please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The last part of my review was meant to say Jazz in pubs is bearable albeit slightly irritating. Classical on the other hand purlease! Who wants to go to a pub on a Saturday night and listen to that unless you are a malodourous, red faced on fart with gout called Cuthbert Farquarson The Third.
Bloody predictive text. And why in this day and age can't BITE design this site so you can go back and edit comments!
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Have to echo the other comments here. This place is definitely for the foodie brigade and not really a pub in the traditional sense of the word.
I first drank in here back in 2000 when I was the tender age of 17/18. I remember being in there on a cold autumnal evening with my packet of Bensons on the table and a pint of lager in hand (my palate has mutured astronomically since then) talking to my mates about 'birds' and sexual encounters that we had recently (never) had. This was a proper pub back then with a cosy interior and lively atmosphere.
In recent times though it has really lost all of its pub like qualities and therefore has very little appeal to me. The gothic interior does feel out of character with the building and it has none of the cosiness of old. Really the only place for drinkers is the garden out front however, beer range s not that great.
Now finally in terms of the music choices. Jazz in pubs albeitis bearable albeit slightly irritating. Classical on the other hand, purlease!! Who wants to go to a pub on a Saturday night and ostensibly to that unless your some malodorous, red faced old fart with gout called Cuthbert Farquarson the third!
Your better off walking 10 minutes down the Road to The Rose of York.
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With beer at �5.30 a pint, this pub is definitely worth ignoring!!!!!!
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There used to be no more welcome site than The Dysart after a long walk across Richmond Park. This pub is now closed. It has been replaced by a restaurant with sky high prices. Mains over �20, come on. A pint of (the only available) beer and a small white wine came to over �11. Thirsty walkers should walk towards Ham and try any of the three pubs along the way..
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Hugely disappointed about what has happened to this pub in the last couple of years. We hadn't been for a while, but remembered a very tasty (if a little expensive) Sunday Lunch about a year ago.
However, we had lunch today and it was truly terrible.
The food was okay, but the portions tiny. I had sausages and mash. It was �13.50 for two sausages the size of a fat man's finger and a dollop of mash. My husband had steak - it was overcooked. But the manager was certain we were at fault "It's how the chef cooks it" "well what do you propose we do about it?" Unnecessarily condescending. Please don't give them your custom. They really don't deserve it; serving mediocre food in a clinical and charmless (albeit spotless) interior with service that varies wildly from friendly (one waitress) to confrontational and aggressive (the manager and another waitress). The ale, while not unpleasant, was limited to a choice of....one.
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There seems to be a trend for Gastropubs to be more Gastro than pub and the Dysart has gone down this route. There is very little room (just stools at the bar) if you are not eating and the atmosphere is that of a restaurant. There seems to be much more in the way of wine than beer.
On a Friday evening all the tables were taken and there was someone playing classical guitar. They did find room for my friend and me however after a short wait.
The food is expensive but of very high quality. The portions are quite small though, so you really do need to have 3 courses and bread!
I did like the way they've refurbished the place. I would go back for dinner, but it's not a place you would pop in to like a normal pub.
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lol guv2.
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dougie59,thank you for your review of the dysart very informative,cant wait for your next review of a pub you have never been in based on the befuddled second hand memories of a landlord of a since closed pub in hounslow 14/15 years ago.you dont get about much do you??....ask your carer to wheel you around to the dysart one day and you will find to your utter amazment that a g/t and a pint of lager will not set you back 30.00pounds,then go back to your care home and rest in peace....all our love....normal people
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dougie59 a very interesting and well formed observation thank you for sharing it with everybody.
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well said dougie59 ??????????
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had no dealings with this place other than to regulary have emptied the over filled bins.I remember moaning to the then landord of the now defunct Shire Horse in Hounslow about his prices going up for the 3rd time in amonth and what he told me about the prices here was enough to make me make an on the spot decision not to try it out something I have stuck to now for some 14/15 years. He told me all those tears ago a lager a gin and tonic and glass of lemoonade came to close on �15 so how much would that round be now close on �30 I'd bet
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Being local we really wanted this pub to work for us. It's in a great location as we like to combine a pub lunch with a family walk in Richmond Park. It looks the part and has very convenient parking opposite the Park and next to the childrens play area. However, after a number of chances the Dysart has let us down time and time again! It is far from being described as a 'family pub'. Families with children are not made to feel welcome at all. with children only allowed in a certain area of the dinning area and buggies are not allowed inside at all. I appreciate it does not suit all but dogs are also not made welcome (although allowed) but not in the same area as children so this did not work for us at all. The food is passable and the service is a little cold to say the least! This is a little bit of a rant after another bad experience today but please be assured that it is heartily felt after several disappointing visits. If you fancy a warming pint after a walk in the Park with your family, this is NOT the pub for you!!
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Walked into this 'pub' with 3 friends. We did not stay long. Staff looking at you as if you were a fart in a space suit. Felt very unwelcome. Only 1 beer on tap. As its a stones throw from Zac Goldsmiths place and the 'great and the good' of Petersham, any vistors must expect to be looked down upon. Why bother? Go elsewhere and avoid this pretentious little hole.
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Awful pub, awful service, terrible management. I doubt whether it actually deserves the "Pub" epithet. It really is a pretentious hole with a beer tap.
I cannot recommend it. Go to the Duke of York around the corner, a much better way to spend a summers day.
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I attempted to enter this pub on a Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago (approx 6.30pm) when the weather was hot and sunny, and I had just been for a walk around Richmond Park. Unfortunately I cannot comment about the interior as I was turned away before I could reach the door... They were closed as they had a 'concert' on later that evening. Rather than let us get a drink and sit outside, we had to leave.
Therefore, we walked to the Rose of York and spent a lovely evening there instead.
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Wow Livewire, I have never before read a genuine review that reads like a promotional brochure. And I still haven't.
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I've been to The Dysart Arms many times and always have a great time. I've found the staff friendly and welcoming. Looking back at where it's come from as well, the change is remarkable. The menu is great, set menu during the week which really is good value, particularly for such good quality. Usually only one real ale for the beer drinkers, but it's always top notch - Landlord, Harvey's, Adnam's, Hogs BAck...
There must be almost 150 wines on the list now, and not at silly prices, particularly if you know what your ordering - we had a magnum of 1996 Beaucastel a few weeks ago - yes you might think �95 a lot, but in most places that would get you a normal bottle, not a magnum.
They have a classical guitar player who's a regular on Saturdays - absolutely brilliant - and something I've never really seen in a gastropub before but it really works. Unforgettable in fact.
Got a date? Give it a try in the evening! Taking the family out? Sunday lunch is best.
Give it a try
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My fault...I came again to see if things had improved over the past couple of years.
Sour-faced management, average to ok food, (and therefore very overpriced) and the general feeling that they are doing you a favour by allowing you to dine there still pervades. A very strange attitude to have in these tough times when there are many very good establishments within a mile's radius that offer real customer service and value (and I don't mean cheap, I mean getting what you pay for).
Never. Ever. Again.
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The good news is the location and, when the weather is sunny, the ample space out the front. The bad news is the very limited choice of beers (i.e. one bitter), the almost disdain shown for anybody not eating, the zero tolerance of children and the traffic on the main road.
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I can't comment on previous customers' experiences, but I have just returned from a reception that the Dysart catered for.
The staff were attentive & excellent. The food was never-ending & delicious.
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I really want to love The Dysart. This place should be brilliant. It's a lovely building in a perfect location by the park but alas that's where the positives end.
First of all it's not really a pub these days - its a restaurant that serves beer. It also rates itself highly, which is more than most of the locals that i know do.
The food is similar - 5 star prices for 2-3 star food.
The decor adds to the confusion - is it restaurant, is it a theme pub, is it clever oris it pretentious.
But worst of my experiences there are the Aussie or Kiwi barstaff that served me who display edsuperiority and a lack of basic courtesy and have no place in the service industry.
Such a waste - it would get so much local custom if it decided to focus on good honest and well sourced and cooked food, wine and beer and friendly, welcoming service.
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Subsequent to my comment about my camera below, I wanted to add that I had raised my concern over the missing camera with the manager who took days to get back to me.
The whole process of enquiring into the whereabouts of the camera probably stretched over about 10days in total.. and each time I was fobbed off by different menbers of staff.
The manager finally got back to me (a hard man to pin down) or should that be I finally located him, & confirmed that the camera was not handed in (we were the last to leave by at least 30minutes!) and that he was very sorry but there's absolurely nothing he could do about it as he totally trusts his bar staff!..
Most of which are in their early twenties and English not being their first language!
So very disappoiting exerience all round..
Again, it's a B&B so very surprised at this customer service.
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The Dysart is located on the outskirts of Richmond in the beautiful village of Petersham. A group of us went on valentines night 2009 and had an overpriced meal which was nothing particularly special, if not a tad disappointing. The pub is beautifully bdecorated with distressed wood throughout. We were the last ones to leave, & the kitchen staff were getting a little bit agitated & loitered around the bar, but they were overall very accomodating, and very eager to please.
Besides the food, my only real complaint was that we left our expensive digital camera on our table, & we haven't seen it since! Which is a bit worrying as the Dysart doubles up as a B&B!
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Uber-sophisticated, pitched at the well-heeled and cultured of Petersham/Richmond (e.g. playwright and local resident Michael Frayn a regular visitor). Heavy emphasis on dining, and with a limited range of bar drinks, not really much of a pub. Good place for impressing the in-laws!
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The new decor much better and warmer than the previous phoney castle decor. Good food, friendly staff, bright warm and with a nice ambience. Recommended.
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The refurb is good and the place is now light and bright. But the emphasis is very much on food (we were asked if we wanted a table for 2 as we walked in) and there is only Adnams Broadside on tap. A good location and good decor but not really a pub.
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I am not sure if the new owner wants this pub to be family friendly or not! We went for Saturday lunch, great staff but the rest was below average for the price. The children could choose from spagetti with tomato (�5) or Fish cake (�7) - for one fish cake with lettuce and some tartare sauce! When we asked for some green beans we were told that the beans had been pre measured out so we couldn't have any! The location is great as opposite the park and swings - we visited the swings and came back for desert. Lovely beer garden but the only hitch being that we were told that the owner would prefer our children not to run about in his garden (he didn't come to tell us himself but sent his staff!!)One point for smiling staff, two points for my risotto, three points for location.
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The refurb went well and is sympathetic to the period and style of building, enhancing original features and sympathetic lighting. Good sound system and some great musicians are featured - an excellent guitarist the night we went for a drink. Snack menu as well as full menu now, a good wine list and a fine wine list which changes regularly, and is exceptional for the price. Not an average pub.
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The Dysarts has class with excellent food, music and ambiance. The wine list is very good and they have a guest real ale to complement the beer list. We held my husbands 40th birthday party in the private upstairs room, which was a very good venue and have been since many times to dine and for a drink. An excellent venue for a meal with your partner where you can actually hear each other talk! It is very popular with local families for lunch on a Sunday. Looking forward to seeing the downstairs refurbishment.
anonymous - 6 Oct 2007 18:08 |
Went past on Sunday 30th September. Still closed with boarded up front door. No pub sign outside either.
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The Dysart Arms is just closed for refurbishment.
It will reopen on Saturday 29th September.
There will be live jazz every Thursday, live classical music every Saturday and varying live music every Friday.
anonymous - 24 Sep 2007 13:27 |
Went past the Dysarts today and it was closed... Surely not another pub in Richmond closing?!
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Appeared top be closed when I passed this week. Anyone know if it's a refurb or a closure?
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This pub looked absolutely delightful - sadly the welcome and attitude was lousy. Staff very grumpy and the gothic interior completely at odds with the real building. Instead of stopping here we went to the Rose of York a few minutes up the road which was delightful. What a contrast! Shame - the Dysart has loads of potential and a great location.
anonymous - 16 Aug 2007 16:19 |
This pub looks like Noel's House Party, the staff are generally quite down in the mouth and unhelpful, they often run out of beer and it isn't cheap. The location is really all it has going for it.
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Went here for Sunday lunch and was hugely disappointed. The head waitress/restaurant manager was deeply unhelpful. After grudgingly finding us a table which 7 of us could actually sit down at, and ignoring us for 10 minutes, she refused to take our order on the grounds that we were "4th on the list - I'll take your order in about 10 minutes". The food arrived 50 minutes later and was overpriced and tasteless. The IPA was fine (sadly the Doom Bar was off) but the second pint I ordered never arrived (although made it on to the bill). OK beer, nice location, below average, expensive food and useless service. Never again. If you want a pub near Richmond Park go to the Roebuck on Richmond Hill.
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Visited here last Thursday and liked it. A really good bitter (Sharp's) and some excellent live jazz. It was quite loud though.
As everyone else has said, is it a pub or a restaurant? The menu was better than most pubs.
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We ventured out from Kingston hoping to add a local destination to our list of �good food pubs�. At the Drayton Arms we found good, fresh food that was well presented. Nice touches such as homemade tomato & tartare sauces were offset by the chips � why use frozen French skinny fries � and sliced supermarket baguette that did not do justice to the very, very tasty olive oil it came with. The rest of the ingredients � fresh fish and well cooked steak � were all so good it seemed a shame not to go all the way.
The atmosphere was confused like the comments noted below. Is it a pub or is it a restaurant? We would personally prefer more of a pub atmosphere. Therefore no table service, get rid of the old function chairs and put some character back into the place. The gothic feel to parts of the interior were just a bit too overbearing!
We also noted that two members of staff were off duty when we were there. One was possibly a manager who took up a table for ten people, munching on his crisps, reading his paper as he shouted jokey comments to the staff� as if there were no customers in the bar. The other chap sat at the bar having a pint and chatting to the bar staff (his mates). This is fine but it was then difficult to get their attention to pay. This sounds a bit petty, but it speaks of an operation that is not quite there, not quite slick enough, and not quite justifying the prices.
We will go back in the summer for a long, lingering lunch on the outside tables.
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This is a nice place. Yes kids are allowed (Good) Yes it's brightened up a bit (Good) and yes the food is good. The main thing is the beers still as good as ever and it's still looks the bees knees. I do tend to agree with the price of the wine - but then I don't drink it anyway. Overall 8/10
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This is a beautiful old building, has some impressive flagstone flooring, and my pint of Adnam's Bitter was excellent.
But sadly it seems to have given up any wish to be a traditional pub: it chooses instead to cater for the food crowd, and a family crowd at that. There were hordes of kids running everywhere when I visited on a Sunday lunchtime. I haven't been here before, but I was informed by my drinking buddy that the inside has been opened out and brightened up to make it look more like a restaurant.
Another nail in the coffin of the traditional British boozer.
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Very child friendly, big tables seating whole family. Serves excellent food, and children's portions of Sunday roast, a welcome change from the nugget and chips rubbish that so many pubs think children want and actually hate.
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As noted by a previous reveiewer, this place doesn't seem to know whether it's a pub or a restaurant. The ambience and service are pub-like, but the food prices are (expensive) restaurant levels.
The food is adequate, but the prices, the lacklustre service and a banal and overpriced wine list (�27 for a bottle of Gavi?)make this one to avoid.
anonymous - 12 Jun 2006 10:39 |
Fine is you like expensive posh nosh and are not that interested in the beer. At it's best in the summer when you can sit outside but, even then, you have the road traffic to contend with and a very limited choice of beers. You are meant to drink wine.
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Gone down hill a bit under the new management.
anonymous - 14 Dec 2005 00:26 |
Dysart very crowded on a Sunday just before Christmas; had to wait 20' for a table for two. Steak and kidney pudding and yorkshire good, but few and uninspired vegetables. Note to try the vegie option next time! Coffee more like brown water: didn't pay for it, but waiter didn't make a fuss over this. Beer: choice of two real ales, reasonable.
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During the half term holidays with the kids complaining as they do, we were driving through ham when we spotted this pub, a nice and quiet remote location, close to richmond park, a play area and a beautiful view for miles. The staff were very friendly and attentive, despite coming on a busy day, the food was top notch and not expensive, recommended.
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An amazing turnaround for this pub, under new management and with a refurbished function room for private functions. A brand new menu ensures that the standard of food and choice available are always fresh, my children were made to feel welcome and the addition of a non-smoking area is a real bonus, making this an excellent family location.
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Being born and raised in Petersham (school friends with Jim Tyrrell's <the guvnor> son in the 1960's). I knew it then as The Dysart Arms. It's image has been through many changes...Dysarts, The Dysart. None of them recapture my memory of it as a 2 bar pub. Left hand public bar complete with dartboard and the east european dart-player called Alex (a rarity in those days...Polish?). Right hand saloon for the country set. Most vivid memory? Drinking by Hurricane Lamp light during the constant power cuts caused by the miner's strike! Anybody else remember this era...email me?
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good place. like it. nice location and good in the summer.
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Like a lot of pubs along this strip, they are full of promise but dissapoint up close. It as if the proprietor is considering a shift into the restaurant business but hasn't quite got the nerve. That coupled with the suspicion a young group of people might be eyed with in these parts spells stay away.
Good for: Families
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Food can vary. Sometimes good, but can be really terrible, especially if you go for a late Sunday lunch. Staff don't seem to know what's what. Plenty of tables in garden even if it is a bit noisy being on the Petersham Road. If you are walking a long the towpath it makes a pleasant diversion for a drink, but you'd be better off eating at the White Cross or White Swan in Richmond before you go. Or the Lass on the Hill on Friars Stile Road if you walk up Richmond Rise to enjoy the views (Friars Stile on your left near top)or have a quiet drink at the Roebuck (great pub, great views), then walk past Star and Garter into Richmond Park or down through Richmond Meadow to the towpath. Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Jay - 14 Feb 2004 15:14 |
