The Railway Bell, Hampton

Ah well, just when you think you've found a 'local'........................

We gave up on the Railway Bell this Saturday, having planned to spend a rugby-watching day there. Lunch, as usual, was good; the staff were pleasant. The pub, however, had turned into a creche.

There were babies, toddlers and young kids, running round, playing games. And just as much of a problem - parents of young children can be pretty loud themselves...............it was the bellowing dads that made us leave in the end.

So, 6 Nations over, but still some big rugby matches to come. I need help. Please, please, find me a pub where I can watch with fellow [adult] fans - within 30mins travel of Hampton......?

22 Mar 2010 08:42

The Railway Bell, Hampton

This is our new favourite for most of the 6 Nations rugby matches. The TVs are new, & show only rugby - the landlord is a former player. It's comfy and cosy, the food is very good, & we've found the staff efficient and welcoming.

Having been in for a match, we took a chance on the St David's Day supper - superb; a genuinely Welsh menu and great fun.

I'm a Welsh rugby fan - finding friendly pubs in this area has not been easy for me, so thanks to the Railway Bell for welcoming me and my leek.........

17 Mar 2010 12:38

The Bell Inn, Hampton

Thanks for the advice, and of course it was out fault entirely for choosing such a pretentious gaff. We've given the Bell chance after chance - through its 'haute cuisine' phase [ambitious & usually disappointing], its 'wine bar/bistro' days [not too bad, but didn't last] and now it's oh-so-kooky decor and self-indulgent management; half the staff are efficient and pleasant, the rest seem to be redundant 18-30 reps. A rant? Well, I don't think so. A disappointed customer, who would otherwise have made this her local? Yep. It's all yours - whatever it is, this week. Me, I'm off to the pub..............

24 Oct 2009 15:14

The Royal Oak, Hampton

We had a very good Sunday roast the Royal Oak recently; well cooked and great value. Staff are very welcoming. I was a bit sad to see the wonderful [free] jukebox had been taken out; it was a real feature. We're going back soon, for some live music...................

11 Aug 2009 12:28

The Bell Inn, Hampton

I took two friends to the quiz last night; we had a meal [fine]. The 8pm start for the quiz was 8.50pm, and.....oh lord....it took forever! Yes, it's quirky - but for that, read 'irritating'. The attempts at 'fun' don't work if you can't read the questions with some level of comprehension! My brother was served a fruit juice and soda, with half the drink fizzed over the glass and spilled - could he have another? The answer, it seemed, was no. At 9.40pm we'd stopped caring about the quiz, ditched our papers and left. I'm sure the bar staff are, on the whole, nice enough, but I thought the quiz would be for punters' entertainment, not theirs......................

7 Aug 2009 13:55

The London road, Twickenham

This may be close to the rugby ground at Twickenham, and it may have 'rugby' in its name, but staff have never showed the slightest commitment to the game. Yesterday, a major cup final at Twickenham, with many thousands of fans including Welsh visitors, saw the "Rugby" Tavern electing to show............. the football. Oh, but they also seemed very happy to take match-goers' money before and after the game itself. Shame on you.... it'd never happen in Cardiff, Edinburgh nor Dublin.

16 Apr 2007 10:45

The Famous 3 Kings (F3K), West Kensington

If I'd had a few drinks - that is, actually managed to get served whilst watching the England v Wales rugby recently - I might have left in tears............ The manager, Richard, has claimed this is an oasis for Welsh fans. Oh really, is that why we put up with several hours of casual racism from English supporters in the pub?

Suppose we should see the funny side [you know....if you don't laugh at racist abuse, it's because you have no sense of humour]as Richard himself always claims Welsh roots - in an English shirt, singing the English anthem. This isn't the place you claim it is, Richard. You've lured the Welsh fans by claiming the pub is something is not.

13 Feb 2006 16:24