please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
now a Mexican restaurant ...
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Disgraceful place, bland and characterless and the beer was almost as disgusting as the establishment itself.
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I visited the Almamata before Christmas and enjoyed the food. The Harvey�s Sussex Best was good too. Unfortunately, from where I was sitting, I could see behind the bar and I was appalled by what I saw. The bar staff filled up a pint glass of Harvey�s Best from the drip tray and then sold it. The beer had frothed up and been running over the server�s hand � this is the beer that was sold to an unfortunate member of the public. Despite the beer and food that I had consumed being good, I shall not return.
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Visited this pub again last week and still impressed. As mentioned very friendly efficient service and food above the normal Egham 'pub food' - best thing about the pub although may be fairly quiet on certain evenings it is 'chav free' and hope remains that way.
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Very friendly staff - consistently polite and helpful. Only one real ale on usually but always well kept. Rotation policy - have had Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Ruddles Best, Rebellion IPA and Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter in recent weeks. Food is easily the best in Egham. Although you will be paying about �8 for a main course it is worth it. Garden is very nice especially two weeks ago when the weather was nice. All in all a very good pub if sometimes a little on the quiet size. Full of lecturers, PhD students and suits.
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Quite a foody pub now, but Harveys Sussex Best was in excellent condition on my recent visit. Always a couple of poetry books and various magazines to read, and extensive menu. Definitely a foody pub, but drinkers as welcome.
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part of the crawl,not bad but is it a pub or resturant???not sure but had a good time.
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My partner and I visit regularly, its a terrible mistake to say there are Strodes students here in the weekend or at all. For 1 there aren't any Strodes kids around Egham in the weekend, and secondly this place doesn't get many university students either. The owners won't put up with it, and the decor and culture of this place won't suit the student market - no jukebox, no games, no pool - its too smart. They seem to be quietly confident with their place and their market, and that suits us.
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Yes agree with kim that this pub needs to do bit more marketing - most people I speak to dont know whether its a pub restaurant - still the railway or the Alma Mata - its a good pub, good food and friendly service, please dont let this pub go down the shoot - we need pubs like you in Egham.
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Really good food, but sadly lacks atmosphere and packed with Strode students at the weekend. The management really need to look at doing promotions ie. wine/beer of the month for a special price, dish of the week, 2 for 1 drinks/cocktails, happy hour, 50% off food on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, half price champagne on a Friday, come on management you get the idea! Send offers out to the locals in Egham and Thorpe for special deals to encouragement people into the restaurant, some residents don't even realise that it's not the Railway anymore. It could be a real little gold mine.... It's a nice place I don't want to see it go down the pan...
kim12 - 29 Jul 2010 11:39 |
Thanks britishairways but your recommendation for the foresters is good reason to keep away. I am quite happy with class of clientele in Alma Mata.
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Not too keen on the 'Bar, Restaurant, Eaterie' branding on the outside, but smartened up a lot from its previous incarnation. Had a reasonable pint of Black Sheep Bitter.
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super food! i popped in here on a friday for lunch and the place was a buzz with suits and office workers, exactly the type of place i have been unable to find in egham in years.
All the other pubs i visited in my time around here have obviously succumbed to the studenty and heavy drinkers market and make no aspiration to cater for normal people looking for somewhere clean and simple to have a quiet drink and a meal.
well presented staff and interior, good service and the food was of an exceptionally good standard for a pub.
these guys have done a great job, highly recommended if you are in the area.
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Ignored this pub to start with as seemed very quiet and not much happening. After few visits, very much warmed to the pub. Food excellent and more upmarket feel than most pubs in Egham. Has quite a cool garden, patio area for smokers which is really a hidden asset for the pub. Good service and friendly guys run the place - looking forward to more visits.
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Popped in here on way to station found the place clean and tidy no probs with sevice, lager fine.
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a group of us have got in the habit of visiting the Alma Mata, (when will Beerintheevening.com update its name ?) and have always enjoyed a very warm and friendly welcome. The beer is good, the furnishings good, the staff courteous, and on the few occasions I have eaten there the food was first rate.
Just hope it continues in its present manner and doesn't decide to go down-market in order to improve its market-share.
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This is no longer called The Railway but the ALMA MATA. Stripped wood with smart mirrors and pictures, and very much aimed upmarket for a quiet drink and excellent Asian food including bar snacks. However, still always has at least one real ale on and always in good condition. Very handy for station as previous name would suggest, and worth popping in when your passing.
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In the last few weeks ive had these beers in this bar:
Harveys Sussex Best, Hogsback TEA, St Austells Tribute, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Timothy Taylors Landlord, Blacksheep Best, and currently has Youngs Special and Harvey's on again. Every beer has been in excellent condition.
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Started using this pub recently and found to be very welcome addition to the pubs in Egham. Very friendly and presentable bar staff and good atmosphere. These guys have made really good effort into making a good bar that Egham deserves and I wish them well.
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Ive started using this pub regularly now. My wife and her friends likes it because of the artwork and the ale seems to be very well kept. Only 2 on at a given time, sometimes only 1 (in between casks). In the last few weeks ive had Harveys Sussex Best, Timothy Taylors Landlord, Gales HSB, Pride, Cumberland Ale, Youngs Special and St Austells Tribute. Unlike some other pubs around, they seem to have a very good recruitment policy as the girls are very polite, and well spoken. I hope they keep it up.
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I think the picture is about 4 years old. This place has really changed. Definately what is needed in Egham which is full of old dirty, rude mannered pubs. This is alot more sophisticated and cultured, the service is good and personal (although the guys running it sometimes overstretch themselves by trying to give everyone personal service). The food is by far the best pubby food ive had in egham simply because its so obviously fresh. Theres a shockingly well hidden garden that im sorry to say is also one of the finest ive ever seen. I read an article in a student paper that described it as a hidden jewel and against all expectations it is exactly that. They have given it a real go here and i hope it lasts.
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Renamed and rebranded
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Better, but still not great. It is still lacking atmosphere. Food looks good though. There is a market for this kind of venue in Egham, so let's hope a bit of fine tuning will see it succeed.
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Popped in tonight for couple of drinks and was quite impressed. Reasonable crowd of people, and seemed more upmarket than other Egham pubs. A lot of effort has been put into the pub including the beer garden. I liked the guys running the pub, they were pleasant and very smartly dressed - unlike other Egham pubs where dirty jeans and t-shirts seem to be normal dress. They were having problem with gas on several of the lagers and only one draft beer - hope this is teething problem. Will visit again and try the food as seem to have fairly extensive menu. I wish them well as Egham desperately needs decent pub.
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Now opened as the Alma Mata, (Bar, Restaurant, Eaterie). Pool table, jukebox and all the other student paraphanalia has been replaced with a very chic restaurant, while the lounge side still has the big sofas and wooden chairs. Has looked busy most evenings with a better class of clientel. Popped in for lunch and the lounge bar is still a little sterile. Food is still nice, although I did notice a slight increase (circa 20%) in the prices.
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Currently shut and due to reopen as a bar/resteraunt.
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They have made an effort with the decking in the back garden, but the whole place still lacks any kind of atmosphere. Beers are served in the wrong branded glasses. I want it to succeed, but signs are not good
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Went in for couple pints few days ago and first impression was rather dire place. Then I walked through to the patio, garden area. Was very impressed what they have done and would recommend it as very pleasant area to have outside drink this summer. Full marks for the effort they have put into it.
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As lived in Egham for while thought would give the pub a try. Walked in and nobody serving - waited and waited but still nobody to serve me. Gradually got embarrassed as few people in pub seemed to be stairing at me. After another wait gave up and left. Perhaps I hit the pub at wrong time but sorry - you want the customer you gotta make the effort.
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Slowly getting there - the huge back garden decking has been finished and there's now normally two ales on which are well-served.
I like the guy who runs this place - want him to succeed, think he may have over-extended himself early on but is making it back now.
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I have attempted to visit this pub several times over last few months, but each time I attempt to go in I can see there are at the most only 4-5 customers. So I have never gone in. How this pub survives - goodness knows.
anonymous - 6 Oct 2007 22:36 |
dire absolutly dire
anonymous - 7 May 2007 09:02 |
It used to be called the railway - it's crap now
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chav local,no real ale because nobody could change the barrel,i ask you!plenty of alcopops of various colours.
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Horrible interior but great food.
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This place has had more guises than Carlos the Jakal in recent years, and it is currently trying to be a posh bar, all leather sofas and wood floors.
Only one ale on (Pride) which was OK, but there were only four other customers! Not good for 9 o clock on a weekday evening in term-time!
I think getting a disco down here on a Friday and Saturday could bring in the students and liven the stiffs up a bit, along with some offers. There's enough floorspace and bar space.
Until then it remains a dead bar with much unfulfilled potential.
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Had lunch here.
The burger was excellent and the fishcakes superb.
interior still need some work and they are working on the service.
they have a guest beer now and are expanding thier collection of drafts.
has potential.
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THIS PUB HAS BEEN KILLED BY ITS NEW OWNER, HARDLY EVER OPENS AT WEEKENDS, NO BAR STAFF, HAVE TO WAIT NEARLY AN HOUR TO GET YOUR LUNCH IF ITS BUSY, NEW OWNER HAS NOT GOT A CLUE ABOUT RUNNING A PUB, APPARENTLY HE IS A WAITER AT EDWINS, GOT BIG IDEAS FOR THE PUB BUT NO MONEY TO DO IT. I WILL NOT DRINK THERE AGAIN
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Currently shut as there seems to have been some trouble there. Owners were considering turning it into a 'bistro' after the World Cup ... now it may be sooner than that.
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Nice in the day nicely decorated but avoid saturday night at all costs as this is full of chavs and under 16s
anonymous - 6 Nov 2005 19:36 |
Pretty cool decor in here - I like the mod inspired pictures, and the music is pretty good too. It's nothing spectacular in here, but it does the job.
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Had a reputation as a bit of a rough-house a while ago, but has had a re-furb recently and seemed OK when I went in a few weeks back.
Has ale, but only London Pride if I remember correctly, so hardly inspiring.
Give it some time I guess.
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Back in the early nineties had an evil reputation but now is a well-run but generic suburban pub. Clean, good for the footie, but don't expect anything new.
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Is the pool table still there? I used to go in years ago purely for the pool and the old landlord used to get so pissed constantly that he simply forgot to order any beer. Cute little bowling alley out the back which was never open which seemed a shame. I may go in again one day to see if it's still really crap (comes with the territory) and should my findings suggest otherwise, I shall be glad to post a new message declaring such.
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just went in for lunch, food was excellent, definitely best pub food in Egham, definitely going back!
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Just been refurbished, big screen for the footie but now full of scruffy students, talking loudly and paying for stuff with cheques.
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Great when I was at college for lunch time drinks. Not the place to be on the weekends though.
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saw a band there - Blue Fuses - easily the best pub band ive EVER seen. Fri nights --next one is around 12.3.04. Free admissionas well to see a pro standard band
eddie - 21 Feb 2004 21:49 |
