinion, it can't be wrong.
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I have been advised that the so called ale from the cask is actually not. I admit to being somewhat surprised at the time, and feel rather daft to have been fooled by what is probably edging towards misrepresentation, if the accusation is correct.
I suspect it is, rating reduced accordingly.
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Visited with wife and children on Sunday lunch about a month ago, arrived about 12:30. Good service, great food. Only drank a Stella and a glass of red, so can't comment on beer. Steak was up to standard, as were the other 3 meals.
My only issue is the price. Effing expensive in my view.
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Omg another fake review.
We gave this restaurant another go the other night what a mistake,the IPA was the worst pint I have ever been poured ( Maldenman straight from the barrel my ar`` how did you fall for that ??) the Abbott could clear your drains if they were blocked.On to the food side average at best and so over the top on price.
Katheaven you really need to get out more and away from where you work as your 2 reviews are very misleading.
Plus point its not our local.
anonymous - 2 Aug 2009 10:01 |
OMG we went to the Percy Arms again and we were so welcomed, even though it was a Saturday the Manager (please forgive me in not remembering his name) but he welcomed us and he even remembered how we both liked our steaks but he took time to talk to us as well. I have to say there was also a memeber of waiting staff who should be praised as she was so welcoming and got everything right with the good sense of humour and profesionalism to make the whole evening extreamly enjoyable..
Thank you all again for a lovely evening and keep up the fanastic work..
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Fantastic venue situated just by the railway station but in fact also a fine place to stop off while having a walk in the area.
The first thing I notice about this pub is the large area and the second thing I notice is that it sells Greene King ales.
Good for a stop-off in the garden area while sipping a cold drink and a snack - I would recommend this area for that indeed.
I cannot comment on the food but eventually found the toilet areas and they were of a decent standard.
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I recently (mid April, Friday evening) went to the Percy Arms for a meal with my wife, children (7 and 5) and father. I was a little apprehensive, as there are very mixed reviews about it, including price and service.
We had a great time. I had a 12oz fillet steak (not often you get to chose the size of a steak) with Monkey Gland sauce, my wife and dad had steaks, my daughter had sausages and my son had the biggest plate of ribs in the world.
Yes, it was a bit expensive (�136 inc a bottle of wine), but it was worth it. The service was attentive, the wine excellent, the food spot-on and the general ambience very good indeed.
As for the previous review by "Kath"... Is this a real review, or simply a shallow attempt at a rebuttal of the previous review from an older gent with his friends? It looks for all the world like a member of staff hacking out a false review. My apologies if it's genuine.
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As a couple we tend to go to places that i enjoy the most ideally fish places, but i have to say i was very pleasently suprised with this pub. i was very nice to find a pub that does what it says on the internet.
we had starters and main with drinks, yes the staff are young but that doesnt matter when they listen to their customers even when i changed my mind on what i wanted to eat.. the starter were delightful i had the italian salad and hubby had the garlic bread which looked lovely and fresh. we both had a talor made steaks were totally lovely hubby had a sirloin 12oz steak cooked rare to medium and i had a rump 8oz steak cooked blue. to my surprise i didnt have to send my steak back which i normally have to do and thr rump cut and ate like butter.
to my suprise it wasnt nearly expensive as i thought it was going to be..
if you want a pub that sells good food for a good price then this is the pub for you... highly recomended we will be there again soon...
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Well I have been to the Percy Arms in Chilworth today and as promised, I am reporting back.
I had an excellent � of Hardys & Hansons�s �Rocking Rudolph� and may give it a 4 on �beerscoring�.
I, along with some of my walking friends, had a sandwich with a choice of soup or chips for �5.95. I chose the option with soup and some of the others chose chips.
On the menu it mentioned that the sandwich I had was ham with mustard. There was ham but I couldn�t taste much mustard. As far as the soup was concerned it was, at best, lukewarm.
The staff is young (including kitchen staff) not that it means anything, but because my soup was almost cold I thought they probably can�t use anything but microwaves.
One of the lads at the bar was patronising to a couple of my fellow walkers who were older and had difficulty with their hearing.
The pub itself was ok, though it would have been better if the heating had been switched on a bit earlier. The temperature was around -2C all day outside, and we were looking for some kind of warmth indoors. My soup was almost cold and the radiators were getting warm when it was time for us to leave.
All in all, I may go back to give them another chance but only if I�m in that area again, I wouldn�t go out of my way to get there.
I give it a score of 5 and that�s mostly for �Rocking Rudolph�!
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Oh dear... my local walking group has organised a walk in that area with the lunch stop at the Percy...
I'll report back next week.
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The last comment is suspect, reasons ? 1. only talks about this pub and its sister pub ( which can`t be doing that well,it`s gone bust) 2. why go to the second pub which does exactly the same food? 3. Why on earth eat at a pub that has been slated by the local council for very poor hygiene ?? 4. the beer is shite.
A strong wiff of another Cheap advertising campaign.
Go to one of the next village`s turn either way at the crossroads far far better. 2/10
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popped in midweek for lunch,having been to their other pub - Inn on the Hill, I was very interested to see the comparison, I ordered a Ploughmans - very well presented and priced. The IPA was in good condition. Although they were rather busy they arranged a table for us and let us know there may be a wait on food, very proffesional and will be back soon!
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average village pub but pricey
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Have been a couple of times of late. It does come across as more restaurant than pub.(Haven't actually eaten here so no in a position to comment on the food/service.) On the occasions I was there, the ale on tap was somewhat pricey, even for Surrey standards, and was rather average. Whilst I'm sure the strong emphasis on the restaurant side may 'do it' for many - not really my cup of tea.
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Popped in after a country walk. Just GK ales, surprisingly served straight from the barrel. Passable pint of IPA in fairness. Quite a modern interior and a huge pleasant beer garden. A bit of an emphasis on food with steaks priced by the ounce. Roasts advertised and a outdoor barbeque for the nicer days.
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Went here mid-week for lunch; fish and chips was alright but not the best meal I have had here.
The big south african guy did a good job making us feel welcome though. 6/10
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I have been reading these reviews as well curiousgeorge and have to ask are you 1eslie`s farther or boss,eh eh or just plain Ted???
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curious george's glowing review of the percy = his/her first review. I'm going to put 2 and 2 together and come up with 4.
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i have been reading these reviews for a while now and it seems that its always the same people that leave the negative comments.i am presuming that you haven't been to the percy in a while.i suggest that you go there again sometime soon and try to remember that this is not your average pub as they do serve good and fresh food and not pre packed and frozen meals like your average pubs so thus meaning that the food actually needs to be cooked before presenting it on your plate.which in turn means that sometimes you have to wait a little longer than in other pubs.but there is no question about the fact that you do indeed get a great tasting plate of food no matter what the size of the pasty.further more i have not seen any other PUB serving the wide variety and quality of steaks as the percy.
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It`s been 2 years since my last comment on this restaurant but seeing the last review did make me chuckle,nail on the head alecstewart old bean well done, it sums this place up to perfection ( no such thing as a "Happy Eater" )and as for a tip i`ll give you one keep on driving.
anonymous - 11 Aug 2008 09:21 |
Not so much a pub as a Happy Eater with beer.
Bill came to �42. Paid with 3 x �20 notes. Had to go and ask for my change after 15 mins and was told they'd assumed it was a tip.
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Crap food (apparently 2 pasties are the same as a beef and ale pie)and even worse service just as well they were not busy.
eltel - 20 Jul 2008 07:48 |
I have to say I agree with beersupper's view on 'fake' reviews. Sorry!
But I do like this place, not somewhere to sit and have a few pints though.
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not at all have you upset me, i just don't understand the resoning for your comment..."suspect that the staff have something to do with the very good comments," so does that mean no one else can write a good comment fotr fear of others suspecting their motives?! for anyone who is looking for a fair comment and is interested in going to the percy then it is a great place, i'll say no more!!!
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Did something i say upset you 1eslie? as George says you can only say as you find ,glad you had a good time but there is no need to take it personally if someone disagrees with you.
ps noted you have only commented on 1 pub/restaurant plus a restaurant! mmmmm say noooo more.
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personally i think the comment below is rubbish. do you spend all your time on this site commenting on every pub known to man in the guildford area?!!! i was at the percy arms last sunday for their famous sunday carvery which was fantastic. my whole party was really impressed with their dedication and their staff are willing to make conversation with you rather than just being interested in your money! its always buzzing and has a fabulous, welcoming feel and seems to be popular all year round!
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I do always suspect that the staff have something to do with the very good comments on this site about one pub and one pub only do as Biker says click onto the user name and see where people have been before if its only one comment then beware( ie.Winebank and Ette).
This place is a very very expensive Havester type restaurant the service is poor beer not best kept and they want you in and out as quickly as possible not a place to have a chill out time.
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Great Pub/Restaurant, food is great service is good, Sundays to full for my liking, Staff are mostly friendly, great wine list. Kids love the garden in summer, all in all pretty good value!!
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Fantastic pub - more of a restaurant really, but none the less, great place for food and drinks. The staff are friendly and attentive. As you can imagine being a popular country pub at peak times you might have to wait for a table or a little longer for your food. We regularly visit with our children (both of primary school age), they love it there as the staff are friendly, coloring is always provided and in the summer they really enjoy playing in the garden. We live locally and if friends /family come to visit this is the first place we take them to for a meal or drink. Some might say it�s a little expensive, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for, on the one occasion we had a problem with a meal it was dealt with very quickly and the price of the meal deducted from our bill � you can�t say fairer than that!
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having only visited several times i can only comment on what i have experienced and i must admit that each time i have visited i have been extremely pleased. i have found it to be a top-class place which is hard to find in guildford and definately hard to find in local villages. i look forward to going back because its an all-round excellent place. the food is of a high standard and the range is brilliant and even though the prices are quite high, you get what you pay for! theres a real friendly atmosphere amongst the staff who appear attentive and willing to help and chat to you. amazing location as well!
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We've been going to the percy for past few years and have seen the ups and downs of this great pub. During summer year we noticed it had lost direction and the quality, from our point of view, had slipped.
Being local, we decided to try it again in October and we so impressed we booked a large table for Christmas Day.
What a great way to spend Christmas Day, the food was fantastic, the service a little slow, but everyone was so cheerful, upbeat and full of smiles, that we were still talking about it on boxing day.
After having a chat with a very friendly waiter he mentioned they had a new head chef, who seems to have made a big difference to the quality of the food.
Our favourite restaurant has placed it's mark once again on the Surrey Dining landscape.
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I went into this place on my own at 8 o'clock one evening - starving after a long journey - and wanted to eat. They said I couldn't have a a table for three quarters of an hour. Less than two minutes later a group of four people who looked like they had money to spend asked if they could eat and a table was made up for them straight away. This place is only interested in processing credit cards. The beer is boring Greene King served in industrial quantities. Go to the homely Villagers pub up the road in Blackheath!
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Unfortunately this pub has become a pricey and pretentious 'snobs corner' in recent years but to be fair, the food is very good. As for previous references to members of staff, it's Surrey after all and many who work in pubs think the job is below them. My personal view, plenty of very good places around this area to eat and drink. Try the Three Compasses at Alfold for real value for money and professional staff. ps I grew up in your area and first drank in the Percy in 1967 !! 6/10
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Just had lunch at the Percy Arms, my first time there.
We eat out in the garden, shame that the garden menu is so restricted. My burger was expensive but very tasty and well presented. My colleagues sandwiches were well received and liked the choice of soup or chips to accompany them.
The beer (IPA and Hedgerow)was in excellent condition. Service was good, the place was quiet when we arrived.
I would definitely be happy to go back, nice garden, good beer, not certain I would want to go on a busy, sunny weekend though!
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Thomas - March 2004 - I surely hope that you have lightened up since your comment.
Please don't go to Durban - heaven forbid that you should have a good holiday on account of happy people! Rather just stay here and carry on being a miserable old git!
Sunday buffet today very good but somewhat of a bun fight and could be so much more efficient by the introduction of a second serving station. Good value and a good choice.
anonymous - 19 Aug 2007 17:51 |
Would agree with comments that food does not justify the price these days. When the current owners took over a few years ago there was a real improvement but I think that standards have slipped. My recommendation would be to get back to basics, improve the service and improve the food to reflect its high price. With the fantastic views and great beer garden this could be a super pub with a bit of work.
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I have been to Percy Arms several times. Found the staff to be intolerably rude. The food is good, but if I want to be treated with respect, I will go somewhere else to dine. Also very inflexible policy regarding what you can eat outside in the beer garden - it just doesn't make sense. When I asked to speak to the manager to understand why I couldn't have a bowl of Mussels outside he was extremely angry and confrontational. Despite visiting several times (purely because the food is good), I have not had a good experience with the staff. I have blacklisted this place and will never go again.
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Nice car park.( well its big anyway)
But the pub or should i say restaurant is very over priced,food was ok nothing to rave about ( the price far to expensive had to pay extra for every thing, even possibly the plates.) ( joke)
The beer was ok and only "ok" stick to the guinness to be safe.
Knowing the area i would carry on driving to Bramley or Wonersh far better place`s to eat. 4/10
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Four of us went there last Saturday night and had an excellent meal. Good ambience, friendly and knowledgeable Antipodean staff, good serving times on a busy night. Top marks!!
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They serve Greene King IPA, Abbot & Ruddles County which appear to be served direct from barrels behind the bar. A well kept pint of Ruddles and a packet of peanuts cost �3.45.
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A very nice pub and a quite nicely laid out Restaurant area. This was quite an expensive place to eat and the standard of food was very good, but i'm not totally convinced yet so i think i'll return and try the unique steak set up they have,(had non steak meals first visit).
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I have dined at The Percy 3 times since moving to Chilworth, and the 1st time we went there it was lovely but a little expensive, but you don't mind when you have a goood meal. So, I returned with my husband only to be served off Soup. The 3rd and final time the food that we ordered was not the same as it said on the menu. When we informed the staff did not care
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Had a good beer and lunch here earlier this week. Only complaint � eight flies buzzing around the main seating area. Not good at these prices. If the want to keep charging premium rates they have to give premium service in a premium atmosphere. I don�t mind flies in a spit and sawdust pub, but I do here. Rating dropped as a result.
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Just heard from an old friend in the area that a Magners is now �3.99 - that is a very scary price!!
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The Percy Arms is not recommended unless you are eating and then only if you are extremely well-heeled. The drinks are extremely expensive and the accommodation for non-diners is poor. The staff a surly and seem to spend a lot of time chatting and arguing amongst themselves rather than helping customers. Chilworth badly needs another proper pub as it is a large place and no longer has the Percy as one of the focal points of the community.
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Have been in here a few times as friends live near,afraid to say gone down over the last year food wise, price`s gone up �5.50 for an average wine way over the top.The sort of place they want you to eat your food as quick as you canand leave so they can get more people in not a relaxing time
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Great base for walkers: park here and walk the downs. Nice pub for a summer lunchtime - lots of choices of gardens and patios to eat at: with a view, by the street, etc. On a wet day, you can eat inside because it's no smoking throughout :-) Staff very friendly and helpful in showing you round. Food served very quickly despite warnings to the contrary, but be warned it's as expensive as you'll find anywhere. 3 ales served direct from the barrel; all vareties of Green King.
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We were not made to feel at home here.Purely for people who want to eat not for drinkers.The two sittings on a sunday can make you feel rushed which we did.
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Nice tidy bar and restaurant, completely non smoking which was a big plus. However, charging �5.75 for a glass of house wine, should be illegal!!
The staff were polite and the food was ok, i had the carvery roast which had a good selection of lukewarm meats to choose from and plenty of trimmings - of coarse they were slightly over cooked but isnt that what British pub grub is all about?? The other half had a locally made butchers beef burger which was presentable and reasonable tasty.
Atmosphere 7/10
Food 6/10
Drinks + Value for money 3/10
Price of the drinks would probably stop me returning.
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We thought we had walked into a havester ready to walk out but as we were here might as well give it a try.Not for drinkers only interested in eaters.High prices on food & drink, food only average ale ok
anonymous - 25 Apr 2006 19:32 |
Recently moved to Chilworth so this is now our local. We�ve had five meals there now, three of which where excellent, two of which where average. It seems to depend on who is chef is that day and how long they leave the carpaccio to defrost! The Boerewors however are excellent. Wouldn�t mind a prosciuto plate with these on along with the usual Italian choices. Monster steaks are there aplenty at the counter � but they are over-priced. Service however is always good, beer likewise � except they need to move to Ruddles County as the Ruddles Wotnot they sell is not up to County level. The beer is indeed pricey here, but hey, its Surrey folks � and if you want good beer, good d�cor and comfy sofas round these parts someone has to pay quite a lot for it. I�d rather have big smart pubs than big scruffy ones. Smaller pubs can get away with being scruffy as their character can shine out more, so long as the beer is well kept. Oh, and the espresso is up to Italian holiday quality which is more than most restaurants let alone gastro pubs. You can have a quiet drink there, just not when food is being served, so it�s good for the locals during the week and weekend mid-afternoons so long as you can bag the sofas. Keep it up folks. I want my local to stay good for several years yet.
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Ate here a couple of weeks ago (my first time to the Percy Arms). It appeared to be just a restaurant to me but I only went in and straight to my table (in the conservatory area). I very rarely eat steak when I got to restaurants but this was the place to have it. Choose the cut of meat and then go to the 'butchers counter' to have a slice cut to the size you want and cooked the way you want. Service was excellent and the waitress was very attentive despite it being full. All in all an excellent Friday night out.
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Well Mr Landlord. It is sometime since I visited your establishment. But as a regular beer drinker I can tell you that �2.95 for a pint of premium beer is NOT NORMAL. That is simply taking the Percy....
The record so far in any Surrey or Sussex pub that I have visited, stands at �2.85, so as you see, by your own admission you have the record..
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My husband and I have been going to The Percy for three years. We used to go nearly 4 times a week and eat there every week. However we don�t go there so often now. This is because it�s become a victim of its own success and is so busy that it makes the whole experience completely unrelaxing. We never go there for �just a drink� now because a) the prices are now silly (they increased after the building work was done) and b) unless it's summer and you can use the garden there isn�t anywhere to sit or gather. This is because all the tables inside are used by diners and the small bar area and four bar stools are used by diners who are having a pre-dinner drink or diners who are in need of a cigarette. It seems to be much more of a restaurant than a pub now, especially since the extension was done. The food is still good but you don�t really get the service that you used to unless you go mid-week and it�s not busy. Avoid the place on hot summers days and Sunday lunchtimes because it�s full of �flash-yer-cash� people and the staff tend to be in a complete stress because they can�t seem to handle the sheer volume of people. Oh and there�s nowhere to park because some of the 4X4 drivers who frequent the pub can�t park properly and use two spaces per vehicle.
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I am an employee and i am confused to hear that people think that that drinkers are not welcome. We pride ourselves in keeping and serving quality beer with good service. we have had our cask marque for many years now and it is the pride of all of the people that work in front of house and behind the scenes.
Drinkers are more welcome reserved signs are no longer put on the tables. This was done not to deter drinkers but to make sure that people that had booked tables were able to be seated. We have a garden that can seat up to apporoximetaly 200 people.We can also seat up to 30 people around and on the bar.
I am proud to be a part of a pub that can cater for such diversity and I know that everyone that works there are proud as well.
Thankyou for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you soon for a happy and enjoyable time at the Percy Arms.
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A full restaurant of happy diners is as good a recommendation as any pub could hope for - and it happens here! A full menu to suit every taste and every pocket; good service ( I had a cute blonde waitress - friendly and good at her job). Owner seems to realise that identifying customer needs is the only way to increase profits and he obviously knows his stuff. A couple of cute waiters who look as though they could star in porn movies, but that's a good distraction if you are not enjoying the company of your fellow diners!
Some of the messages posted must come from contributors who cannot recognise good food, have no idea about good service and would find McDonalds a pleasant eating experience. That's fine - but they should go back to McDonalds. This place suits a more discerning customer and there are plenty of us around.
Top marks to you all - and I am a hell of a fussy customer - long may you continue to thrive. You may not like it, but, I will be back!
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When I'm back in the area (or indeed the country!) I always pop in to The Percy. As my local for many years I witnessed many, largely unsuccessful, changes. Ted, Shane and the team have given much needed life to this pub without conforming to the usual template of brewery owned establishments. Food is excellent and staff are friendly and attentive. I wish them success, as usual, with furthering the success of this pub and with their other projects.
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Why is it people who slag off a pub don't have the balls to give there name, this pub has had it's cask marque since opening and has never lost it - so much for bad beer - as to being a restaurant i will happly concede that that is the case but as not welcoming drinkers ....codswallop maybe its the fact we only allow well behaved drinkers, like most pubs in the country. 2.95 for a pint of premium ale is about normal,
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By far one of the best pubs in the area.
Food is absolutely fab, especially the steaks.
Staff are generally very efficient and friendly
In agreement with other comments posted the place has got a bit restaurant orientated and expensive in recent months, but any comments suggesting drinkers aren't welcome are absolute rubbish, have you not seen the size of the garden?!!!
Also, about the cash machine, how many village pubs do you know that have a free cash machnine or offer cash back?!!
anonymous - 13 Jul 2005 13:28 |
This site is called Beer in the Evening not Steak in the Evening. I do believe that this ex-pub should be de-listed from this site as it has primarily become a restaurant that grudgingly allows pure drinkers in. At least the reserved signs have been removed from the tables. These were put out on the vast majority of the tables even though they were not actually reserved. This was just so that they could tell drinkers to push off if someone came in wanting food at a particular table. This behaviour backs up my theory that drinkers aren't really welcome in this restaurant. I notice that the prices of the drinks are sky rocketing and a pint of ale will now cost you �2.95!
�2.95 for ale that is badly kept. The ales are not hand pumped, even though all the equipment for such correct administration is available.
They have one of those rip-off cash machines so I presume there is no free cash back at the bar, not that I've even tried.
To sum up...As a restaurant this place is well run and the staff are polite. But it is difficult not to get the impression that making money is the bottom line at this place. The ale is very variable in its quality.
anonymous - 8 Jun 2005 21:31 |
This just shows that the English knows nothing (to put it mildly) about food. This is the best pub probably in the whole of England. Proper food. The only place that can cook a steak to perfection.
Great atmosphere. Brilliant food. Not even the top London restaurants can cook food like this.
anonymous - 8 Jun 2005 17:37 |
Poncy typical Surrey yuppie hole. Best avoided if you don't want to get run over by the immaculately clean 4x4 cars in the Car Park.
anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 15:00 |
Aside the usual drinks they have in pubs (Stella, Carling, Guinness, etc.) they have Ruddles County, Old Speckled Hen and IPA here. Claim to have the best Pimms ever. I am not really a spirits drinker but if that's what floats your boat you may want to give it a try and tell us how true that claim is!
Will - 15 Sep 2004 13:20 |
Sorry, I got so pissed off with Gareth who posted 5 Mar 2004 12:18, that I forgot to put his name on my thread! They were his quotes dissing my fave pub of all time!
SamH - 23 Jun 2004 11:53 |
A great pub and a great advert for the warmth and good cheer displayed by South Africans! Good food, wine and beer and very welcoming atmosphere. Re. the message displayed by Thomas on 2/3/04 - you've got a social problem mate, you stuck up tosser! Maybe you're over miserable?
Paul - 7 May 2004 14:08 |
This is the best pub in the UK!!!I worked there for 5 months, and not a day goes by that i dont think about everyone that works there!!!! And the manageres from Durban is the best ever!!!!
Charleen - 15 Apr 2004 21:04 |
We found this pub the other day, food and service was superb, best place for fantastic steak. Great service and food with a great atmosphere.
Anna - 14 Apr 2004 15:06 |
The Percy Arms is a great place to eat, drink and generally have a good time.
I'm not into 'posh' resturants, and generally detest them, but here there is a warm atmosphere, friendly service and somewhere where the whole family are welcome.
It's not a 'posh' resturant or a 'traditional' pub, it's a comfortable inbetween.
Amelia - 19 Mar 2004 12:07 |
I'd be suspicious of any pub run by Rugby mad South Africans. This pub has gone downhill in the last 2 years, it's not as clean and not as cosy as it once was. It's edging towards being a Yate's wine lodge of the countryside.
Gareth - 5 Mar 2004 12:18 |
Before 2003, this pub was dead. It has been revived by a planeload of South Africans, although they haven't got rid of a previous owner's attempt to turn the place into some sort of wine bar. I've heard the food is good, as much curry as you can eat on a Monday. Beers include IPA and Speckled Hen.
There is an over-happy barmaid who will come around and ask if you want another drink. This may be acceptable in Durban, but not here.
Thomas - 2 Mar 2004 20:03 |
