please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
First visited this pub in about 1970 and became a regular. It was then probably the best pub in the area - in the mid 70’s I think it came 2nd in the London Evening Standard pub awards. In my opinion it started to decline in the early 1990’s when the brewery decided to update it and put in a manager – the warm and friendly atmosphere never returned. I continued to visit occasionally until a couple of years ago when the service behind the bar deteriorated even further. I heard recently that the management had changed again last year so decided today to pop in for a pint – big mistake. The pub was busy but the service I received from the woman that served me was appalling. No welcome, no smile no please or thank you and my change was thrust into my hand while she spoke to another customer. I shan’t be going back – very sad to see what was once a great pub go this way.
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Scores out of 5
Beers on offer 4 - Beer quality 3 - Full pint? 4 - Service 4 - Clientele 3
Garden & view 3 - Welcome & staff 4 - Parking 5 - Toilets 3 - Comfort 4
TOTAL 37 out of 50 OVERALL RATING 36 to 40 = 8
Comment: Nice beer and a really nice pub sort of out of the way but a great place to stop if you are driving between Purley and Caterham on the Hill. (Long drive and that 3 miles can really take it out of you). Although you are really in an urban area you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. I hear (and saw) that the food is really great if that�s what you use a pub for but personally the beer does it for me.
Returnability: 4
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Sad to see Brian (the manager) go. He kept a good pint of Cask ale and a good pub. By the way, the previous comment is wrong as the person obviously doesn't know who ran the business (Brian must've been cooking in the kitchen at the time of her visit). I feel that Stonegate have done him an injustice, but who am I to tell the people that "know how to run pubs" how they conduct their business. He was very hard working and when he did get a chance to talk to the customers would usually be very funny. I understand that he was sacked due to standards, maybe stonegate should invest in the Wattenden so standards then could be improved and take an initial hit on the wages to allow any manager coming in to manage instead of cooking, cleaning, admin, ordering and anything else that Brian did to keep the Wattenden trading. All the best for the future Brian and I hope that you get employed with a company that actually cares about their employees instead of just profit!!!!!!
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The woman who 'runs' this dive of a pub is to be avoided at all costs - on a Sunday in any event. One of the attractions for us is that after an embracing walk on Kenley airfield, they serve cheese and biscuits, which fellow reviewer, you may think - "how nice, what a refreshing change, you don't get that much these days..." But buyer beware - it comes at a price. When ordering your round, especially when regarded as 'an outsider', you will get harried into, 'yes, anything else, anything else...?' as if the pub is packed, and they are rushing to serve other people, when there are in fact only 6 people in the entire place at 1205..... That, accompanied by the extras from 'Deliverance', that 'populate' the bar area in a very successful menacing way, makes this place a real charmer.
In addition, having survived the drinks order interrogation from the Harpee behind the bar, you notice the rest of the surly and untrained excessive amount of staff tucking into the patrons cheese and biscuits on the bar, and I kid you not, discussing the merits, or otherwise, of the punters they have just served!
However, I refuse to give into the old Trout, and her sub human subordinates, and keep tucking into the nibbles!
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I only went to this pub to see the woman with a giant malteaser for a head (as seen in the photo above) ... and she wasn't even there!!
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Hugely hugely dissappointed with this pub.
Treated it as a destination pub after getting off the train at Kenley and walking through the Common.
The decor and feel is very much like a poor man's Wetherspoons. How alan_From_SAWW managed to describe it as a "Country pub" is beyond me.
It must be a chain pub, as the menus where those ghastly Wetherspoonsesque things containing 2 meals for 13 pence etc.
Somehow the menu reminded me of Prize Bingo at Blackpool, but I'm not sure why.
This pub's ok if you desperately want a drink, but, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit it.
Had 1 pint anf hightailed it to the Whyteleafe Tavern ... which turned out to be even worse.
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Nice country pub set in a bit of an isolated spot. Very good value food: Sunday roasts for �4.99 and you get a big plate full. Youngs & St.Austell Tribute on, both good. Think they often have Tim. Taylors on sometimes as well.
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What a lovely pub. Stopped in here with my partner after a long country walk and we both drank the Young's ordinary - very fresh and well-kept and an incredible �2.09 a pint. Friendly staff too.
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Great value food and always a decent guest beer available. Set in the middle of nowhere, it's a little gem of a pub. Live music once a month also.
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what a nice delightful pub.nice memorabilia pics on wall.very reasonable priced beers and food.pity its a 5 mile drive for me otherwise would use it more
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As Countryboy says, good simple fare at good prices. Frendly faces behind the bar and efficient with it. I was on the Timothy Taylors Landlord and thoroughly enjoyed it. It wasn't too busy and we got a table ok. Liked the RAF/aviation memorabilia. All in all a really good pub.
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Now packed every Sunday afternoon, and with good reason. The food is great value starting at �4.99 for a main meal, nothing fancy, but good quality. The ales are well kept, the London Pride and Timothy Taylor are particularly drinkable. The families tend to start leaving around 2pm, leaving the way clear for those enjoying a leisurely pint, and the fun & games of the meat raffle! There is one barmaid who works incredibly hard, serving beer, delivering meals, cleaning tables, etc. - could possibly do with a few more staff at peak times. Still get served quickly though, so no complaints!
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This is a great little 'proper' pub, conveniently placed for local walks and with a friendly atmosphere. The food is perfectly reasonable for the bargain prices and there are plenty of beers to choose from.
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I stumbled across this little gem. They serve great real ales Youngs, London Pride & Landlord at very competitive prices (Youngs at �2.09). I didn't eat but observed meals going to table which smealt and looked very appitising and unpretentious, at very reasonable prices. There was Curry night (A curry and a drink for �4.99), a Steak night (2 steaks and bottle of wine for �11.99) and also 2 meals for �6, which I will be trying in the future. The staff are very friendly and helpful & the Wattenden seems to be run very professionally. Well Done!!!!
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My favourite pub in the area. Good ale and unpretentious food at reasonable prices.
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Nice pint of TT Landlord, bar staff friendly, prices reasonable. Worth dropping in if passing but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there for a drink.
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Nice pub staff very friendly good prices
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Awful, awful awful! My food order was missed by the barmaid so I had to eat half an hour after my family, when her mistake came to light they had run out of food, I gave an alternative order (the Landlord insisted on charging me the extra �1.90 despite their error) which also came out incorrectly. Will go to 'The Fox' (Caterham Hill) from now on if i'm after a rural pint and will recommend the same to others. The worst was the Landlord being derrogative about the barmaid - eeek! Should have addressed his issue with her directly in private, not in front of customers - embarrassing & very very poor. Shame, used to be such a lovely pub, but I guess they lack competition.
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Yes pity they allow kids in, always annoying.
It is now filthy dirty in there. They'd made the mistake of leaving the door to the upstairs open this afternoon, which was strewn with litter and fag ends and obviously not been hoovered for years. You can see into the kitchen too, and then wonder when the floor last saw a mop. So best, if you desire a long life, to pass up on the chance to sample the standard issue M&B ready meals from the sticky tables.
One saving grace - the TT Landlord was top notch.
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Some unfair reviews on this pub. I take my 2 boys, (aged 6 and 4), on Sunday afternoons after a walk on Kenley aerodrome. We always time our visit around 1215, just after opening time, because they do great cheese and biscuits on the bar, which we think is a really nice touch. If you leave it oo late, it's all gone!
The beer is good, the locals are very friendly and the boys are made to feel very welcome - still quite unusual in some pubs. They even get their own bar stool at the bar!
Haven't tried the food but the portions always look good sizes and quite appertising.
The memorabilia isn't as good as it used to be, but interesting anyway, and the whole place is steeped in history.
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I was pleasantly surprised to find this pub while on a walk. The London Pride was good, and although the menu was a standard corporate one, I ordered a baguette with tuna fish which was good and sufficient for me. The service was polite and the RAF memorabilia interesting.
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Grubby, more like a run down New Town estate pub that got left behind. Supposed WW-II memorabilia is just a few photographs etc. Food is typical cheap 'Iceland freezer' stuff badly prepared and presented. Cleanliness in the bar areas is not up to standard. Not worth a visit.
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We visited this pub due to some of the good reviews and got a bit of a shock! We were greeted with a wimpy-style menu and there was very little on offer for vegetarians so I opted for a jacket potato with beans and cheese - this was a microwaved potato with a thin chewy skin, conjealed beans and a tiny bit of cheese hidden underneath them . My partner ordered the chicken kiev which was so tough, the peas flew off his plate when he attempted to cut it! The table was so sticky that my little pot of lip balm stuck to it. Such a shame as this could be a great pub/lovely location. It would be almost impossible to make such horrible food at home so why would you pay for it when eating out?... Might be worth a visit for a few pints after a walk but take a packed lunch to eat on Kenley common.
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A proper pub, but getting slightly grubby now. The bar staff keep changing, and a bit of experience behind the bar might help. The food is also not quite what it used to be. On a positive note, the regulars have always been friendly, the beer is good, and the atmosphere is lively for what is essentially a small tucked away boozer.
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Quite a good pub, but has been better in the past. At its best on a Sunday afternoon in the summer. Food - standard.
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Visited there for Sunday lunch last week = was genuinely surprised the menu has been updated with lots of new smaller options. Tried the leek and pork sausages with onion gravy and cheesy mash. Lovely (although onions could have been cooked a little longer for my liking)
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Unpleasant White Van Man infestation the other day, blocking access to the bar, all standing in the way swearing loudly.
Menu now standard corporate, beer quality poor despite Cask Marque signs. Suspect it's changed hands recently.
I'm afraid it looks like it's going down hill.
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Oh my golly golly gosh! What a superb pub! Food was fantastic and customer service was exceptional! I was particularly impressed with the cheerful, helpful, enthusiastic, self-driven, motivated, beautiful, kind, caring, outgoing, friendly, relaxed, assertive, commercial, experienced, innovative, supportive, self-reliant, resourceful, ambitious, highly organised, passionate, undaunted by the absence of formality, confident and skillful barmaid, Nadia.
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My parents took me here for traditional Sunday lunch yesterday. Very enjoyable - friendly, attentive staff and good service and food. Surprised it wasn't busier - it certainly deserves to do well, based on yesterday's visit. Preferable to The Fox on nearby Coulsdon Common in every respect
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i liked this pub....tucked away and quite decieving for the size. Our dad is handicapped and luckily we had no problem getting table. Very airy and lovely staff - dinner was traditional pub grub, but very enjoyable. Overall a top pub which gave us all a lovely afternoon out.
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How can a pub tucked away on the way to nowhere be this successful? By being this good that's how. You don't find it as you journey along, you get lost and get lucky, or someone tells you about it, of you live locally. I don't think anyone living locally would tell you about it, it would be too precious to them. The people are friendlu, both sides of the bar. The food is good and reasonably priced. The menu is comprhensive but flexible. There is a choice of real ales. I would have rated it more than 7 but for the 'piped' music. I will be going back
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Great pub. Excellent food. No yobs. Plus a decent pint of Fullers.
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Revisited and ate Sunday Lunch - portions not large but then it doesn't blow a hole in the pocket either. Fullers and Youngs also below �2 a pint
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Were out walking on a hot summer day - were desperate and stopped in the Fox on Coulsdon Common (mistake). If only we had continued we would have eaten here instead of having a consoling pint before continuing. Good small country pub worth visiting
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Former Evening standard pub of the year, lots of RAF memorablia due to nearly Kenley airfield. Food and beer fine. Worth a visit.
Nick - 12 Jul 2004 13:27 |
