please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Dead place - which wouldn't be missed if it closed again.
Nothing to offer. Bored staff, few customers and mediocre beer.
|
Now reopened and renovated - and opens for business, at 11am.
|
Now sold to a property developer - but may reopen as a restaurant or pub. If it doesn't become a pub again, Dorking will have no pub on the High Street.
|
Now sold to a property developer - but may reopen as a restaurant or pub. If it doesn't become a pub again, Dorking will have no pub on the High Street.
|
Closed...
|
Oriental welcome, of the cold and disinterested variety.
With slow service.
Food was available at lunchtime yesterday - but nobody was eating.
|
Oriental welcome, of the cold and disinterested variety.
With slow service.
Food was available at lunchtime yesterday - but nobody was eating.
|
This has been recently redecorated and has new furniture which is geared for the sale of food rather comfort. Usual range of Greene King beers plus some seasonal specials. I found the furnishings a bit bare with flagstones in the bar and wooden flooring in the compact lounge.
|
Not a great range of beer to be had here. Kept pretty well. Food average pub grub.
Who is the new regular they have. Older chap walking sticks.. What a strange guy. He does not seem the full ticket. one to be wary off I think.
|
Limited beer range, but my one was excellent. Strange pub, feels old & traditional, but when you look at the fixtures & fittings, it clearly isn't. Piped music a no no as well.
|
Although the pub has everything needed to be a success: friendly bar staff (aside from the manager), good food, reasonable prices etc there is one thing that lets it down; the inconsistent attitude of the Manager.
It is a pity that one person, who clearly either hates his job, or should choose a job that doesn't involve public relations, can have such a damaging impact on the pubs atmosphere.
Although I could not class this pub as my local (I use the pub only when I am in the area on business) I find it such a pity that as a customer, I have been rudely spoken to by the manager - who is relatively new (a year or so in the position) and have witnessed the bar staff being spoken to in appalling ways by the 'manager' too.
Having said that on the whole the pub is a very nice place, good value for money and worth a visit- just try and make sure you go when it's the managers night off.
|
Went to the Dorking Halls for an evening concert and found this pub as a place to get a pre-concert meal. Drink wise I stuck with Coke as I was driving, but the range of beers appeared to be very good. This included my normal pre-meal tipple: Aspels cider. I chose the gammon double egg and chips for the meal which was very good and considering it was only £4:99 was excellent value for money. If I ever re-visit the Dorking Halls, I would certainly use this pub again.
|
This place can't decide what it is, young person place, county set place, foof place, beer place or just plain confused.
|
As long as Iris (300 years old and a ponce) ain't in its great
|
Been here a couple of times - standard town centre chain pub. Cheap food two for one offers early week specials, that kind of thing, cheapish (for the area) beer and not a great deal more. The banner in the photo above says it all really. If you want a nice traditional pub, this isn't it
but sadly, more often that not, its what you end up getting.
|
HOW NOT TO RUN A PUB:
Came in here with a mate last night for a quiet pint and a chat. The whole front bar was empty, about 5 people at the back. Sat down with our pints and realised that in addition to the piped music the TV was on. No-one in front part of pub, so turned it off so we could concentrate - trying to have a conversation whilst have both music and TV forced on you is a struggle. Few minutes later the manager comes out and makes a big point of turning the TV back on. "Actually we'd just turned that off", i say - "we were trying to have a chat."
"Well i want it on, other people might want to watch it too"/ I glance around
"But we're the only ones in here and you another near the bar for you to watch"
"Doesn't matter. It's my pub and what i say goes. I want it on".
"But it's distracting, there's already music on. We came here for a pint and a chat".
"Not interested. I want it on. It's my pub etc."
So, not only do you lose our custom for the evening, but we will also NEVER come back. Nice one.
It's depressing the lengths some people go to, to make themselves feel important. You want to take your glasses back, say "You're not very good at this are you", and leave. But there's no point. The ignorant idiot with small-man syndrome is oblivious. Thanks for being a complete textbook arse and ruining our evening.
|
Nice enough.
|
OK with plenty of screens in the pub and good value food. Nothing special but certainly not bad either. Does have the GK listed theme ales on tap (Back of the Net when visted during the world cup).
|
More of a chain pub than anything. Cheaper than most pubs in Dorking and has plenty of screens for the sport. Id say this is aimed at the younger generation
|
Does Speckled hen- tho waited 20 minutes for two pints- therefore in my estimation of this pub
|
First visit. Nothing interesting to say about the regular GK beer range. As it was the begining of what promised to be a long day stuck to the IPA. Am I just cannot get on with TEA. Friendly enough service but the music got too loud too early. Good food reasonably priced. Worth a second visit.
|
The landlord of this pub is the most miserable bastard I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! He also owns a grubby pub in Redhill.... never go there either!
|
tried this place on saturday evening with a couple of friends. whilst it was cold outside it was stiflingly hot inside, i appreciate it keeps people warm and encourages them to drink more but i felt that it was too over the top. on the other hand however, i did have a reasonable pint before venturing elsewhere.
not a bad experience but the stairs are very steep and more than once i saw people nearly topple down them!! banister needs putting back i think.
|
I ahve followed the progress (if that's the right word) of the Surrey Yeoman with interest - I remember it when it was owned by Friary Meux.
I find the pub, at the moment, pretty good and the staff helpful and polite; which has not always been the case in recent years.
It would be good if Greene King would allow the occasional guest beer and if they could spare a little of their not inconsiderable income on a bit of paint here and there.
For a town centre pub this is not at all bad and if you haven't been there it's worth a visit.
|
I was familiar with this pub under its Hogshead guise, and for all its faults there was no questioning the quality and diversity of its cask ale range. Furthermore, the pub attracted a broad mix of punters and was never short on liveliness.
As we all know the Hogshead concept died a death when Whitbread sold the chain to Laurel who infamously re-branded it as "Hog's Head", thereby completely missing the point, and in most outlets reduced the beer variety to a shadow of its former self.
Spool forward to 2008 and in the case of the Surrey Yeoman, it has at least regained its former nomenclature. It also remains a vibrant pub which manages to combine a traditional face with a modern heart.
However, contrary to what is claimed below, my last visit found the ale range to be entirely Greene King (and the various brands it has swallowed up pver the years, i.e. Hardys & Hansons Olde Trip, Morlan Olde Speckled hen, Ruddles County etc), which I'm afraid to any serious ale quaffer does not bode particularly well, especially to those of us more used to a more innovative selection of beers, which this pub unquestionably used to offer.
I can only conclude that this is yet another house that has fallen to the clutches of GK, and whilst they are not quite the devil incarnate that some ale aficionados make out, they are not known for offering any choice beyond their own portfolio and as I a drinker who isn't especially fond of their range and the dumbed-down versions of former classics, I fear the Yeoman won't be the magnet is once was for the moder adventurous beer lover.
That said, if youre first priority in a pub isn't the ale selection, this place shouldn't be written off as it still retains much to commend it.
|
Great pub feel, with good selection of Real Ales, ciders and wine. Hogsback TEA!Had something to eat. Pleasantly surprised. Quick service and meal deal was good value. Staff friendly and attentive. Big improvement than my last visit in March. Keep it.
|
Nothing special about this pub. The decor is tired and in areas just dirty. The drinks are expensive for the town and when I ordered scampi and chips it arrived 20 minutes later - despite it being a quiet evening - and with only 12 chips! Yes the food's cheap but it's not a place for a 'pleasent' meal.
Very blokey/teenagery feel.
AShep - 18 Apr 2008 13:56 |
There's been a recent downturn in the quality of service and management due to inevitable staff turnover.
A friend of mine was recently accused of not paying for his drink about 60 seconds after handing his cash over and recieving his change from another staff member.
Gets very crowded on friday and saturday nights and the music is cranked up.
The regular demographic would be 20-30 somethings from around the dorking area I would say.
|
It's a lads pub for being loud and ladish and now they are starved of nicotine they don't know what to do with all that energy � except jostle to the bar and drink loads of fizzy pop beer. The ladets can sup on a Bacardi Breezer of various colours but all to one effect � and I won't go there, shame but true. As an old git I go there sometimes but only sometimes if it's convenient but on balance your better going home to kick the cat or watch some telly.
|
Full of kids, can feel quite threatening
anonymous - 18 Oct 2007 14:19 |
Oh dear what a let down. Been in twice both times on a Saturday and found the beer to be awful on both visits.Bar tenders have no idea of what they are serving and how it should taste and look. Abbot Ale served warm on first occasion and tasted like vinegar. Second time Abbot was off but IPA served cloudy and when I pointed this out I was told that he had no ides hoe it should look.
Barra - 21 Feb 2007 12:40 |
Rubbish staff.
If the manager would invest in some decent barmen, this pub would be the place to be.
leo_1 - 31 Jul 2006 02:26 |
Has a ratio of about 6 blokes to 1 bird so if being leched over or menacingly stared at is your bag - knock yourself out here (or wait for someone else to)!
anonymous - 7 Feb 2006 14:07 |
Probably my favourite in town, although the stella can taste a bit funny at times. The staff actually smile and appear to enjoying themselves!
|
Much better after the refurb, but i guess they still lack quality staff
|
only good on tuesdays on quiz night, otherwise a complete sausage fest, with no where to sit, keep the garden open past 10,00
|
Ah yes, old Jim. A nice pub, the quiz on a Tuesday is good - be careful though, they can be very strict: A friend of mine almost lost a point for putting "Kyoto" instead of "Kyoto Treaty" down for one of his answers. Quite a close shave there.
I agree with the previous visitor though - it is always important to have enough sofas to share round.
anonymous - 1 Jun 2005 12:17 |
Alas, not the Yeoman of old. I miss Jim the barman. Wonder what the new interior scheme will bring? Sofas are the way forward in pubs, but only if there are enough to share round. Dorking is blessed with its pubs - I only hope some character can be re-develop at the Yeoman so that my father's ghost can continue to play the fruit machine in the traditional pub atmosphere he always enjoyed. Oh, and please keep the noise down in the garden � my relies live next door.
|
Closed for refurbishment at the moment! Will be known as the Surrey Yeoman once again and the pub will be run by Greene King. Sadly, the decor is going to be revamped (ie. 'new' colour scheme!), the comfortable seats are going to be replaced with the settees and the lighting is going to be much, much brighter! So, much for progress - hopefully I will be proved wrong!! And I hope, it will not like every other stereotypical pub within a 25 mile radius (ie. London)
Claire - 10 Nov 2004 09:45 |
Not sure if I have been visiting the same pub as the people above but I found this pub to have a good atmosphere with freindly staff. The decor is tied but can be overlooked du to the warm welcome that was given to us. Good range of real ales that are of a high standard. 8/10
paul - 6 Oct 2004 13:27 |
gone down hill since it changed hands from surrey omen , still i suppose its ok in the afternoon , or your 18 at night ,
old dorkinian - 31 Aug 2004 17:55 |
I saw a massive scrap in here tonight dont go here ladies blood everywhere! Check out some other local joints!
Peter - 21 Aug 2004 01:11 |
Full of obnoxious teenagers! Yes, believe it or not, there are people under the age of 70, in this town. Pity, their converation is non-existent. Cannot wait to get back to the wine bars of Chelsea. The kids think they are really hard by mixing all there drinks -- SAD!
Ms. Sloane Square - 28 Jun 2004 11:12 |
Nice pub - good atmosphere! Sadly, the beer (Hook Norton, TEA, Bass etc.) is very hit and miss. Food is very average and in the last couple of months, the menu has become more and more limited. By the way, what happened to the non-smoking section??? They don't even bother putting on the smoke extractor fans anymore -- it must be the cost of putting them on!
Dan - 5 Apr 2004 13:12 |
For once I agree with Matt Le Ross, it does have a lot of character. Had to wait far too long for my grub though. Overall 6/10.
gge - 26 Mar 2004 11:31 |
Good food and a OK atmosphere. Not a bad little pub...
monty - 28 Nov 2003 16:24 |
One of the nicer Hogs Head I have been in as it actually seems like it has its own character...
Matt Le Ross - 21 Jul 2003 10:30 |
Not bad during the week. This place comes alive on Fridays and Saturdays. Then it is standing room only and you have to fight you way to the bar. Good ales - Hook Norton, Hogs Back Tea. Can get very smoky as the ceilings are very low and the smoke extractors don't work!!
Chris - 5 May 2003 18:23 |
