BITE user comments - Trev
Comments by Trev
Made up to look like a brewery tap room but it isn't. Only one cask ale on, Adnams, and more expensive than any other local pub. Appears to be trying to appeal to a young (and non-beer drinking!) clientele.
5 Mar 2022 14:16
Lovely old character pub in the historic town centre, surprisingly quiet on a Friday. Choice of four ales - nothing particularly unusual but all very acceptable.
5 Mar 2022 14:13
What more could you ask for in a pub? Pleased to get there after the long haul up the hill from the train station. Three cask ales on - all of them unusual and interesting. Samples on offer to help you choose. Friendly landlord who even unselfishly informed us about other pubs we might try in the vicinity! And as we left he gave us each a free bottle of the local brew! Never known such exceptional treatment anywhere else.
5 Mar 2022 14:09
Very friendly welcome. Helped us to find a table. Popular both lunchtime and in the evening which isn't surprising as there's an interesting selection of unusual ales on draft.
5 Feb 2022 13:09
The Barrowboy and Banker, London Bridge
The ground floor of this pub was so packed we found ourselves asking "pandemic? what pandemic?" Anyway, good selection of beers and we found plenty of comfortable seating upstairs.
17 Jan 2022 12:59
Surprisingly empty - but very friendly - on a Friday afternoon. Nice to have a good selection of tables to sit at, just a shame the beer selection is somewhat limited and uninteresting.
17 Jan 2022 12:57
Good selection of beers - on hand pumps and listed on the wall. Unfortunately very few inside tables so we ended up sitting outside - in January! A bit chilly if you can't get a seat under a heater, so we just had one round (which we enjoyed) then moved on.
17 Jan 2022 12:55
Had an enjoyable pint here and good quality food (they offer a range of burgers and pizzas). The tables are all a bit cramped as though they've tried to fit too many in, but enjoyed our visit nonetheless.
17 Jan 2022 12:51
A good enough pub with a nice selection of ales. A bit busy, but we managed to find a comfortable corner and enjoyed our visit.
12 Dec 2021 13:40
This is a strange place - it's so big, with lots of back rooms, but hardly anyone in it on a Friday lunchtime. The beer was fine, and excellent lunches promptly served.
12 Dec 2021 13:38
Choice of ales constantly changing whilst we were there - but always two interesting ones on. Delicious food reasonably priced - and a great selection of regulars and specials. Outside area is a bit soulless, mainly because it's on the opposite side from the canal so no great view. Use of smartphone app was encouraged; luckily we had someone in our party willing to mess about with it but this could have been a problem otherwise.
15 Aug 2021 17:59
Handy for station. Only one McMullens beer - and that was a gassy keg one. Three hand pumps all out of use. Food menu looked boring - mainly burgers. Cash not accepted. But friendly enough.
15 Aug 2021 17:55
Fuggles Beer Cafe, Tunbridge Wells
It's a long steep haul up the hill to get here from the station, but a good selection of ales awaits you when you arrive. And a list provides you with tasting notes for them all. Some tables are booked so you may be given a limited time for your visit. They also take all your details for COVID purposes.
3 Jul 2021 14:16
The Ragged Trousers, Tunbridge Wells
Such a friendly welcome when we popped in here for lunch without having booked - and great banter throughout. They found us a really nice table in a cool corner on a hot day. Delicious food reasonably priced, and a good selection of ales with details provided.
3 Jul 2021 14:11
Very handy for station. Friendly and easy-going welcome. Great selection of beers. "Kitchen closed" sign when we were there - I don't know why.
3 Jul 2021 14:07
Revisiting this pub with Covid restrictions now in place, I must say the pub has adapted well. A bit of a delay getting in and tracking/tracing, but once inside we received very friendly and attentive service from a barmaid who had memorized full details of each of the 5 real ales on tap. I was sufficiently impressed that I've upped my previous rating for this pub.
3 Oct 2020 16:22
The Oakford Social Club, Reading
This is a pub (despite its name) and is conveniently right opposite the train station. I was very impressed by how well they've taken Covid rules on board without spoiling the pub-going experience. A friendly welcome at the door, very frequent checks by bar staff as to whether you want to order anything at your table, a good range of beers clearly outlined, and a delicious food menu reasonably priced.
3 Oct 2020 16:17
Very well organised for social distancing etc. Tables allocated inside or outside according to numbers. Good selection of real ales and delicious thin crust pizzas. Very clean and smart toilets - upstairs - and a surprisingly large number of them. An excellent place to visit during current restrictions.
5 Sep 2020 12:08
The outside furniture still hasn't been unbolted, (perhaps that proved too difficult,) but it has now been cordoned off while signs state that it's not to be used under any circumstances.
23 May 2020 15:33
How wonderful to find a very traditional boozer, with a nice ambiance, a good and interesting selection of ales, and delicious food quickly served, all at a reasonable price, in an area teeming with tourists. Excellent.
6 Mar 2020 19:47
The Swan Inn and Lodge, Claygate
Despite now being a Tapas bar this pub still has two hand-pumps, and the most interesting ales of any pub in Claygate: one Breakspear and one local beer. Definitely worth the 10 minute walk from the station for beer lovers.
7 Feb 2020 20:03
Youngs pub with standard Youngs beers and nothing else. Very handy for Claygate station.
7 Feb 2020 20:01
Uninteresting selection of 3 ales on offer, but served with a smile, and the bar tender even came and cleaned down our table without being asked. Definitely worth a visit as part of a village pub crawl.
7 Feb 2020 20:00
Quaint traditional village pub. 4 ales on offer - not very exciting but certainly acceptable - and excellent food, with our order taken at the table even though we'd have been happy to order at the bar.
7 Feb 2020 19:57
The Rose and Crown, Thorpe Green
Popped in here on spec after finding the Rose & Olive Branch surprisingly closed and up for sale. Very impressed by the warm welcome, the vast range of food and how delicious it tasted, and their own beer called "Rose & Crown" available in addition to TT Landlord. All very satisfactory, but my only concern is that most of the pub comprises tables laid up for formal dining behind a sign saying wait here to be seated; although they claim to welcome 'walk-ins' they don't have many tables suitable for such.
8 Jan 2020 18:21
The Rose and Olive Branch, Virginia Water
This pub is currently closed and up for sale at an asking price of £600,000. See https://search.savills.com/property-detail/d0e5980d-bed9-438e-83b8-5fe8fd1a4d4c
8 Jan 2020 18:16
Now the Black Dog. Incredible range of ales, ciders and perries with good cooked food too. The word has obviously got around because this was busy when nearby pubs were empty - but not too busy, plenty of tables inside and out. Everything's still new and in great condition. Highly recommended.
3 Jan 2020 20:38
I must have walked by this quaint place many times without noticing it. Friendly staff; a couple of ales; extensive food menu very reasonably priced - but hardly any customers when we visited.
3 Jan 2020 20:35
Lovely little pub with friendly, helpful and honest service. (They told us when we'd accidentally dropped some money!) Good choice of beers and some delicious meals that we all enjoyed whichever item we selected. Desserts also offered - but not tried.
8 Dec 2019 14:38
The William Web Ellis, Twickenham
Large Wetherspoon, handy for Twickenham station. A few standard ales and a couple of more interesting ones. Very cheap - and after applying the Camra discount less than half the prices elsewhere!
8 Dec 2019 14:34
Excellent meeting-up place near station with interesting selection of ales and friendly, welcoming service.
8 Dec 2019 14:32
The Windsor Castle, Carshalton
Worth a bit of a trek from the other pubs we were visiting (and worth trying to cross the really busy junction outside that has no pedestrian crossings!) to enjoy a good selection of beers here as well as delicious, and very reasonably priced, lunches. Recommended!
3 Nov 2019 16:05
The Railway Tavern, Carshalton
Lovely little very friendly traditional pub close-ish to the station (though on the 'wrong' side as it were). 3 real ales available.
3 Nov 2019 16:01
Worth a slight trek off our route to find this pub with its traditional features and old beams. Good selection of ales. Good (80s/90s) music but slightly too loud.
7 Sep 2019 11:23
Nice old pub that welcomes dogs but bars children! The inside is rather dark, but we enjoyed our beer and some very tasty (if slightly pretentious) lunches.
7 Sep 2019 11:20
Old pub offering 3 or 4 ales. Some sections were 'reserved', and one of the beers we tried tasted 'off' (though in fairness it was replaced without question), but still probably worth a visit as it's in an attractive part of the city.
7 Sep 2019 11:17
Quaint traditional pub with 3 or 4 real ales and friendly service. Very handy for City station.
7 Sep 2019 11:13
Attractive pub in a pretty village near the famous castle. Large car park. Range of local beers. Extensive menu includes light meals but also full meals, sometimes with a choice of portion sizes. Food is delicious, generous and good value; but we found the bar service a little slow given that there were so few customers in.
21 Jul 2019 15:54
A bit of a trek to find this olde worlde character pub a few streets away from the busiest part of Lewes. Not a tremendous selection of beers, and all a bit cluttered inside (there are plenty of tables outside), but worth a visit. Pizzas advertised but not tried.
7 Jul 2019 09:10
Couldn't understand why we were virtually the only people in this pub on a Friday lunchtime. Near the station, beautifully refurbished such that even the loos are clean and decent, an impressive selection of ales for a Greene King pub, and delicious meals cooked to order. Well I guess if no-one else wants to go there, that's their loss.
7 Jul 2019 09:07
One of the better Nicholsons'. Far enough from Borough Market to be quiet even when other pubs in the area are busy. A few real ales on draft, great selection of food dishes that tasted delicious and weren't too expensive, and tables available inside and out. Very impressed.
31 May 2019 21:26
Four draft ales - all from the same brewer - very pleasant. But the bar area is very small, so it's hard to get a seat, and the facilities are very basic (literally graffiti all over the walls) except for the gents' which is as big as the pub itself!
31 May 2019 21:23
Good selection of ales, but this place is SO noisy on a Friday night (because of the low ceiling and the lack of any upholstery to absorb the sounds) that I couldn't stay here for very long.
31 May 2019 21:18
Definitely a pub for locals (in a quiet residential street) rather than a city centre pub. But friendly service. Only one beer on, but a good one. Dodgy gents toilet in the back yard and no signs to help you find it! Very convenient for Reading West station.
3 May 2019 20:25
Very quiet (we were the only people in!) but an amazing selection of beers - all of them unusual. And they know all about their beers and can talk you through them. Definitely a place for the connoisseur.
3 May 2019 20:22
As Wetherspoons go, a good one. Very busy - but quick service, and a good range of ales all cheaply priced.
3 May 2019 20:18
Youngs pub with only Ordinary, Special and Proper Job available. Food seen but not tried. In a boring location on a main street.
5 Apr 2019 20:15
Nice very friendly pub that, although a Youngs, has two or three unusual guest ales on as well as the regulars. Pleasant conservatory overlooking the river, though much of the surrounding area looks like a building site. Excellent selection of tasty meals, generous portions but expensive.
5 Apr 2019 20:13
The Alma Tavern, Wandsworth Town
Pleasant, friendly pub right opposite the entrance to Wandsworth Town tube station. 3 pumps: Youngs Ordinary & Special and Proper Job available.
5 Apr 2019 20:11
I was sent here from the White Horse, that's currently closed looking for a new leaseholder. It turned out to be a great recommendation. 4 real ales, 3 of them from the north. Extensive food menu - especially in the evening when traditional Australian dishes are available. (Yes really!) And not only are the staff friendly, but so are the regular customers.
13 Mar 2019 14:43
The White Horse, Jackson Bridge
Currently CLOSED :-( A sign says the lease is available, and I'd have thought someone would want it because it gets such a lot of trade from Last of the Summer Wine fans. I was allowed to go in and look around - which was very kind - but they're not serving. They're directing punters to the nearby Red Lion.
13 Mar 2019 14:39
The Head of Steam, Huddersfield
Large pub right next door to the station. Lots of separate rooms - it's quite a warren - but at least it means you'll find a table somewhere! You have to hunt around a bit to find out which rooms have serving bars in them, but once you find the right one there's attentive service and 8-10 real ales. The food we ordered took a very long time coming, but was delicious when it arrived.
13 Mar 2019 14:27
Excellent! We came here because we'd have had to queue next door (Cosy Club) to be shown to a table. This was a lovely traditional pub with a selection of Badger beers and an excellent food menu. The food took a while, because it was freshly cooked to order, but was well worth the wait.
1 Mar 2019 19:49
Very pleasant traditional-looking pub in historic location. 3 real ales, any of which I would have enjoyed, in good condition. Excellent service - bringing the beers to our table because there'd been a slight delay. Food menu looked good too, though not tried - maybe next time!
1 Mar 2019 19:45
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
Next door to another pub but this is a bit of a 'specialty' pub. No cask ales on draft as such, but a huge range of bottled beers available from a fridge. They're all on the strong side, and although a 'menu' of beers is offered it doesn't quite match what's in the fridge. Snacks available but no meals spotted.
1 Feb 2019 20:21
Nice old-fashioned pub near Greenwich station and next door to another pub! Youngs beers plus one guest.
1 Feb 2019 20:18
2 or 3 good (though strongish) ales. Delicious (though not cheap) food. Friendly service in well maintained pub, not far from Greenwich station.
1 Feb 2019 20:16
Worth a visit. A few interesting ales and a nice traditional pub 'feel'. Handy for the station.
5 Jan 2019 17:15
The Bishop On The Bridge, Winchester
London Pride available, plus three strong beers all 5.0+. Not very traditional inside, but the outside bit overlooking the stream must be pleasant in good weather.
5 Jan 2019 17:13
Nothing to recommend this if you want beer, as there were no cask real ales on at all! Mainly a place for family dining (all the tables are already laid up for that) and lager drinking.
5 Jan 2019 17:10
Right opposite the White Horse but this pub has a more pleasant traditional character. Some interesting beers and an extensive menu for food though not tried.
7 Dec 2018 19:43
Smallish selection of ales but good friendly service. The food menu, also, was limited - but again served in a friendly manner and reasonable value for money for the area.
7 Dec 2018 19:41
The Inn on The Hill, Haslemere
Now The Station House. Very handy for station, as the name implies, though crossing the road here is very difficult as there are no pedestrian crossings. Small selection of ales (just 2), as the place seems more geared up to dining; and we were assured a third ale would be available after 2 hours but it wasn't. Bit difficult to find a seat for just drinking at, again because of the emphasis on dining.
7 Dec 2018 19:38
Very close to Piries bar if you're doing a pub crawl. This pub was deserted when the nearby ones were full, perhaps because it has little character. But there's a bar billiards table if that's your thing.
3 Aug 2018 19:42
Surprising find, tucked down a small alleyway. Only a couple of ales, but made up for with very friendly service and a wonderful olde worlde character building that just has to be seen.
3 Aug 2018 19:40
3 fairly ubiquitous ales plus a couple of less common ones. Good selection of food, very tasty and good service. Very warm on a warm day, and awkward sized tables for small groups, but definitely worth a visit en route between town centre and station.
3 Aug 2018 19:37
Wheat Sheaf Public House, Farnham
Had a beer here whilst passing through. The back half of the pub was all geared up to diners ("please wait to be allocated a table") even though they all quickly disappeared, but the beers (Red Mist) were OK.
6 Jul 2018 18:36
No idea why this website says the pub is 1.5 miles from Farnham train station, because it's actually right next door! Very convenient location, 3 very acceptable real ales, a wide selection of meals (mainly burgers) reasonably priced, and attentive service. Excellent.
6 Jul 2018 18:32
Small pub with 3 or 4 draft beers, TV, and a food menu (untried), conveniently located half way between Caversham center and Reading station (north exit).
2 Jun 2018 15:11
Excellent pub for eating or for drinking. Easy to find, as the rear of the pub is visible from the Thames. First impression on entering is that this is a restaurant as all the tables seem to be laid for eating (and several courses at that!) but the friendly, welcoming and flexible staff will actually let you sit anywhere within reason and introduce you to their range of beers and their extensive food menus - which we tried, and which were very good indeed.
2 Jun 2018 15:09
The Prince of Wales, Caversham
Friendly - though rather scruffy looking - local pub serving two Brakspears ales and a few others. Bit of an uphill climb to reach it though!
2 Jun 2018 15:05
Good range of draft beers, and an exceptionally wide range of bottled beers. Several outdoor drinking areas - in and out of the sun - and a reasonably short and easy walk from the new northern exit to Reading station.
2 Jun 2018 15:04
Friendly pub with entrances onto two different streets. A few steps to negotiate, and uninteresting decor, but a good selection of ales - changing even whilst we were there. Food menu spotted but not tried.
8 May 2018 10:41
Harveys brewery tap in a Harveys town. No surprise as to whose beers are on sale (!) but it's not the usual Harveys range, and it's ever changing. Most tables seem laid up for formal dining though when we were there no-one was doing so!
6 Apr 2018 22:20
Rather cramped and scruffy pub but in a nice part of Lewes, near the river, and with a very interesting selection of ales.
6 Apr 2018 22:18
Well situated pub in the high street of this picturesque town. The front part of the pub is very traditional looking, but the back part looks like an add-on. Excellent selection and quality of food, very reasonably priced. Selection of real ales too.
6 Apr 2018 22:16
Very friendly pub handy for the station (literally at the top of the station ramp) with several interesting ales.
6 Apr 2018 22:12
Right next to the station - you can literally leave the pub five minutes before your train goes and still catch it OK! Vast range of ales but the best thing is the service: while one person's pouring your drinks three more will ask if you're being served! The only really odd thing about this pub is that from the front entrance you go through a small lounge with comfy seats before you get to the main part.
6 Mar 2018 17:04
Now the LONDON STONE. Quiet during the day, very friendly landlord and excellent range of beers. We intended having one round here and ended up having three! Looks like it may become noisy and disco-like later at night, but a great beer drinkers' pub during the day. Pizza advertised but not tried.
4 Feb 2018 18:34
Friendly pub overlooking the river and just far enough from town centre to avoid the crowds. Small selection of Fullers beers.
4 Feb 2018 18:30
Great little pub out of the centre. Friendly, good beer (Youngs) and very enjoyable food chosen from an extensive menu and reasonably priced.
4 Feb 2018 18:27
Best pub in the area since so many former ones closed. Very interesting and wide selection of ales. Great food menu, too, and we all enjoyed what we had. Friendly and accommodating welcome without being over-the-top.
2 Sep 2017 09:51
Prince of Wales, Hampton Court
Acceptable pub with a couple of (not very exciting) real ales. Best feature is the pleasant back garden. Best pub in the area, though, is the Mute Swan.
2 Sep 2017 09:49
Nice olde worlde pub near Hampton Court station. Friendly, quiet - and it''s an Ember Inn which means reliable food and cheap pints, though not a particularly varied selection of the latter.
2 Sep 2017 09:46
Excellent. Massive selection of ales, ciders and pear ciders on all the time. But it so happened there were even more ales upstairs because there was a beer festival on when we visited :-)
4 Aug 2017 19:39
Now called the Duchess of Cambridge. Handy for both train stations. 3 ales on. We were immediately asked if we'd booked and if we wanted to eat, but when we said no and no there wasn't a problem and we were allowed to sit and enjoy a few pints.
4 Aug 2017 19:36
Good range of ales and excellent food. Given the location right opposite the castle this place was surprisingly quiet on a day when there were lots of tourists around - perhaps this isn't their kind of place but it certainly was ours!
4 Aug 2017 19:33
The Phoenix Inn / Morgans Bar, Inverness
Recommended to me by a guy who'd remembered it from 20/30 years ago! And what a great recommendation. Central bar serving 6 real ales - three of them from Scotland including Red Skye and Spey Valley Sunshine on Keith. Good food too - I had a delicious Mac&Cheese. Friendly service. This is definitely the place to go - just a block or two away from the train station - if you're a real ale fan, and surprisingly quiet at lunch times.
14 Jul 2017 09:32
Conveniently placed pub/eatery/accommodation right opposite the Cathedral. There are plenty of pubs in this area, and this one is more expensive than most and sometimes quite full, but the beers are good and the food menu (though untried) looks good too.
2 Jun 2017 19:49
Nice looking traditional pub with a range of real ales. Back yard looks a bit boring and smoky, but there's a pleasant inside area with large screen TVs (on silent) showing sports, and a good view over the Guildhall. Though named for King Alfred there are lots of other 'Alfie' pictures around the bar, e.g. Alfie Boe and Alf Garnett.
2 Jun 2017 19:45
Permanently closed, it would seem :-( Lights all out and doors front and back all locked half way through the time they were supposed to be open. Can't be a temporary closure because no-one has put up a board or even a scribbled note explaining the closure or saying they'll reopen. A shame, as it was a nice traditional pub.
1 Jun 2017 19:57
Now called "The Bowling Green". Excellent range of ales and food - very cheap if you buy two meals together and also very reasonably priced roast Sunday lunches. Plenty of seats even before a match, welcoming home and away fans. Drinks and (especially) food absolutely delicious. The only downside: it can be a long wait for the food - and an even longer wait for cutlery to eat it with before it gets cold!
22 May 2017 11:40
The Greyhound, Whitchurch on Thames
Wonderful old traditional pub with new landlord, friendly welcome, good selection of ales and good selection of very tasty cooked bar meals. Far and away the best pub on a 'crawl' of Whitchurch & Pangbourne.
5 May 2017 20:28
The Ferryboat Inn, Whitchurch on Thames
Posh expensive food options on board. Only two ales (Doombar and Landlord). But a friendly welcome.
5 May 2017 20:25
The Elephant Hotel, Pangbourne
Lovely historical hotel/pub in town centre. Good range of food (not tried) and ales. Been there for 100s of years.
5 May 2017 20:23
The Elephant Hotel, Pangbourne
Lovely historical hotel/pub in town centre. Good range of food (not tried) and ales. Been there for 100s of years.
5 May 2017 20:23
Handy pub near station. Lovely setting on the river. Quick to offer you a table on the assumption that you're eating, but they'll accept drinkers too. 3 Windsor & Eton ales plus a guest.
5 May 2017 20:21
The Fishermans Cottage, Reading
Surprisingly quite on a Friday lunchtime. Amazing food - paellas, etc. - reasonably priced. Nice riverside location.
7 Apr 2017 20:20
Narrow frontage - long bar reaching to back of premises. Friendly staff. Good range of ales.
7 Apr 2017 20:17
Old fashioned town centre pub close to station and with a range of real ales. Quite a scruffy place though - and the loos are disgusting!
7 Apr 2017 20:14
Near station. No food yet - though new menu promised in near future. Comfy soft sofas and quite busy despite lack of food.
7 Apr 2017 20:12
Looking good after refurb. Good range of ales (mostly Fuller/Gale but a couple of guests). Seating inside and out. Train departure screen within pub.
7 Apr 2017 20:10
This place doesn't really know what it's trying to be. Laid out like a cafe, staff waiting to sit you at a table and serve you food, but just one real ale on draft - pub? cafe? restaurant? The food was good though and the staff were friendly enough.
3 Feb 2017 19:45
Excellent (though unassuming) place to sit and sample a few quality beers whilst your nearest and dearest goes shopping.
3 Feb 2017 19:43
Nice olde worlde character pub that, despite being fairly local to me, I'd never visited before. I like it. Good range of ales and - although I didn't try them - a nice selection of meals all reasonably priced.
6 Jan 2017 18:13
Typically good Wetherspoons with cheaply priced food and drinks and friendly service. 10 minutes from train station. Surprisingly quiet before a Premier League football match. I wasn't feeling well enough to fully enjoy the food and drink, but it looked good, and hopefully I can enjoy it on my next visit.
1 Jan 2017 14:47
The White Horse, Parsons Green
I was impressed that though the pub was very busy they served me quickly. Good range of ales (I had Dark Star Pale) and, whilst mine was being fetched by one bar tender, no fewer than three others asked if I was being served. I also ordered a fish & chips that came very quickly despite the crowd. An expensive pub (£4.50 for a pint, £14 for fish & chips) but very well run.
27 Dec 2016 11:05
Traditional pub in a downtown part of Southampton, strong on the 'Titanic' theme. It attracts its own crowd of 'locals' - but they're all friendly/chatty to visitors. 2 ales - one being Titanic of course - and karaoke if you want it (but easily avoided if you don't). The refurbishment has helped, but isn't quite finished yet.
6 Dec 2016 08:52
Central location on main town square. Friendly staff, a few ales to choose from, but somewhat cluttered in terms of chairs/tables.
2 Dec 2016 19:22
Handy for station (5 minutes). One pub area, with 5 ales on, and an almost separate dining area, that I didn't try.
2 Dec 2016 19:20
Shillibeers Brasserie Bar, Holloway
Excellent character pub in an old bus garage, handy for Arsenal FC and just 5 minutes from Caledonian Road tube. So good we visited it twice! Can't help but wonder how they manage to provide such delicious food, a good range of beers, and friendly service, yet remain so quiet. I guess they're a little off the beaten track, and must make most of their money from functions.
28 Nov 2016 17:50
Really quaint looking traditional pub inside and out, friendly staff, wide and interesting selection of ales, just 5 minutes from station.
4 Nov 2016 19:31
Broad Street Tavern, Wokingham
Large pub, surprisingly quiet on a Friday lunchtime. Excellent attentive service, good selection of interesting meals and of Wadworth's ales. Well worth a visit.
4 Nov 2016 19:29
Quaint pub. A good selection of ales but no cooked food and poor quality toilets. 10-15 minutes' walk from station.
4 Nov 2016 19:26
Despite other people's dire warnings, I rather liked this place. Every member of staff was friendly and welcoming. They found me a table when there didn't appear to be any free ones (which itself is a good recommendation). There were three ales on, of varying strengths, and the seasonal one I had was very pleasant - as was the fish & chips. I'll be back.
2 Nov 2016 18:54
I accept that this is a friendly pub, and the beer's good (which is what this website is all about) but must warn everyone that there are now no cooked main meals at lunchtimes, not even toasted sandwiches anymore. Just cold sandwiches or jacket potatoes, nothing else. Shame, as I used to enjoy coming here for a pint and a cooked meal after a walk.
2 Nov 2016 18:51
Nice traditional pub on the Green. Handy for station (less than ten minutes' walk). Surprised that, though a Greene King pub, it had three decent non-GK cask ales on.
2 Sep 2016 18:06
Spoilt for choice in this part of Dorking where there are four pubs close together. But with other town pubs being Fullers, Youngs or Greene King this one - with a range of Shepherd Neame ales - seemed to have the edge. It's a wonderful old character building with wonky furniture and sloping floors, inside and out; well worth a visit.
5 Aug 2016 21:38
Good selection of beers including a guest from Castle Rock. Pleasant location overlooking the river (inside and out) and close to Kew Bridge train station.
1 Jul 2016 19:20
Helpful, friendly pub willing to take a large booking at short notice when another pub let us down. Excellent food, four real ales of varying strengths, friendly service for both food and drinks. Poor quality TV picture; and some dodgy background music away from the TV; but otherwise a great pub.
30 Jun 2016 22:54
The least interesting pub on an Egham 'crawl'. Short walk from station, right in the middle of the pedestrianised town centre, short and boring food menu, and a selection of mainly run-of-the-mill ales. Sport on all the TVs, and very poor quality toilets.
6 May 2016 18:49
Looks like a gastro-pub from outside, but 5 or 6 ales on (1 or 2 of which are interesting), good food, and plenty of tables/seats - inside and outside - even on a Friday lunchtime. Worth a visit.
6 May 2016 18:46
Egham United Services Club, Egham
Technically a private club but CAMRA members and their guests are welcome. Handy for station. Great selection of 5 or 6 interesting ales with friendly service. Not much by way of food, and a somewhat bland 'club' ambience, but you won't find nicer, cleaner, loos anywhere!
6 May 2016 18:43
Fairly boring selection of ales (three of them), but in good condition. Hardly anywhere to sit inside, but several outside tables. No food, but you're welcome to order a takeaway from elsewhere. The friendly barmaid and convenience for the station makes this historic pub a good place to meet up at, before moving on elsewhere.
6 May 2016 18:40
Friendly pub. Good range of beers. Nice back garden (in the summer) with view of the cathedral. Good value food because the portions are quite large.
8 Apr 2016 19:41
The Fox and Hounds, Carshalton
A little disappointed with this compared with other pubs in Carshalton. Not much character: mainly just 'dining' tables and chairs. Four real ales: two from Scotland and two from Cornwall. There's nothing wrong with this pub, but it's nothing to write home about either.
6 Feb 2016 19:41
Good selection of beers, many of them local, available at a pub that also has a good food menu. Just beware that not all the tables are suitable for eating at: some are low tables with sofas. But the staff are attentive and the standards are high.
6 Feb 2016 19:38
Great little pub just round the corner form Carshalton station. Continually changing selection of local beers plus some from other parts of the country. The pumps are round the end of the bar, but a handy list is chalked up by the entrance. There's also a hire-able room out the back.
6 Feb 2016 19:35
Closed? I don't think so! Open today, handy for the station, quite busy, serving more triple-f ales than we knew existed.
15 Jan 2016 19:14
Traditional-style pub slightly off the main road (actually opposite the church) and surprisingly with a railway theme even though it's nowhere near the station! A few beers to choose from, and plenty of seats. All-male clientele.
15 Jan 2016 19:12
Nice traditional pub - so traditional that it's frequented by several dogs, and the loos are outside! But a good selection of ales, and excellent food reasonably priced, so we stayed for a second round...
15 Jan 2016 19:09
Yeah I know this is a beer website not a food one, but I thought I'd mention that yet again there's no food here at all. 'Staff shortages' apparently - but they don't tell you that till you've walked past all the signs advertising food, chosen what you want from the menus on the tables, and gone to the bar to order. Then they tell you! Poor show.
21 Dec 2015 16:00
Spacious pub on the site of (apparently) a former bank. Good selection of ales and food (both individual dishes and shareable ones). Long walk to the loos!
4 Dec 2015 20:10
Pub looks slightly run down but what do you expect when it's in the middle of, effectively, a building site?! Ok for one beer before moving on to the next pub...
4 Dec 2015 20:02
Fullers pub. Had a beer here (two 'heavy' /strong ales plus London Pride on offer, so not a great selection) and a meal. Meal was very acceptable and service was good. Popular pub despite being off the beaten track.
4 Dec 2015 19:59
Traditional pub near East Croydon station. Good range of ales.
4 Dec 2015 19:56
Lovely little traditional pub tucked down a side street. I've no idea what it's like when busy, but when quiet you can relax in a sofa by the fire and it's a wonderful atmosphere. Massive choice of ales - spread over two bars. And an amusing selection of historical Private Eye covers in the gents'! Easy walk from Clapham Junction station.
7 Nov 2015 10:46
Wonderful friendly pub. The landlord chatted and even stayed on beyond his normal finishing time (2 PM) to continue doing so. Great range of ales, well kept.
8 Aug 2015 10:28
Amazing selection not only of draft ales but also of bottles from all over Europe. Wonderful food too (and not expensive) - mainly pies. Delicious. The food service is a bit slow, requiring you to order an extra round of drinks, but maybe that's the intention?!
8 Aug 2015 10:24
The King Charles Tavern, Newbury
Handy for station, very friendly, surprisingly quiet at lunchtime, good selection of beers.
8 Aug 2015 10:20
There are at least three Fullers pubs on the main street through Dorking but this is the best. Very traditional with (surprise, surprise) a cricket theme. A few nice beers, free sandwiches if you're lucky, but beware the steep steps to the back garden!
4 Jul 2015 11:59
Cosy it isn't. Just a place where you can stand, or sit on high stools, and sample an amazing range of beers - mostly strong ones! Definitely a place for the serious beer-lover.
4 Jul 2015 11:57
Friendly, welcoming, pleasant inside and out on a warm day, good choice of Dark Star and other beers and ciders, good range of hot food too. Great pub.
4 Jul 2015 11:54
The Willoughby Arms, Kingston Upon Thames
Tucked away on a back street but not far from the train station. A good find. Nice garden and very friendly dog that likes to play. The barman was friendly too - specifically coming out to the garden to let us know when a beer came back on.
27 Jun 2015 12:33
The Canbury Arms, Kingston Upon Thames
Went here for lunch. Good drinks, even better food. Almost everything's expensive but surprisingly there are just a few dishes for a fiver on the board so it there's something you fancy there you're on to a winner.
27 Jun 2015 12:30
Traditional character pub with interesting and unusual bric-a-brac on display. Doombar, Landlord and Otter as regular ales plus three guests. Varied food menu with mammoth portions. Friendly welcome too. Just a bit tricky parking on the busy road outside.
10 Jun 2015 18:55
Fair comment, zagreb, but Beer In The Evening seems to have established itself as the best website to find out about pubs in general. For the record, the drinks at the Five Bells are what they always were, but the food selection had changed, so I thought I'd mention it in case anyone was interested.
18 May 2015 13:43
Excellent food, friendly service, a couple of ales. But is this a pub? Not really - it's a restaurant with mainly families/children amongst the clientele and an expectation of service at the table (and the accompanied tipping) rather than at the bar.
4 May 2015 11:01
Surprisingly attractive inside; better than you'd expect. (A former bank premises.) Very handy for station (right next door) and meals looked good though not tried.
17 Apr 2015 19:54
Excellent. Wonderful range of beers and surprisingly varied selection of cooked meals too. Slightly high prices but still definitely worth a visit.
17 Apr 2015 19:51
Very handy for station (5 minutes away from the platforms); welcoming to away footy fans; reasonably quick service. But a bit too busy at times and not many ales to choose from.
15 Apr 2015 14:34
Brouge, Bistro and Belgian Beer Cellar, Richmond Upon Thames
Now called THE PIG'S EARS. Claims to be a great beer cellar but, when we went, there were only three listed and only two of them were on - neither of which was remarkable. Adding the fact that the place was absolutely deserted (no customers except ourselves) obviously others shared our opinion! Don't bother...
13 Mar 2015 19:13
A victim of its own success in that there are no free tables inside at lunchtime! But mid-afternoon it's reasonably quiet, and the food's still on. The staff are friendly and ask almost TOO often whether you're happy with the food! Standard Youngs beers but no guests.
13 Mar 2015 19:03
Now called THE RAILWAY TAVERN. Very handy for station. Good selection of ales and food. Extremely friendly service. We intended one round but ended up staying for two!
13 Mar 2015 18:58
All change again! In the last few years they've gone through (1) bought-in food that's over-microwaved (2) an excellent laminated traditional food menu (3) no food at all and sending everyone to the Golden Cross (4) Thai meals - but they didn't last very long at all! Now it's a more traditional menu again, including burgers, steaks, curries and pizzas. Very tasty, and very friendly service, ... but I wonder how long it'll last this time!
5 Mar 2015 08:56
Very disappointed that this was so full last Sunday lunchtime that there was nowhere to sit and eat lunch - so I abandoned this pub and went elsewhere (the George Abbot). On a warmer day, sitting outside would have been an option.
5 Mar 2015 08:52
Went in here when the Britannia was too full to find a seat at a Sunday lunchtime. In fairness this was pretty packed too, but staff were extremely helpful in finding a couple of tables away from the TVs where sport was on. As a result: a quiet corner, delicious food, friendly and pleasant service, and a fabulous range of 'Plain' Ales from Salisbury Plain - much better selection than you'd expect in a Greene King pub. Excellent - and on a quieter day it would be even better.
5 Mar 2015 08:49
Quite a trek out from the town centre but a good range of beers and surprisingly quiet (perhaps BECAUSE it was so far out) on a Friday lunchtime.
6 Feb 2015 20:27
Don't know how you'd categorise this place. A restaurant but with several real ales on. Great pies (and puds!) and service; almost too many choices! Good value for money.
6 Feb 2015 20:23
Last pub in a crawl. Handy for the town centre, and a couple of ales on, but nothing special.
6 Feb 2015 20:21
Despite the buildings around it being knocked down, The Corn Stores is still there! Very handy for the station (like, directly opposite). Good range of ales. And extremely friendly, conversational, welcoming staff.
6 Feb 2015 20:19
Went here because the New Inn was full.
This looks attractive from the outside, though the signs are all about special nights rather than daily food, so it's hard to tell whether they're currently serving (or even open) until you've parked up. Which is another problem: no pub car park; you have to feed a parking meter to use the spaces outside the nearby parade of shops; while there are faded yellow lines around Ham Common so it's hard to tell if parking's allowed there or not.
Once in the pub it looks a bit scruffy, with lots of posters about evening events, and there was only one crowd in but they were rather rowdy. Also, the only real ales are Pride and Doombar. But on the positive side: friendly service, good background music, the beer tasted fine, and the food was surprisingly good value for money.
I'd go again - if the New Inn's full again!
5 Feb 2015 11:53
Was looking forward to a lunchtime meal and a pint here yesterday, but it was FULL. Every table either occupied, or marked as reserved. That's good for the management, I guess, but resulted in me having to go to the much less salubrious Hand & Flower :-(
5 Feb 2015 11:44
Friendly welcome - literally as we walked in the door. Good ale, reasonably priced. Warm open fire, very pleasant on a cold winter's night.
22 Jan 2015 23:38
The Horse and Groom, Streatham
Not closed!! Very welcoming (not just one, but all the staff). Only two real ales on, but good ones and very cheaply priced for London. Good food too, served with a smile. And quiet but comfortable. What's not to like?
22 Jan 2015 23:35
The Prince of Wales, Twickenham
Great pub surprisingly close to The Rifleman and also, conveniently, to Strawberry Hill station. Friendly staff who know their beers and of course are also knowledgeable about other local pubs - but without being over-competitive. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy one or more of the selection of (3) real ales on offer. Gents' toilet is under-lit when there's no natural light through the windows; not sure why!
2 Jan 2015 20:31
Very friendly pub (everyone from manager to bar staff) and so welcoming that they had a fire already lit even though no-one was in there. It's wonderful to see that a traditional pub like this, in a quiet residential road, is still going strong and popular in the evenings. Twickenham beers (of course!) and others.
2 Jan 2015 20:26
Friendly pub with very, very impressive range of ales (local and from far away) and ciders on hand-pumps. Wide range of hot food options including their famous pies which are to die for! The toilets aren't great, but the main whinge would be that there are lots of small round tables and high stools but nothing that's ideal for eating at!
2 Jan 2015 20:22
The Prince Blucher, Twickenham
Good pub with nice range of ales. Popular, but plenty of places to sit if you include the restaurant. Loos at the top of a flight of stairs - so be warned! Bar staff very friendly, and informed us when the beer we wanted was back on. Food-serving staff so disinterested that we abandoned our plans to eat here and moved on elsewhere!
2 Jan 2015 20:18
Nice centrally placed pub, surprisingly quiet at midday. Coal fire, choice of free newspapers (though all right-wing!), good selection of beers, food not tried. Staff very friendly and pleasant but knew nothing about the beers when asked!
2 Jan 2015 20:14
The Prince William Henry, Southwark
My first visit in nearly ten years, and I was seriously impressed. It's just off the beaten track so there were seats here even when other nearby Southwark pubs were crammed with Christmas party-goers. Some wonderful meals - with generous portions - all under a tenner and available till 9 PM. Quick, friendly and efficient bar service. Two hand pumps - Youngs Special and Winter Warmer - on (curiously, no Ordinary).
11 Dec 2014 10:04
An acceptable pub with Fullers beers - but a bit scruffy inside, the only table we could find being in the pool room. Hard to fault this pub but when there are places like the Nelson and the Lamb in Farnham it has very stiff competition.
5 Dec 2014 19:10
Amazing pub with loads of history. Friendly staff who chat and converse as much as you want to; they even try and find you a table when you turn up without notice. Good selection of beers and of food, and the food was of the highest quality. They said "See you again" as we left - and indeed they will!
5 Dec 2014 19:07
Right next door to the station, so very convenient for commuters. Friendly staff and a couple of interesting Surrey/Hants beers on.
5 Dec 2014 19:03
An OK pub but there are more characteristic pubs, with a wider range of ranges, nearby - e.g. the Lamb.
5 Dec 2014 18:58
Quaint old pub, in an even quainter street that's now been restored to its former glory since becoming a cul-de-sac. Handy for the station, friendly personal service, and good range of Shepherd Neame ales.
5 Dec 2014 18:55
On the plus side it's v close to Clapham Junction station with a vast range of ales, tasty food and friendly service. On the minus side it's a victim of its own success: v busy & noisy and it can take a long time to get served (though the staff are all doing their best). The worst thing, that they really need to sort out, is that about 3 out of 4 items on the food menu are unavailable but they don't tell you which ones till after you've ordered!
13 Nov 2014 08:59
Excellent. We'd tried The Crown, to watch the televised football, but their TV's now been moved outside! So we came here to find three large TV screens, choice of viewing, helpful staff providing what you want, and an amazing real ale plus food deal for only £5.99 - where the food can be curry or a 12 inch pizza!
1 Nov 2014 20:51
Came here to watch the match, as we'd done before, but the one and only TV's now been moved outside (yes, literally!) - into the smoking area out the back. So we went to the Prince Regent instead.
1 Nov 2014 20:47
This was our last port of call on a pub crawl so I can't claim to remember it all that well! But I know there was a large round table suitable for accommodating five or six people together, and there was an interesting range of ales.
14 Sep 2014 16:25
Packed out - partly because there's nowhere to drink outside - but deservedly so. The pub's in good condition, even (especially) the loos, and there are plenty of ales to choose from - some at each end of the bar.
6 Sep 2014 16:22
Quiet on a Friday lunchtime, so we ate here. God range of meals, served quickly and efficiently, and a good slection of ales too.
6 Sep 2014 16:11
Far From the Madding Crowd, Oxford
Surprisingly quiet on a Friday lunchtime, but then there are a lot of other pubs close by. Very attentive and friendly staff and a good range of beers.
6 Sep 2014 16:08
Typical Wetherspoons. Huge, inside & outside drinking, 8 or more real ales on. Right opposite the station.
1 Aug 2014 18:57
Takes some finding - as it's tucked away behind a church! This probably explains why it was quiet even on a Friday afternoon. Good selection of ales and of hot food - even if the food was served on a trendy slate rather than a proper plate!
1 Aug 2014 18:53
Lovely historic pub with great character. Several interesting ales on, both local and from further away. Unfortunately none of the tables suit groups of more than four persons.
1 Aug 2014 18:51
The Town Hall Tavern, Chertsey
Now called the Thyme At The Tavern. Looks more like a wine bar or restaurant than a pub from the street, but actually has everything you could want in a pub. Good selection of ales and of pub meals, all very reasonably priced. Very friendly welcome. And apparently a beer festival from time to time - definitely worth coming back for.
6 Jun 2014 19:11
The Coach and Horses, Chertsey
Lovely traditional pub in every respect - even the old lanterns and flower baskets hanging outside. The list of 'events' makes you laugh, e.g. a day trip to Brighton, just like the 'jolly boys' outings in Only Fools And Horses! All the advantages of a locals' pub (old guys sitting on every bar stool and no-one at the tables) but none of the disadvantages, i.e. everyone's friendly.
6 Jun 2014 19:08
Golden Cross Heathrow, Colnbrook
Redirected here from The Five Bells which is temporarily not serving food. I must say the food here is excellent - and very reasonably priced - even if there was a slight delay (which they apologised for) because they dropped my meal first time round and had to cook me a second one! My quibbles are firstly that most of the time I was here there was no-one manning the bar at all, because most of the staff were sitting in the garden enjoying the sun. And secondly the barman recommended Wherry bitter from Norfolk and offered me a sample; I liked it and ordered one, only then discovering that it's £5 a pint!
14 May 2014 19:31
Currently no food available but they're redirecting people to the Golden Cross, which is run by the same people anyway.
14 May 2014 19:25
Amazing place. Never seen such generous food portions. Good selection of ales. And each room is cluttered with interesting bric-a-brac, books, etc. which you could spend ages just looking at. Well worth the scenic walk out from the city centre to visit this pub.
3 May 2014 09:00
Nice character inn in a central location. You can sit inside or out. Good ales too. Worth a visit.
3 May 2014 08:56
This is now Ogilvy - a Stonegate pub. Not unlike Wetherspoon / Ember etc in that it has cheaply priced real ales and a comprehensive laminated menu. Good value at present because it hasn't really caught on yet so it tends to be quiet. I hope Stonegate manage to make a go of it.
12 Mar 2014 18:51
Fewer real ales than most Ember inns but still a reasonable selection and the usual Camra discount. Full Ember Inn menu available despite the place being deserted in the afternoon. A real country feeling to this place despite being only 5 minutes' walk from Woking town centre.
12 Mar 2014 18:47
Clearly not a place that specialises in real ales, but two on - and good attentive service. Nice looking menu too. Worth a visit lunchtimes, but probably a bit rough at night.
12 Mar 2014 18:45
Unfriendly. Barman just talked to someone else while serving, and wasn't interested in 'strangers' at all. Only one beer (Doombar), no food, and the place is a bit scruffy. Not worth walking out of Farnborough/Cove just for this.
3 Jan 2014 18:15
The Thatched Cottage, Farnborough
Got strange looks as we (strangers) walked in. But clean, and comfortable, and with 3 ales on, and (apparently - though untested) an all-day menu of food reasonably priced.
3 Jan 2014 18:05
Variable. Very friendly on one visit; a bit indifferent on the next. TV's a bit intrusive and beer expensive for Farnborough. But two Caledonian beers on, and in good condition.
3 Jan 2014 18:04
Amazing. Just one member of staff on, but she cooked hot meals, served them with a smile, and 'manned' the bar too. All in a pub which has a wonderful traditional ambience, is only 5 minutes' walk from the station, and where real ales are just - wait for it - £2.50 a pint! Everything a pub should be....
3 Jan 2014 18:01
Good range of Harvey's beers, but the place was a bit congested and - despite a large crowd of fans before a football match - couldn't manage to put on any food at all. "It's the chef's day off." Why on earth couldn't he/she have made a few sandwiches the day before and put them in the fridge? Poor show.
3 Jan 2014 17:58
Not a conventional pub by any means, no pub atmosphere. But a central location, good range of beers from their own microbrewery, fast and efficient service, and wonderful (though not cheap) food - e.g. the Teriyaki chicken and cashew nut stir-fry that I enjoyed immensely.
11 Dec 2013 11:03
The Central Bar, Shepherds Bush
All the good things about a Wetherspoons: extensive menu cheaply priced, wide range of beers also cheaply priced. (I had an excellent real ale called Stiff Upper Lip and it was only about £2.30 a pint!) The staff are friendly and efficient too, and this pub is very easy to find - just come out of Shepherd's Bush station, look around, and you can spot it. Excellent venue if you're in the area.
4 Dec 2013 11:33
So handy for the station that we we went there twice - on our arrival in Winchester and again on our departure! A couple of real ales - and seats if you're lucky.
9 Nov 2013 10:55
Looking unpromising outside on the old Guildford Road, this place is actually huge. Loads of different rooms/corners to sit in, plus outside drinking at both the front and the rear. Eight real ales and a comprehensive (Ember Inns) menu. As it's only 5-10 minutes' walk from the station, this is an excellent alternative to the town centre (which is on the other side of the railway line) especially on busy evenings.
29 Aug 2013 10:25
This pub has clearly seen better times and is a bit run-down. The (inevitable!) railway theme is well done, and the staff are friendly, but this isn't a serious ale place. When we went, there was only Doombar and one guest that they couldn't identify - "try reading what's on the cask" we suggested - the bar staff admitting they knew nothing about real ales at all. And the kitchen curiously closes at 7:15 PM.
29 Aug 2013 10:21
Large pub that copes pretty well with being effectively the only serious beer establishment in the town centre. Huge inside and out (though you must use plastic glasses to drink outside) and the size of the toilets has to be seen to be believed. Usual Wetherspoons range of ales and food options, some sharable.
29 Aug 2013 10:17
One of the better Wetherspoons. Very friendly and genuine welcome from staff, excellent quality and quantity of food - and with the 'meal deals' that include a drink it's hard to understand how they achieve it at the price. Why go anywhere else?
29 Aug 2013 10:06
The King William IV, Mickleham
A number of improvements have been made since my previous review. Food is now served more hours of the day, and more days of the week. There are more real ales on, they're in better condition, and the staff are more willing to engage in conversation with the customers. I'd loved the pub anyway - but think it's even better now.
12 Jul 2013 09:23
Looks a lot better since recent refurb. Also, more of the tables are now a suitable height for eating at, and food is available all afternoon.
6 May 2013 16:38
I can't comment on the experience for groups of diners, alecstewart, but I popped in on my own for a beer and a one course cooked meal in the bar area, and that was certainly very acceptable. Friendly service too.
6 May 2013 16:34
Nice pub running through from one street to another, reasonable choice of real ales all listed on a blackboard with their strength & price, apparently good hot food (though I didn't try it), friendly staff, very handy for 'north' station. I'll certainly go again if I get the chance.
29 Mar 2013 20:13
My first visit to Crawley and I loved the mix of old and new. This pub has great character (old beams) and very friendly, prompt service. You can get anything from a basket of sausage and chips to a full-blown three course meal, throughout the bar, as well as an interesting selection of real ales.
11 Oct 2012 17:18
Well organised on a match day - OK no real ale, but quick service and light snacks, and the best thing was just how close it is to Oxford United's stadium!
11 Oct 2012 17:15
Nice trad pub tucked away in a sidestreet. Barman couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming (even offered tasters of the beers); and the delicious hot snacks also served with a smile, from another room. The place was packed, and seats hard to find after a while, but you can see why.
19 Aug 2012 18:40
Glad to be able to return. I found the car park beautifully resurfaced (at last); extended food hours (now to 10pm rather than 3pm in the week); better furniture than before (in the bar area) in terms of height for eating at; and now 5 cask beers rather than 3. The food's still expensive of course, and fewer main course options than before, but hey it's early days and I think the improvements outnumber the drawbacks.
25 Apr 2012 20:47
Friendly pub with an excellent range of ales. Popular before the football (it's very handy for the ground) but deservedly so. No food evenings.
29 Mar 2012 09:04
I've never used it as a 'restaurant', and I don't live in the village, but the Percy was handy for for a pint and a South African dish in the bar area after a country walk - and I shall certainly be back to try it again.
22 Mar 2012 15:40
Can't agree with "amous" because I had a great meal off the Specials menu at the Alex just last night. The front bar was, as always, packed to capacity and the bar itself hard to reach. But in the back bar there were plenty of tables, more than enough staff to serve you, and quite personalised service when - at quieter times - they came round the tables taking orders. And the food, prepared and cooked on the premises, was imho delicious.
22 Mar 2012 15:35
First impressions aren't great because the pub looks in need of a tidy up outside and in; and 'summer' food hours were on display all winter because no-one got round to changing them. But the friendly welcome can't be faulted, nor the three cask ales, nor the extensive menu. And what amazing food! For example, the home-made fish pie comes with three hot veg, a huge dressed salad, and garlic bread. Enough food on the plate to serve a whole family, and all for �6.99!
7 Mar 2012 19:19
Open all day; with 5 or 6 ales, a friendly welcome, and cheaper prices than the city. Worth the walk or bus ride to get here. Unfortunately there are no 'cosy corners' because the furniture seems to be chosen to suit diners (and in large groups). Food wasn't tried - but a good looking, varied menu.
3 Mar 2012 13:20
The Anchor and Hope, Salisbury
There are a lot of pubs close together in this part of Salisbury. This one's a bit scruffy, but friendly enough with a good range of ales.
3 Mar 2012 13:16
One ale (Ringwood Best) - acceptable - and an all-you-can-eat Filipino buffet for �7.50. Worth a visit, especially if you're hungry and everywhere else is packed.
3 Mar 2012 13:13
The Globe Coaching Inn, Andover
They're now calling themselves The Victoria Cross rather than The Globe. Went in on an otherwise busy night in the run up to Christmas, and this was the only central pub in Andover that was deserted: just a group of friends of the barmaid standing at the bar chatting to her. Only one beer on: GK IPA, but served with a smile, and very cheaply priced, so no complaints. The furniture is entirely high chairs and stools that you have to climb up onto, with high tables. No low tables except the one opposite the bar that was covered with the barmaid's friends' coats.
22 Dec 2011 10:56
After 20 visits to The Star over the years (which shows how good it was once upon a time) I've switched my allegiance to The Shy Horse. Here the car park's neatly surfaced and the whole outside is landscaped (The Star, with its muddy car park, is a disgrace). Here there are plenty of tables to choose from (at The Star you have to perch on a high bar stool if you haven't "booked"). Here the staff are polite (at The Star they're indifferent). Here the inside is very clean (on my last visit to The Star my stool was covered with crumbs and my table soaked with beer). The Shy Horse is cheaper too. It isn't perfect - but it's got my custom.
30 Nov 2011 14:39
Signs outside this pub, proclaim that food's available 6am to 10pm, six days a week. So I go in at 2:30 for lunch and am told by the smiley guy behind the bar (who tries to deal with me whilst simultaneously holding another conversation on his mobile phone!) that there's no food because the signs apply only to summer months and they haven't got round to changing the signs yet. Today's date: 24th November!!
24 Nov 2011 20:20
Handy for the footy. Free on-street parking all round. Friendly staff. Harvey's Sussex (excellent), Brakspears and one guest ale. Home cooked hot meals very tasty and reasonably priced. Not particularly busy either, but maybe it will be now I've written this!
19 Nov 2011 20:06
Once I'd gotten over the unusual entrance (more like a garden patio - but maybe there's a 'front door' on the other side?), and the fact that the inside is half 'club' (i.e. very open) and half 'pub' (trad d�cor with knick-knacks), I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike so many other Basingstoke pubs, they did at least have a cask ale on (only spotted the one, Courage Best, but it was very pleasant). And the place was friendly and comfortable. So I'm sure I'll pop in again.
4 Nov 2011 22:55
Having written two complimentary reviews about this pub (20/12/06 and 17/11/08) I'm sorry to say that, despite smart new signage, this has gone way downhill. First the car park, despite the recent dry hot spell, is very muddy. Also, on a Wednesday lunchtime there were no tables to eat at unless you'd booked. �15 is expensive for a meal eaten perched on a bar stool, especially when the stool's covered with crumbs from a previous customer and the bar's soaked with beer. (Made the mistake of putting my newspaper down, and it made it illegible). The friendly staff I'd encountered before have been replaced with unhelpful ones who ignore you for as long as they can. And the ultimate irony is, the party who'd 'booked' two-thirds of the pub (for the owners to allow such a large booking suggests greed on their part) still hadn't arrived by the time I left, so I could have had a table after all. I've eaten here 22 times, but I'll try the Shy Horse next time I'm in the area.
5 Oct 2011 19:21
The Old Manor Inn, Walton on Thames
Didn't see any food, but four ales - not the most exciting ones but well kept and more cheaply priced than at nearby establishments. This is quite a small place, and both crowded and noisy when there's music on, but at least it's a proper traditional pub.
1 Oct 2011 21:08
This is so much better than the pretentious Swan next door. Both have expensive food, but at least in the Anglers it's worth it. The cask beers are a lot more interesting too - and always changing. Oh, and the staff are friendly. The only thing that needs fixing is the leaky roof in the gents' toilet.
1 Oct 2011 21:03
The King William IV, Mickleham
sfocata - The lunchtime food actually ends at 2pm Tuesday to Saturday! I wish it was a tad later as I always go there after a 10 mile walk, so I have to keep going to be there in time. But I guess it shows just how good the beer and food is, that I continue to make the effort.
26 Sep 2011 14:47
No food at all now. "The chef left", apparently. Doesn't sound like they're trying very hard to find another though.
7 Sep 2011 19:41
Great find, hidden away down a residential street within 10 mins walk of station. Amazing selection of real ales. Very little decor but what there is, is trad English pub. Highly recommended.
5 Aug 2011 23:23
Boathouse Bar and Brasserie, Salisbury
Back in business with Greene King IPA and Speckled Hen both available and tasting good. No pub food yet except for (presumably bought in) cakes during the day. Handy location by the canal and close to the main car park used by tourists.
5 Aug 2011 23:18
Great place where both the staff and the locals are friendly. TV sport on - which you can watch or not as you wish, but the picture is excellent quality. Youngs beers typically priced for the area, food served till late, and easy parking on the street most nights.
19 May 2011 12:04
Fairly basic pub that looks like it's geared to the big screen sports / pools table / disco / karaoke market. If that's not your scene, still worth a visit early on because the beer's only �2.40 a pint :-)
6 May 2011 22:15
Unusual pub literally built over a canal with a boat moored underneath. One half of the pub has loud music, the other half's quiet, so everyone should be happy. Food all day ranging from blow-out meals to light snacks, so again something for everyone. Castle Rock beers - but smaller choice than at the Vat. Friendly and helpful staff. Downside? The gents' toilet is up several steep flights of stairs; not sure how people cope when they've had a few!!
17 Apr 2011 11:46
Very much a traditional old-style coaching inn that was once upon a time on the main Guildford/Woking to Windsor/Staines route. It looks like a character pub inside and out, it's conveniently located between the train station and town centre, and the staff are welcoming. I was surprised how quiet it was on a Friday night, but enjoyed my pint of Courage Best.
3 Apr 2011 14:40
Very much a gastro pub with waitress service - even for your drinks - but unquestionably excellent value. The two course lunch for �10.50 (not Sundays) includes some excellent options and everything's tasty. The location is good too (virtually opposite the Bridge House, in Longham) and there's a large accessible car park.
3 Apr 2011 14:35
Sweet little place. Everything you'd expect in a traditional pub - even the landlord who doesn't know when to stop talking as he's got so many stories to tell! Seriously though, plenty of different corners in which to sit, an excellent range of ales, and a good selection of unpretentious meals all of which could be described as 'pub classics'.
11 Mar 2011 14:30
Now known as QUDOS. Much improved. Tastily decorated. Choice of high or low tables to suit everyone. Good selection of ales - and wines.
11 Mar 2011 14:27
There are so few pubs in Banstead these days. The Surrey Yeoman and the Sheepshearers, both shown on the Ordnance Survey maps, seem to be no more. The Olive Tree is a tapas bar with a banner about booking early for Christmas (in February?!!) and in any case warning signs that if you park your car here you'll be shot, or something. So I wonder why the Woolpack wasn't busier on a Friday lunchtime? Especially as you get: a very friendly welcome, a selection of five interesting cask beers, and an amazing menu. The meal I had was delicious - and they even apologised for the slight delay (and it really wasn't that long) while they cooked it. I'll be back.
25 Feb 2011 22:31
Went on a match day, excellent adaptability I must say. Some pubs keep fans in colours out, but this one lets everyone in. Some have no food on match days, or struggle to provide a full menu, but this one does a limited menu of 4 items. Very sensible. Plastic 'glasses', food in cardboard boxes, no cutlery - 10 out of 10 for adapting to the situation and keeping everyone happy. Friendly staff and good range of real ales. I must go back on a 'normal' day...
31 Jan 2011 12:08
Great pub. Much more cosy inside than the redbrick exterior would suggest. Surprisingly quiet on a Friday night. Good Young's beer and I fancy trying the Thai food next time - it looked good as people on the next table were eating it.
28 Jan 2011 19:27
Unfortunate that a place which looks like a traditional old fashioned pub, hasn't got a single real ale on hand pull. (Whereas the Royal George, that looks so 20th century and featureless from the outside, has.) I go to pubs for the beer so this one's no use to me.
28 Jan 2011 19:12
Food prices have gone up sharply. The Young's steak & ale pie has gone from under a tenner before the VAT rise, to �11.20 after!
28 Jan 2011 19:06
If it still is, StoutChappie, you may need to clear your cache! I'm not getting this one.
28 Jan 2011 19:05
Surprisingly quiet for a town centre pub - but maybe that's because the drinking area is divided into sections so you can keep yourself to yourself. (Actually, if other clients are much like the uncouth builder I encountered in the gents, that's probably all for the best!) A nice pint of Hobgoblin and then I moved on, so I didn't get to try the food - but the menu looked pretty extensive.
24 Dec 2010 15:22
You nearly always get a good range of reasonably priced food and drink at a Wetherspoons, and this one is no exception. Add the friendly staff and this is a very acceptable pub indeed.
20 Nov 2010 19:13
The Great Western Hotel, Basingstoke
With the Queens Arms being in the station forecourt it's easy to miss the fact that this pub is equally close to the BACK entrance of the station (just across the car park). A bit drab looking, and only one real ale (Spitfire), but at least there's always plenty of space in here, everyone's friendly, and there's a wonderful curry house literally inside the pub, which we couldn't fault at all.
9 Nov 2010 19:32
Dead quiet when I went but a friendly barmaid, good service, excellent food, three real ales. Food and drink very reasonably priced. And a good base for walking the Blackwater Valley. Recommended.
4 Nov 2010 18:35
Surprisingly deserted on a week-night, so no atmosphere. But a friendly welcome, and ESB + Pride available.
3 Nov 2010 00:29
Super pub, actually the nearest one to Preston Park station. Lots of room inside and out (front and back). Lively staff and friendly customers. Good range of beers and of pizzas available at all times (warning: they can only cook one at a time!). Go there if you get the chance.
9 Oct 2010 23:52
Right there on the corner, as you exit the station, welcoming you in. And what a welcome it is - friendly and helpful staff, selection of warm pasties to eat, good choice of beers (and my Harvey's Sussex was in particularly good condition), and surprisingly plenty of seats too.
3 Oct 2010 10:35
There are two great pubs within a block of each other, close to St Denys station. The competition obviously keeps the standards up, as both are great. This one has a wide selection of ales (don't be put off by the Greene King designation) and quality hot food served quickly and cheerfully, for an amazingly low price. Despite some tables being marked "reserved" when we visited (not sure why), everyone found a seat and had a good time here.
3 Oct 2010 10:29
This pub appears on this website twice, but it's the same place! Good base for walking, large car park, lots of choices of where to eat inside depending on your preference, immaculate toilets. There are six good real ales (three per bar - so you need to look around) and there's an extensive menu. Food's a bit expensive for the amount you get, but the quality can't be faulted. I'll be back to try something else.
27 Sep 2010 14:38
Thanks mim, some good points made. But you weren't so much 'correcting' my post as 'updating' it - since more than three years have passed in between!
25 Sep 2010 11:07
I was sent here from the Greyhound because the Greyhound inexplicably had no food at a Wednesday lunchtime and didn't explain why not. Despite a completely full car park, there were plenty of empty tables inside (where were all the car owners?) and I enjoyed a good value meal with a nice pint of Broadside. Attentive and friendly staff, one of which was especially cute!
22 Sep 2010 18:51
As good a Wetherspoons as I've found. There are some real dives not far from here, yet this place remains rather pleasant. (I saw them refuse to serve a guy who was singing loudly and trying to jump the queue. Full marks to them. That's what keeps this pub decent.) The large number of staff work efficiently and cope well with big crowds. Food, as so often in Wetherspoons, is cheaply priced for quite large portions; don't know how they do it. Loads of real ales on; the Deuchars IPA was very potable and under �2 a pint!!
11 Aug 2010 14:02
What a gem, hidden down a side road near much noisier pubs! We came here when the Market Porter excluded us for wearing football colours. Here, football was showing on big screens (silently, so you could ignore it if not interested); six excellent real ales were on tap; food had apparently been available earlier in the day; it was pleasantly uncrowded as the evening wore on; staff were very friendly indeed; and parts of the pub had evidently been recently repainted. In future we'll come straight here and ignore the Porter altogether.
7 Aug 2010 22:57
The Plume of Feathers, Greenwich
Smallish range of real ales, at least one of which tasted slightly dodgy; rather pretentious food menu (�8 for a burger!); and slightly slow service. The food quality was fine, and the garden was very pleasant to sit in, but on a winter's day when everyone's inside I'd imagine this pub could get rather too crowded.
7 Aug 2010 22:49
'Only' Abbott available as far as real ales are concerned, and both bars seem more 'public' than 'private', but this place can't be faulted for its friendly welcome and helpful staff. Well worth a visit when in Whitchurch.
22 Jun 2010 18:57
Scruffy place, noisy, very young clientele who all appear pretty drunk; you're probably best advised to drink outside. Having said that, the one real ale (served direct from the barrel) is very acceptable and you couldn't be handier for the station - so maybe a good place for that last half before jumping on your train!
15 May 2010 20:01
The Coopers Tavern, Burton-Upon-Trent
You'll love it if you love real ale, and hate it otherwise. Very congested, furniture was badly organised and cramped, loos were outside with no 'sit-down' loo available at all(!), large hot dogs were the only cooked food available. But the other side of the coin was a fantastic range of real ales, ciders and perries available (though they didn't match the published list) and reasonably priced. Handy for the station.
25 Apr 2010 00:02
Loud pub - in terms of shouting customers and 'background' music - so not a place for a quiet night out! One end of the pub is a bar around which most people, presumably regulars, stand. The other end is dominated by a large snooker table. But the friendly service couldn't be faulted; neither could the pint of Ruddles, which was the only draft ale on.
17 Apr 2010 09:53
The King William IV, Mickleham
CLOSED. The board says closed "for today" but appears to have been there a while. Underneath and partly rubbed-out are the words "for general maintenance" but I glanced in the windows, everything's in darkness, no sign of any maintenance taking place.
22 Feb 2010 19:27
The Rose and Olive Branch, Virginia Water
Just three months on from my previous visit, and I found that everything had changed. Instead of just being able to pop in of a lunchtime and find plenty of free tables, order my beer and meal, and pay for it as I ordered, it's now more restaurant than pub. Full to capacity (entirely with old people). You wait to be seated, order at the table, pay at the end and receive a handwritten receipt! All very strange and nothing like a traditional English pub. But for the record the beer and food is as good as ever and the prices haven't increased.
17 Feb 2010 21:52
Large pub, right next to station (main line and tube), so very convenient. Divided into separate rooms ranging from quiet to loud (large TV screen), so it's easy to find quiet corner if wanted. Excellent range of food reasonably priced. 2 real ales. Friendly attentive staff. The loos leave a bit to be desired though...
14 Feb 2010 22:45
Yes it's reopened. They've kept the best features: cheaply priced home cooked food available all day, good range of ales, friendly staff. And they've improved things that needed improving, like it's brighter and smarter without being modern or less pub-like. Evidently the reason for all this was a change of ownership; well I'd say the new owners have got off to a good start.
16 Dec 2009 19:33
Trad pub with good selection of ales; and bowls of chips available from the bar. Also there's a neighbouring room serving more substantial food (typically Thai stir-fries) until 10 PM, which I'll def try on my next visit. During our stay the large TV above our heads suddenly came on at maximum volume. The barmaid took pity on us and turned it down - but not off, which was curious as no-one was watching it. The pub was surprisingly empty for such a good location on the main crossroads at the centre of Overton, so I can only wonder if all unwelcome customers are given the 'TV treatment'!
5 Dec 2009 18:31
Great place, well located for town centre and railway station. Huge selection of good ales, and very high quality food - especially cheap if you go for the meals-for-two deal. The slight concern is that the current management and most of the staff are about to leave - so watch this space.
8 Nov 2009 22:09
Maybe we were unlucky but we arrived during a 21st birthday party so the music was ear-splittingly loud. In truth there wasn't much to recommend the place anyway: one cask ale that tasted very average and a food menu that was about double the price of the nearby Maidenhead Arms (Wetherspoon).
6 Nov 2009 22:18
The Maidenhead Inn, Basingstoke
Typical Wetherspoon as regards food (very cheaply priced) and range of ales, but better than most in terms of friendly personal service and a particularly well-kept beer selection at Festival time.
6 Nov 2009 22:14
The Weir Hotel, Walton on Thames
What are you talking about, "they don't allow smoking inside"? NO pubs allow that. It's the law ...
3 Nov 2009 22:01
Great place for eating and drinking. Good selection of healthy meals with generous portions. Looked like a great selection of Welsh beers too (Brains, Rev James, etc.) but unfortunately I was driving. Very friendly helpful service. I'll be back.
9 Oct 2009 19:52
I agree with what's been said about the pleasant d�cor and ample places to sit in different corners. The beer is expensive as it is throughout the area, but tastes good. The food is realistically priced considering how much you get. Standards are high for drink, food and service. Only one word of warning to customers: one of our party asked for a glass of red wine without specifying which one, so was automatically given the most expensive one - at �6.20 a glass!! So: do consult the wine list and clearly state which one you want.
6 Oct 2009 14:43
Well said, Gary. It's not easy to strike a balance between keeping the pub-experience pleasant for everyone while not being a spoilsport. Seems you've got it just about right.
5 Oct 2009 14:39
What a wonderful little place. It looks cute as you walk up to it, and is just as you'd expect inside. An excellent range of real ales, well kept, despite the fact that most of the clients are wine-drinking types. The ales are over �3 but it's the high prices that keep this place so decent in what is otherwise the rough end of town. The pub has a lovely feature of serving a range of interesting English cheeses at all times the pub is open. Highly recommended; the best pub in Surbo.
3 Oct 2009 13:15
Youngs pub with the expected ales available. Very mixed client�le ranging from attractive young females to old guys drinking on their own. No great character to this pub, but very acceptable as part of a Surbiton 'crawl'!
3 Oct 2009 13:09
Very busy Youngs pub on the main street (Victoria Road) near Surbiton station. Took a while to get served. Tried Titanic Iceberg beer that had a very odd taste - not sure if it was meant to taste like that but couldn't finish it. Good range of food (from light snacks to sharable platters to main courses) served quickly, efficiently and with a smile. Couldn't fault the food at all; not the healthiest of dishes but that was down to what we chose rather than anything wrong with the pub.
3 Oct 2009 13:06
Thriving place with a lot of younger clientele and families. Good range of food, and some special two-for-one offers, but only two real ales (Greene King IPA & Abbott - the Speckled Hen was off when we were there).
3 Oct 2009 13:03
Nice old traditional pub with a fireplace that I guess is particularly inviting in winter. Four great beers - including Ranmore and Shere Drop. Delicious home-made food cooked to order. Pleasant, helpful, and efficient barman. Clear signage indicating drinking and eating hours and also mentioning a no-mobiles policy that, sadly, is not enforced. Whilst I was there an irritating mobile ringtone went unchallenged, and its owner proceeded to shout his mouth off into the phone for an extended time. There were also three very irritating older guys in the middle of the bar telling jokes in very loud voices the whole time I was there. I'll try the pub once more, and just pray those guys aren't a regular fixture!
10 Sep 2009 22:19
Crown and Sceptre Inn, Torquay
Wonderful traditional pub with low beams and a unique collection of caps and chamber pots suspended from ceiling. Excellent home-cooked food (including hot chilli) Mon-Sat lunchtimes and an interesting range of real ales. Friendly welcome. Everything you could want from a pub.
6 Sep 2009 12:19
Quaint traditional-style pub (with very low beams) attached to an old coaching inn on the original London to Portsmouth Road, still serving as an hotel. I went in during the 'graveyard' (mid-afternoon) slot and there were a few customers, a very friendly and helpful barman, and a limited menu. But some food is served all day; even at 'off-peak' times it's home-made to order, and extremely tasty. Pint of T.E.A. (Greene King IPA & Abbot also available) to round everything off, in a choice of straight glass or jug.
4 Sep 2009 20:25
The Avon Brewery Inn, Salisbury
Traditional-style pub with good range of real ales currently cheaply priced. The layout is weird though: there's a long thin bar, then a huge formal dining room without a single person sitting in it, and then a back garden. From the garden you have a long walk past two ladies' loos and one disabled before you can find a gents'. The 'posh' food on the dining room menu seems inappropriate for a pub like this, which may explain why no-one was eating when we were there. But evidently a change of management is imminent, so watch this space...
27 Aug 2009 23:09
Centrally located pub with real ales, and food served all evening. Enjoyed an excellent all day breakfast that was reasonably priced, and promptly and cheerfully delivered to our table.
27 Aug 2009 23:03
Old pub that's seen better days. The inn sign is missing. The inside badly needs a refurb. The reception you get is polite but not warm. Slightly over-loud music as an attempt to compensate! The loos are outside. No sign of any food. Two of the beers are Greene Kings but the others are very acceptable. So this is fine if you're looking for a gritty old English pub; but if you want something classier, go to the Red Lion!
31 Jul 2009 08:22
Can't speak highly enough of this place. 2 bar girls and chef all very friendly and helpful, with quick efficient service. It's possible to book but they'll make every effort to accommodate you if you haven't. The food is out of this world, and inevitably a little expensive as a result, but it will fill you up nicely. And the place isn't pretentious: you can eat in the main bar. Selection of interesting real ales, constantly changing and with advice as to which one's coming next.
31 Jul 2009 08:16
Nearest pub to station. Friendly, efficient (and rather cute) barmaid. Three good ales - and �2.50 for a pint seemed very cheap to this Londoner! Wide range of food available from 6pm to 8.45, and I'll deffo be back to try it sometime. Sky Sports News running on TV but quietly, so not a problem. The only slight irritations were the furniture layout (the main room is dominated by large circular tables with no obvious 'snug' corners), and some rather loud (but I stress not unfriendly) locals.
31 Jul 2009 08:11
Plenty of tables available on a Saturday lunchtime in the tourist season when other nearby pubs were packed. Exactly the sort of food you'd expect in a Wetherspoon, reliable without being over-exciting. But the pint of Exmoor gold was pleasant. Don't get too inebriated here though; it's a big climb up the stairs to the toilets!
27 Jun 2009 18:48
Characterless 'working class' pub with only two real ales (Tanglefoot and Bombadier), and food that stops at 7:00 PM. 'No kids' rule doesn't mean that it's a quiet place - probably more a reflection of how rough it gets later on! Whether you''re looking for good ale, food, or just a quiet place to meet up with friends, there are many more suitable pubs in the vicinity.
7 May 2009 22:37
One of the more traditional pubs in the town centre, and slightly off the beaten track. The food selection looked good (and all available till 9pm) but wasn't tried. Nice range of ales and friendly staff/customers. The toilet, though, left a lot to be desired: an open toilet, across the back yard, that reminded me of school in the sixties!
7 May 2009 22:33
Very impressed. Arrived in a large group but were immediately welcomed, and high quality food was quickly prepared for us. There's a nice selection of ales on tap here too. The manager (been in place about 6 months, I gather) and staff all said they hoped we'd return soon - and genuinely seemed to mean it. We certainly shall!
11 Apr 2009 20:24
Wonderful character place; with low beams, small bar areas and (I guess, in the winter) open fire. Good range of beers. Friendly staff and, if you stop for a while, the locals soon start talking to you too. Highly recommended.
3 Apr 2009 22:44
A bit off-the-beaten-track and all the better for it. A bit small inside, and short of seating. Mainly Greene King beers, but worth a visit. Reasonably priced b&b available - this would be a good place to stay.
3 Apr 2009 22:42
Very much a gastro pub. If you venture beyond the small very crowded area near the door, you get asked "if you've got a reservation" and then presented with a poncey high-priced menu. From then on, your drinks are fetched for you, so a tip is expected. In fairness the food is excellent, but this is very much a place for a long evening out over dinner and wine, not a place for a beer drinking session. The beers are all Fullers anyway.
3 Apr 2009 22:37
Thought at first this wasn't on "beer in the evening" as I got no match on "gaolhouse". Yes this is a typical Wetherspoon: huge range of interesting ales, many just �1.99 (or �1.49 with a Camra voucher). Good central location. A bit scruffy near the main doors, but lots of more salubrious areas to the side and towards the back. Friendly staff. Food not tried; maybe next time.
3 Apr 2009 22:32
I both agree and disagree with afullpint. Agree that this place has nice ambience, and that the Village and Winchester Gate are good pubs too. Disagree that Hidden beers are "all rather ordinary" (you seem to have only tried one; I had Hidden Old Sarum at what must have been about the same time as you were there, and found it very pleasant indeed). Also disagree about Rai d'Or - which seems only to cater for diners who've booked in advance: if you haven't booked, you can't eat and you can't sit down. In the Rai d'Or, even if you sit at a place that isn't actually marked as "reserved", you'll be asked to move...
15 Mar 2009 09:03
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury
This is a place to go for the beer. Three interesting pints - all guests, nicely served. Handy for the city centre but not over-run with customers. An amazing Sunday lunch deal was advertised; given that beer or wine is included for free, the roast comes out at about �4 !! Downside: very cluttered layout; continually trying to step over stools to get anywhere; far too much space taken up by the pool table (though the babe playing pool was worth watching in her own right!); and a dreadful racket coming from next door where some live band was tuning up for a gig.
7 Mar 2009 20:28
Excellent conversion. Now two pubs in one. A quiet 'country' pub downstairs, with large range of delicious meals including specials served till 9pm, and four real ales well kept. Upstairs is very different: pool table, loud music, crowds of youngsters. All things to all people! The only problem is you have to venture upstairs to try and find the loos...
23 Jan 2009 15:26
chav_hater's comments remind me of what I wrote on 3 July (see below). It's a recurring theme: there's no duty manager available. This is no way to run a pub; someone should be there to take responsibility at all times.
5 Jan 2009 18:52
Good atmospheric pub with candles on the tables, friendly staff, three real ales, range of food (seen but not tried), and nice background music. Not as good a beer range as the Evening Star but nothing like as packed either. Much more salubrious than the Railway Bell (if you don't mind going down to the basement for the loos!) and the TV's not so loud either. Best of the bunch round the station for a quiet get-together.
17 Dec 2008 17:55
Nice to find a traditional pub in an area which otherwise boasts a load of crowded lager pubs full of youngsters. Just 10 minutes' walk from Greenwich station. Very basic, indeed slightly run down in appearance, which should keep the trendies out. A few hot snacks available in the evening (pasties, sausage rolls), but most people come for the beer. When I was there they were offering Courage Best, Timothy Taylor Landlord, and Sharp's Cornish Coaster.
22 Nov 2008 13:39
Very impressed that even when subjected to problems outside their control (electricity supply problems) they created an emergency menu, explained the situation to customers as they arrived, and offered the best service they possibly could. Many other pubs would just have stuck a handwritten "no food until further notice" sign on the main door. Full marks to everyone. And the "emergency" prawn curry and rice was delicious!
17 Nov 2008 17:44
I suppose I should have been suspicious when, on a cold Friday night, the nearby Evening Star was heaving with people inside and out, while this place was almost deserted. Sure enough, as others have said, it's a dive. Badly needs refurbishment. No food. But I found it friendly enough, with a couple of real ales on, and I guess one should be grateful one can get a place to sit down so near the station.
15 Nov 2008 16:12
Something of the olde worlde pub atmosphere has been lost as a result of recent decorations. And the pub seems to have an identity crisis: very packed with beer drinkers at the front, very posh and expensive restaurant to the rear. The restaurant is under-used; surely it would be better to provide simple pub/bar meals, as there may be more demand for them? Nonetheless I must compliment an interesting choice of 6 or 7 real ales, and very quick and efficient service by the bar staff even when busy.
4 Oct 2008 19:12
Impressed that even on a Friday night there were a few tables, partly because the heavy drinkers just stand around the bar! Excellent food quality, selection and service until 10pm. Three beers: Young Ordinary & Special plus a guest.
4 Oct 2008 19:06
Well-placed traditional looking pub; the front being close to the main shops and car parks, the rear being a secluded beer garden on the waterfront. Range of food listed but not tried. TV sport showing but sound turned down. Good range of both lagers and real ales; the latter being a couple of regulars and three unusual and interesting guests, of which I enjoyed the Exmoor Gold. Hope to go back for a longer visit next time.
19 Sep 2008 09:20
Unusual pub set on the old London Road - feels just like you're walking into the hallway of a house, with stairs up to toilets where the bedrooms would normally be, and bar in the 'dining room' cum 'sitting room'. Very much a beer drinkers' paradise, the only food apparently being filled rolls.
29 Aug 2008 19:10
Great basic old-fashioned pub handy for the 'back' entrance to the station. Interesting selection of beers well kept. No food but you're welcome to bring your own. Juke box but there's a radio station playing so I'm not sure what would happen if you put money in. And a no-mobile-phones rule! Now, that's rare in a pub...
29 Aug 2008 19:05
Went back for a second visit, nearly 18 months after the first, and the EXACT same thing happened as last time: we were asked to vacate a table that wasn't marked as 'reserved'! And then the people it was mysteriously 'reserved' for, never showed up anyway! The Management should invest in some 'Reserved' signs. Must say though: wonderful beer and wonderful Thai food.
29 Aug 2008 19:00
Great little pub on edge of town, friendly customers and interesting selection of beers. Very impressed when a large crowd of us turned up unexpectedly but the staff very efficiently dealt with all our drink and food orders.
16 Aug 2008 22:04
The fact that the barmaid and customers at the nearby Ham Brewery Tap recommended The New Inn for good food is praise indeed! They were right. Interesting selection of dishes - including 8 'specials' - very tasty and (despite what khisanth wrote) not especially expensive. Two regular real ales and two guests. Friendly service.
14 Aug 2008 19:31
The Wheatsheaf, Virginia Water
I wandered into here on my own when the place was very busy. Found one small table free, and was delighted when a member of staff came over and offered to take my food and drink orders so I wouldn't lose my table. The beer (TEA - very well kept - and they also have Bombadier and London Pride) and Sunday roast both arrived very quickly. The meat was tender and there were three veg and two types of potato included. Delicious - and not expensive. How they cope so well with such large numbers of customers beats me. Highly recommended.
10 Aug 2008 17:04
The Rose and Olive Branch, Virginia Water
Unfortunately the staff refuse to take orders on a Sunday lunchtime from anyone who hasn't booked in advance. I was informed that there would be no point up to closing time when I'd be able to order anything, so I might as well just go off and find another pub ...
10 Aug 2008 16:59
Traditional old fashioned pub with not only three real ales (nice pint of Landlord) but also a cider on the pump. The riffraff who drink in the town centre seem to stay away from this place - which is also reasonably handy for the station. No food spotted, but a good place to drink.
8 Aug 2008 09:54
Overrun with families and children early on - eating huge meals at about 5p.m. I guess you'd call it high tea rather than dinner! OK later, when the meals remain cheap and the families have gone home. Unfortunately the only real ales are those in the Greene King range. A useful pub if you want something near the station and/or you want to avoid the town centre.
8 Aug 2008 09:51
The Lass O'Richmond Hill, Richmond
Courage Best and Bombadier available, and extensive wine list. Wide selection of food dishes all the way from top of the range to the lightest snacks; reasonably priced, quickly served and high quality. The tragedy is that this would be the perfect place to combine with a walk in Richmond Park (Richmond Gate is just one block away) if it weren't for the severe parking restrictions in the pub's own car park, enforced by a third party organisation. Appparently you only have to walk up the street and back, and you're clamped! As a result, on a Friday lunchtime the huge pub car park was almost deserted, and the pub was really quiet too. If you want to walk into the park from a pub, try the New Inn at Ham, or the Ham Brewery Tap.
25 Jul 2008 17:37
The King William IV, Mickleham
Wonderful little pub. High quality home cooked food, a little expensive but still value for money. (Be warned they stop at 2, and there's no food Monday nights.) Three good ales (Adnam, TEA and Shere Drop) plus a guest - which is currently Doom Bar. Friendly staff too. I highly commend this place.
11 Jul 2008 15:51
The staff tried to stop serving food early tonight (8:30) despite the chalkboard outside still saying food till 9. When people complained that they were just choosing what they wanted to eat at that moment, the staff first said the chef had already gone home; then said there was no duty manager on as he/she had gone home too; and then miraculously changed their minds, put the menus back out, took orders, and served up some delicious meals! It was a mystery what was going on, but the end result was friendly staff, nice drinks, good value, great food - but apparently a complete lack of proper management.
3 Jul 2008 00:58
The Stepping Stones, Westhumble
Oh dear. I've reviewed 107 pubs on this website (and visited many more) and never met such a rude landlady. She stormed out to the car park as I was parking, and said I couldn't because they weren't open yet. I explained that the plan was to do what we've done half a dozen times before: go for a walk, return at opening time and then have lunch. Amazingly she said no way can anyone park a minute before opening time, however much they're planning to spend there; and in any case you're not allowed to go for a walk from their car park. You can only park for the amount of time you're inside spending money! I pointed out the implication: that we'd therefore eat and drink at another pub on our route in future. But her attitude was that walkers aren't welcome anyway. What a missed opportunity - given that this is a perfect setting for walking. I shall now amend my Surrey Walks guide to recommend a different pub, and I shan't come back here. Part of me is sad because, on 6 visits in the past year, the menu's been interesting; the beer and food excellent; and the staff friendly. But this unpleasant woman doesn't deserve my custom - nor anyone else's.
6 Jun 2008 18:40
Looks classier outside than it is. A group of old codgers sitting on bar stools but all the tables - laid up for dining - were deserted on a Friday lunchtime. No obvious reason for this as it's on a main road. Two real ales on. Food wasn't homemade; but was tasty, inexpensive and well presented. Nice looking barmaid.
6 Jun 2008 18:29
The Rose and Olive Branch, Virginia Water
Great base for a country walk. Good sized car park. Nice beers including a guest; also a wine list. The food is very expensive but I'd say it's worth it if you can afford it. Amazing selection of food for such a small place, and how unusual to see no less than 8 interesting veggie dishes. Friendly staff - nothing's too much trouble to them.
29 May 2008 20:31
It's so old looking, I guess you'd call it a character pub! Handy for bus route and only 10 minutes walk from station. The food menu looks good, and cheap, and is served till 9pm, so I'll go back and try it sometime. Slightly concerned about the Kids' Menu, that makes it look more like a Happy Eater than a pub! And although a long list of cask ales was displayed above the bar, only two taps were seen (Youngs Ordinary and Courage Directors).
18 May 2008 20:30
Closest there is to a Wetherspoons-type pub in New Malden without being a Wetherspoons! Nice beers. Staff went out of their way to provide me with information when I enquired about food. I'm told there are nights when it's best avoided, and the place doesn't have much character, but the food-drink-staff can't be faulted.
18 May 2008 20:26
This is the quiet 'family' pub in Raynes Park. Suitable for eating and drinking in without having to wonder when the next fight will break out! Standard Wetherspoon features: range of interesting cask ales cheaply priced, extensive food menu served till very late seven days a week, special grill days and curry days, etc.
12 Apr 2008 09:22
Good central location; close to market, bus station and train station. Brilliant concept: range of local ales plus a guest. Yes there's work to be done on it, but I'm sure this will become over time the first choice meeting place for serious beer drinkers in Salisbury.
12 Apr 2008 09:16
Pint of Ringwood 19 Shilling very pleasant. Nice quiet (though characterless) place for an afternoon drink; all hell breaks loose as the young crowd turn up in the evening.
12 Apr 2008 09:11
The Stepping Stones, Westhumble
In reply to lolo1981 I think the problem was that the opening hours weren't displayed anywhere - a bit of a bummer if you went off for a walk first, then came back to find it closed. But I'm pleased to say this has now been rectified. Eating and drinking hours are now separately displayed in the front porch - and adhered to.
29 Mar 2008 18:38
All the advantages of a Wetherspoon: very impressive range of cheap cask ales (�1.89 / pint) even though hardly anyone's drinking them; cheap meals especially the 2 meal deal; curry night on Thursday; coffee and muffins during the day. By avoiding Fridays and Saturdays you should get a quiet and hassle-free visit, while still benefiting from seeing some real 'babes' parading around with next to nothing on. If that's what you like :-)
7 Mar 2008 10:37
I like this. Amazingly quiet - how do they keep going? Perfect place if you want to sit and read on your own, or have a 1:1 chat with another person, and not be disturbed. I guess younger people would say it lacks 'atmosphere', but it's clean. And the one barmaid when I was there was very friendly (and cute). Decent pint of Abbott; they also have IPA.
7 Mar 2008 10:31
Beer OK, h.bomb? They have no real ales at all and the Becks Vier ran out after half a pint. No-one said so; they just gave me a half instead of a pint! Filled rolls are the only food. Crumby loos and back yard too. Blue Boar is much better.
18 Feb 2008 16:17
Friendly pub (customers and staff) and very well run. If there's a crowd in, the number of staff is increased so there's still immediate service. The only food seen was filled rolls, but they were good; great selection of real ales constantly changing - though no dark ones. Really handy for the station.
15 Feb 2008 20:05
Note that offthewagon07 has made the same point that I made 15 months ago! I wonder whether it's the same barmaid; if so, she's a very slow learner!
15 Nov 2007 18:19
If "Landlord is a real ale drinker" (per ColnResident) I'm a bit surprised he only does the Greene King range (IPA, Abbott and Speckled Hen). Food is pretty basic too. But it's a very well run pub with clearly indicated food serving times, attentive management, and a nice choice of background music. Also, for those who don't know, Horton's a charming village yet only 1 mile from J14 of the M25.
7 Nov 2007 20:16
Confusing place - called The Sportsman at one end (this is the only name cab drivers know it by, but it's the end that has no real ales), and The Annexe at the other end. The Annexe has 2 real ciders and 2 very acceptable real ales. A great selection of food, reasonably priced and pleasantly served. Handy for Bristol Rovers' temporary ground.
4 Nov 2007 18:06
The Reckless Engineer, Bristol
This place looks very wine-bar-y outside, but it's surprisingly acceptable. Friendly and pleasant staff, older clientele than you might expect, three good real ales. Perfectly located for the station. Just avoid it later in the evening when the music volume is turned up and the younger customers arrive.
4 Nov 2007 18:03
The Stepping Stones, Westhumble
I spotted the same as vicdakin: no opening hours or food hours displayed. Went in for lunch and they were certainly serving about 2. Had an excellent liver & bacon: very tender meat and delicious rich sauce. A bit skimpy with the veg though. Three regular real ales and an interesting guest one.
31 Oct 2007 19:02
Judging by the size of building, this must have been great in its day. On a weekday lunchtime though: car park empty, front two bars closed, back bar empty but serving. Most of the lights out, and a plasma-screen TV playing to no-one. However, if all that hasn't put you off, there's a real ale: TEA, very pleasant and inexpensive. Food: curries, pies, and stir-fries, home-cooked, surprisingly tasty, good sized portions and not a long wait. So the place looks a bit 'sad' at lunchtime but presumably pays for itself evenings.
24 Oct 2007 15:07
Gem of a pub. Surprisingly near to the town centre's trendy wine-bar style pubs, and yet completely different from them. What a find! Trad pub atmosphere. Brilliant wide selection of real ales (mostly local-ish, i.e. from Downton). Nice burgers (though they ran out). And the most friendly, attentive, switched-on hosts you'll encounter anywhere. Someone complained that these guys are new; well, that's not their fault is it?!
24 Sep 2007 19:05
The Carpenters Arms, Bransgore
Nice pint of Ringwood; good selection of wines; extensive food menu including roasts, all of excellent quality and value-for-money. Avoid at lunchtimes if you don't have grey hair: you won't fit in at all!! Oh, and don't bother about booking a table; they lost our booking, but we got in anyway.
19 Sep 2007 21:26
The King Edward VII, Stratford
Don't be put off by the accompanying photo that looks like a restaurant! The front bar is quite traditional and dark and 'pubby', and is below pavement level. The toilets are very small and inadequate; but everywhere is clean, there's a surprising range of foods from light snacks through to posh stuff, there are three or four interesting real ales and the staff are friendly.
8 Sep 2007 20:44
What a difference a little over 2 months makes! OUT go the guest beer board; the table menus; the starters and desserts (and hence the 2 course deal); the home-cooked pies, casseroles, liver, fish, and weekday roasts; the side dish of fresh veg. IN come just six different grills (all with chips) and four flavours of omelette. Clearly targeting a different clientele now: not diners selecting wines to go with their various courses, but drinkers who may get a little peckish whilst drinking. A bold move, and the current effect is a deserted pub. In fairness the beer is well served; food is nutritious, attactively presented and reasonably priced; and service is friendly and pleasant. Other changes: food service now ends at 2 instead of 3 Mon-Sat, 3 instead of 4 Sun, 8 instead of 8:30 Mon-Thu evenings, 8 instead of 9 Fri-Sat evenings - and the nice 60s/70s background music has been replaced with Virgin Radio: all chat and commercials. Time will tell how this goes down with the good citizens of Wraysbury.
3 Sep 2007 13:56
Friendly enough and couple of nice ales available. Good central place, near bus station, to meet and sit outside and get the 'flavour' of Salisbury Market Square.
4 Aug 2007 18:00
The Plume of Feathers, Shrewton
Friendly place, very old pub with lots of character, nice pint of Ringwood 49. Food not tried but decent selection.
4 Aug 2007 17:57
From the reviews I'd read, I expected somewhere quiet, and only patronised by older clientele. How wrong could I be. The place was absolutely heaving with a very young crowd on a Friday night. It took a long time to get to the bar and if it hadn't been a warm night, so that we could go outside, I've no idea what corner we'd have found to stand in and 'enjoy' our drinks! The beer was good (Youngs Ordinary, Bombadier, etc.), the whole place was clean and the toilets were immaculate, so I guess one can hardly blame the pub for being just too successful!
8 Jul 2007 19:42
The Cork and Cheese Ale House, Southend on Sea
What nonsense from "boozaaah". Pubs aren't obliged to "accomodate" - or even accommodate - smokers. They could at least have tried it as a non-smoking pub to see how many new punters they got. Also, according to "essexblade" it's closing 30/6 not 30/7.
27 Jun 2007 18:42
Greene King pub with well-kept beers. First pub you reach on walking into town from the train station, and handy for the bus station too. Good place to go alone or to wait for someone else because there are quiet corners where you can sit and read or just enjoy the ambience and background (60s/70s) music.
16 Jun 2007 09:54
Very quiet pub even on a Friday night. The few people who are there, speak in hushed tones; which is weird! You walk through two public bars to get to the 'lounge' (more like a saloon). Good range of 3 regular cask ales plus a guest. Listed in GBG2007 but the entry is wrong: it claims evening food but there isn't any. Oh - and it doesn't open until 6pm!
16 Jun 2007 09:46
ladnewton: Only �2.60/�2.70 a pint? Some people don't know they're born ;-) There are a lot of �3 pints in Surrey now and I paid �3.30 for one pint in Hersham village the other day!
2 Jun 2007 10:20
The Slug and Lettuce, Wimbledon
Went there this week and it's definitely open! Slightly odd; more geared to food (served till 10) than to drink and yet (a) it has high tables not ideal for eating from, and (b) it has dipped lights and loud music. So I think it has an identity crisis. But for the record the food was good and there were a couple of real ales on too.
10 May 2007 20:57
ianbeer is fortunate to have gone on Wednesday. On Bank Holiday Monday the management arbitrarily decided to give the restaurant staff an evening off and provide no food at all! It just goes to show this isn't primarily an eaters' pub. If it was, this would have been one of their more lucrative nights.
10 May 2007 20:53
From the outside there doesn't seem to be much going for this pub (apart from the proximity to the train station) and as you walk in it seems SO noisy. But from then on, it just gets better. Good range of beers, friendly and attentive staff who'll even advise about the beer selection, and simply amazing pub food. This is cordon bleu food at pub grub prices. Highly recommended.
5 May 2007 14:34
The Vat and Fiddle, Nottingham
I like this pub, it's just round the corner from the station, good selction of quality beers and filled rolls. (Apparently hot food Mon-Fri as well.) You can sit inside or out - though it's only a back street so not very glamorous!
27 Apr 2007 18:30
The Stratford Haven, West Bridgford
Excellent wide range of beers, friendly pub, drinking inside or out, extensive food menu too if wanted, only 20 mins walk from Nottingham station.
21 Apr 2007 22:35
The White Hart Hotel, Whitchurch
Despite having to serve on all sides, bar staff keep well on top of it all. Excellent beer and food, both reasonably priced, and they do that old fashioned thing of not charging you till you leave - something I've not seen in many a long year. Very trusting. Highly recommended.
31 Mar 2007 15:57
The Barley Mow, Englefield Green
If you actually want to eat (it seems most people visiting this website don't) then you won't do any better than the Barley Mow anywhere. Efficient service, table reservable, cope with large groups of people at short notice, and food of the highest quality. The Sunday roasts consist of perfect tender meat with a great selection of veg.
27 Mar 2007 15:25
Well, I asked the barman for a pint of Greene King IPA and was informed it wasn't available, so I chose something else. For the next round I asked the barmaid if the Greene King was back on and she said it had never been off, "but he [pointing to the barman] always tells people it is..."
21 Mar 2007 15:49
Went here because I was tired of the idiosyncracies of the Barley Mow (which has white tablecloths, folded serviettes, cutlery and glasses lined up for a 3-course meal, cut flowers, waiter in a black waistcoat and bow tie, etc.; in other words is made to look like the Savoy when at the end of the day it's only the non-smoking area of a pub). I was immediately struck by the William's smart car park, nice traditional ambience, Shere Drop on tap, varied menu, and one gorgeous waitress. Slightly let down by the food: liver was a bit chewy and, although expensive (over a tenner) didn't include veg (which costs extra!). But good enough to give it another go one day.
21 Mar 2007 15:44
The only pub on the Green where you can get a seat Sunday lunchtimes. (Vital if you want to eat.) Even then it's crowded - not because of the people but because of the haphazard arrangement of the furniture! Good service, ales, and food selection, though roast meats can be a little gristly.
5 Mar 2007 14:51
Note: The Albert is closing temporarily from mid March to early April for (much-needed!) refurbishment in all departments. The food, drink and service are already great so with the refurb (and the upcoming smoking ban) this pub can only get even better.
5 Mar 2007 14:47
Much better than it looks outside. The back bar is quiet even when the front is crowded. Nice selection of ales. Best pub by the station since the Bird in Hand closed.
5 Mar 2007 14:44
Good range of beers. Excellent Thai food. Very short opening hours and slightly eccentric service (like suddenly tell you your table is 'reserved' when you've already been sitting at it a couple of hours and have spent loads of money there!) but still worth a visit for the food, drink and overall character.
5 Mar 2007 14:34
As others have said, more restaurant than pub. The 'beams' are obviously fake, but I like the vastness of the place, the number of semi-private partioned corners to sit in, the warm open fire in the centre and also - curiously - another one in the small entrance lobby. Extensive menu ranging from full meals to lightish snacks. As I'm from Surrey, to me the prices seemed average - but maybe they're high for Hampshire I don't know. The food was delicious, and good portions; but there were only two ales on: Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA. The Ruddles County had run out and couldn't be replaced quickly enough for us to be offered it.
20 Feb 2007 19:08
The Kemble Brewery Inn, Cheltenham
A surprising find - hidden away half way along a small residential street. Very friendly staff and customers. Seriously congested: a victim of its own success! A selection of real ales, but sadly virtually no food. Just a few filled rolls all of which contained something-and-cucumber!
19 Feb 2007 19:23
To avoid the dives in Aldershot town, come out here. Food all afternoon (everywhere else ends at 2). Standard Ember Inns menu, i.e. varied, high quality and inexpensive. Couldn't see much real ale; London Pride described as the 'guest' but no others listed on the 'draught beers' board which showed all lagers and Guinness. Manager working extremely hard when I was there because his staff hadn't turned up, but he was coping well, getting the orders right and not flapping. I see there are quizzes on Wednesday and Sunday nights so these are probably best avoided if you want a quiet meal or drink.
14 Feb 2007 16:49
Interesting guest beers, frequently rotated and well looked after. Extensive range of good food, reasonably priced and (since 1st Feb) enjoyable in a non-smoking area. Friendly management. I'll be back.
9 Feb 2007 22:11
Having reopened it's in a state of limbo. A lack of furnishings, pictures, etc. because I guess it's not worth the effort if it's likely to close again. But welcoming, friendly, and a nice pint of Courage Best.
6 Jan 2007 22:10
Nice quiet pub on a Friday night because on that night there's no live music but no food either. Quite a bit of character because of the old beams, but less so in the large 'barn' section normally used for gigs - which is the section you need to use if you're a non-smoker. I found the staff very friendly. London Pride and Courage Best were on tap.
6 Jan 2007 22:07
Molly O'Grady's, Victoria Place
Not really a pub atmosphere, and 'only' Abbott and Greene King IPA on draft, but it's a convenient location, it's clean, the staff are friendly and there's food on. So 7/10.
6 Jan 2007 22:04
Very acceptable. Lively, friendly, somewhat smoky bar. London Pride and Bombadier on tap. Sky Sports One matches on the TVs, and handy list to show what matches are coming up. Thai food served in a separate area, tables bookable.
5 Jan 2007 17:03
Having read the reviews I've now tried it for myself. Very handy start/end point for a country walk (opposite the Epsom Gap). Large car park and spacious pub, serving 4 real ales and food all day seven days a week. Typical pub meals like pies and lasagnes available as well as snacks. My curry contained perfect tender chicken, it was a huge portion and with the poppadum and chutney it was great value for money. Most impressive was the speedy service, and the friendly helpful staff who are much more pleasant than at comparable pubs. I'll be back.
20 Dec 2006 15:40
A little gem in a surprising location. Very friendly staff, interesting range of beers, lunchtime food (mainly various options with beans & chips; and several different ways of serving chili!). Despite its out of the way location it can get crowded.
17 Dec 2006 09:40
Despite the poncey name, this is a laddish pub with Sky sports, pool table, smoky atmosphere, and everyone knowing each other. London Pride plus one guest beer. Comparable with the nearby Golden Lion except that La Fontaine's home-cooked food is much much better.
14 Dec 2006 22:09
Sweet friendly little 'local' pub on a street corner. Very handy for station; but tucked away, so easy to miss. Interesting and unusual real ales available. Sadly no food: "Kitchens closed until further notice".
6 Dec 2006 16:35
Friendly village local. Although they 'only' do Greene King, it's a decent pint. Surprising to find a pub so quiet on a Friday night - but then it does have a lot of room for people to spread out.
6 Dec 2006 16:28
Typical Wetherspoons with cheap ales and very cheap food if you buy two meals at a time. The mushroom curry in particular is a massive portion for such a low price. Nice outlook onto canal, though it's irritating that the corner door appears to be open but isn't: so you get confused tourists rattling the door from outside literally every minute or two!
6 Dec 2006 16:17
The Haunch of Venison, Salisbury
A must see place because of the historic interest. Really eccentric building with numerous levels and the back exit via one closet in the Gents! Avoid in the tourist season when people pack in like sardines; try and visit mid-afternoon out of season to experience at its best. Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Summer Lightning all available on draft.
6 Dec 2006 16:13
I agree with hengist about the barmaid babe, who's still there! This is a very 'working class' pub: come in your overalls, smoke anywhere, eat sandwiches or cheap pub grub all with chips (but only until 2 Mon-Fri), watch Sky Sports. Not a place to go if you want something classy, or a wide selection of real ales. Despite the Courage sign, I could only see London Pride.
29 Nov 2006 16:28
Having recommended this pub in the first place, I went back on a Sunday and was much less satisfied. There was a large group of loud-mouthed rowdies in; the sort of thing you might expect in a town at 10pm on a Friday night but not in a leafy Surrey village at Sunday lunchtime! I was directed to what I was told was a no-smoking table, but a guy on a bar stool was smoking right next to me. The roast, slightly expensive, contained a lot of gristle and was swimming in gravy. To cap it all I had to wait to settle my tab and they then tried to overcharge me by more than �10, blaming the inevitable 'computer errors' on the till, which took ages to resolve even though I'd worked out what I owed in my head and was holding out the exact money. Poor show.
5 Nov 2006 17:24
Friendly pub. Ideal start and end point for country walks, opposite the car park and duck pond. London Pride plus two guest cask ales. Lunches available, not exciting but acceptable, but note they end at 2 p.m. weekdays, 2:15 pm weekends. Smoking and non-smoking sections.
29 Oct 2006 18:04
Good selection of ales, different from the ones you get in most London pubs. And some great looking barmaids! Food is a bit too 'posh' for a crowded, beery, pub where you may not get a seat; they should switch to plainer pub grub. But apart from that, no complaints.
16 Oct 2006 17:52
Surprisingly hidden down a back street, nowhere near anything in particular, this great little pub offers a very interesting selection of 5 cask ales, wonderful home-cooked food with fresh vegetables cheaply priced, and a friendly landlord and landlady who keep a watchful eye on everything. What more could one ask for? Even the additional bar staff, who are not quite so competent, are very charming and friendly.
7 Oct 2006 16:49
The Royal Oak, Holmbury St Mary
Pleasant traditional pub a bit off the beaten track. Choice of several indoor and outdoor areas where you can enjoy their scrumptious (and large!) meals and a pint of Youngs Ordinary, Everard Tiger or a couple of other beers. Very large car park, so this is a good central location (between Dorking, Guidlford, Woking, etc.) for meeting up with friends.
20 Sep 2006 16:23
Always very busy, I guess because of its location. On a recent visit, the barman was working wonders keeping up with people's orders, but he really should have had more staff to help him in the first place. Getting a table wasn't easy. There were just two cask ales: Greene King IPA and Pride. It's a place you wouldn't choose to go to if it weren't just over the road from the station.
17 Sep 2006 16:28
Nice little pub in great location, with friendly staff and half a dozen unusual real ales. Pity it doesn't serve food.
13 Sep 2006 18:23
The Oatland Chaser, Walton on Thames
Note this website is wrong: the pub is now called the Oatlands Chaser. The pub has been cleaned up, given a more modern look and feel, toilets renovated, etc. Real ales have been reduced to just one, but it's a good one: Timothy Taylor Landlord. There are fewer food options - especially at the low end of the scale (snacks) - but popular options don't run out so early. For example, two roasts were both still available at 9:30 on a Sunday night, and they were great value for money. �8.00 for a plate of the leanest, tenderest roast pork you've ever eaten, and served with a separate heaped side dish of fresh vegetables. They've also doubled the number of bar staff, and it seems quadrupled the IQ of all the staff :-) Worth a revisit if you haven't been for a while.
11 Sep 2006 10:08
We popped back here having not been in here for years. Immediately impressed by the line-up of real ales in this Free House: Summer Lightning, Banks's, a couple of different Jennings beers, and so on. Very friendly and efficient service at the small bar. A few free tables to sit at inside and plenty more outside, front and back. Great ambience with its impressive display of toby jugs; we shall definitely return.
28 Aug 2006 09:55
Don't know what 'anonymous' is talking about. What do you mean by 'ice land food'? I've been back again and had a lamb casserole with a fruity gravy that just must have been homemade, served with very crispy roast potatoes (just like Mum used to make), roast parsnips and a side dish of several more fresh vegetables. All for under a tenner. If you can get that in Iceland, I must go to Iceland more often ...
24 Aug 2006 16:56
A surprising find down an unpromising residential street. Packed out on a Saturday night; very popular. Nice back garden when weather permits. Toilets need refurbishing! No food spotted (apart from a couple of baps) but four real ales available. Just a pity they all tasted the same!
13 Aug 2006 14:09
Traditional old-time pub with ESB and London Pride on draft. Barmaid (Eastern European?) isn't very hot on English - I had to say "pint of Pride" three times before she got it! In contrast, the lady serving the Thai meals is very friendly, and her curries and stir-fries, very cheaply priced, complement the beers wonderfully.
13 Aug 2006 14:06
More a restaurant than a pub really, i.e. you wouldn't just pop in here for a pint. But a good place for a meal out - the menu has some unusual dishes reasonably priced, food quality was good and service was quick and pleasant. One yuppie-type woman was shouting her business into her mobile phone throughout the meal, but the pub can't be blamed for that. Cask ales available including a monthly guest. The good thing is the pub's open and serving food all day every day (unlike the nearby Express Tavern who shut most afternoons and only serve food when it suits them).
10 Aug 2006 16:42
Paul - 6X and Devizes are the same one!! You meant "Tetley was the other". BTW, real ale drinkers don't seem to go here much. I had a pint at 1:45 PM and was told it was the first they'd pulled that day!
As the person who originally suggested this place, I went back to sample the new food. Not the gourmet evening, just a regular lunchtime. There are five main dishes (rump steak is leader of the pack) and five lighter bites. Quick service, high quality. A bit nouveau cuisine-ish, i.e. not a massive portion but attractively laid out.
Speaking of attractive it's still a gorgeous pub. And a gorgeous bar maid too! Sadly, the new owners have retained the smoke-wherever-you-want policy for now.
2 Aug 2006 15:46
Amazing selection of cooked food - large portions, reasonably priced and with a side dish of hot cooked veg. All served from 12:00 to 21:00. Also cask ales: Wychert Original, Courage Best and Directors. I think it's a great pub. Probably wouldn't suit the 'burgers and Stella' brigade though!
20 Jul 2006 14:19
Handy pub for the football ground, and best one in the area by far. Friendly, welcoming; cool on a warm night. Nice pint of London Pride.
18 Jul 2006 23:11
The Wellington, Walton on Thames
Pretty basic; nothing special. Small pub, but you can sit at the window and watch the action on the High Street.
16 Jul 2006 18:01
Just discovered this pub with excellent riverside location between the North Downs Way and Guildford City Centre - ideal for walkers. Front patio overlooks river, rear patio is covered, and it's coolly air-conditioned inside with pleasant ambience and background music. Staff very friendly. Wide selection of dishes reasonably priced. 4 real ales. The loos are the only area of the pub that still warrant the name "Scruffy Murphys"!
14 Jul 2006 15:33
Everything you'd expect from a Wetherspoon. Non-smoking area with plenty of tables. Embarrassingly cheap food (two meals for �5.99) served, amazingly, until 11 p.m.! Range of real ales including some quite unusual ones. Very young clientele: your eyes will be popping out of your head watching the scantily-clad babes climbing up and down the stairs to the loo! Risk of unruly behaviour and fights late in the evening, but the management are taking measures to control it. No problem early on.
9 Jul 2006 19:02
The George Inn, Walton on Thames
Sweet pub. Interesting beers. Try the back patio as it's deserted but very pleasant to sit in.
9 Jul 2006 18:56
The Bear Hotel, Walton on Thames
Don't think it's really a 'hotel'. Bit rough inside, food apparently served but breakfasts given bigger prominence than dinners on the menu! Side garden mainly for families with kids. Bench seats out front too, but they are between the parked cars so it's not exactly luxurious. Very acceptable pints of Youngs Ordinary and Special; but otherwise best included as part of a 'crawl' rather than staying all evening: there are several other good pubs very close by.
9 Jul 2006 18:54
The Express Tavern, Kew Bridge
Lovely little pub, right opposite Kew Bridge itself. Nice and cool even on a warm day; good ales; plenty of seats; character. 8/10.
9 Jul 2006 18:48
The Cock and Lion, Bond Street
Downstairs bar must have been the coolest place in London on a hot sticky night. Huge ceiling fan providing a refreshing breeze. Deuchars IPA, Bombadier and Spitfire on tap. Several large screen TVs easily visible from all seats (including outside!) for those who wanted to watch the footy; but sound turned down so unobtrusive for those who didn't. Very friendly staff.
5 Jul 2006 15:53
Wonderful walkers' pub with London Pride, Youngs Ordinary, Spitfire and Greene King IPA all served in a choice of jug or straight glass. Great value-for-money food for under a tenner, which even includes a side dish of fresh cooked vegetables. I have ranked dozens of pubs between 4 and 9 points; this one's a 9 :-)
29 Jun 2006 16:02
Great base for walkers: park here and walk the downs. Nice pub for a summer lunchtime - lots of choices of gardens and patios to eat at: with a view, by the street, etc. On a wet day, you can eat inside because it's no smoking throughout :-) Staff very friendly and helpful in showing you round. Food served very quickly despite warnings to the contrary, but be warned it's as expensive as you'll find anywhere. 3 ales served direct from the barrel; all vareties of Green King.
26 Jun 2006 18:35
The Strutt Arms Hotel, Milford
Handy pub on main A6 with good selection and quality of bar meals and sandwiches available all day until 9:30 PM Monday to Saturday and at least 7:30 PM Sundays, quickly served. No smoking area. Two cask ales, in good condition. Also accommodation available if wanted.
9 Jun 2006 19:49
Nice traditional pub with good selection of real ales. Guest beer was Timothy Taylor Landlord when we went. Several free tables inside even though people were standing outside drinking. Toilets pretty scruffy. A good rendezvous place before going on somewhere else.
9 Jun 2006 19:43
The Weir Hotel, Walton on Thames
Went on a Saturday afternoon and what a great stopping point on the Walton to Hampton Court path for riverbank walkers! Dogs and babies welcome. Full table service of food and drinks, and a very wide selection of each. Tasty food and 4 real ales. Non-smoking area. Not cheap, but what can you expect so far from the nearest road?
13 Feb 2006 15:23
An amazing find in such a central location. Very busy and noisy on the ground floor but nice and quiet, with plenty of tables, and smokefree, upstairs. Classical music playing in the background; what a refreshing change! Didn't try the food but the pints of Deuchars, Black Sheep, and Landlord, were all very acceptable.
6 Feb 2006 13:03
Attractive pub. Great for a quiet lunchtime drink with mates: plenty of seats; friendly staff; very fast service for both drink and food; a good range of ales at low prices; great selection of nosh. I highly recommend it.
23 Jan 2006 10:45
The Blue Boar, Southend on Sea
It takes nerve to go into this pub because you can't see inside from the street. But it's a pleasant enough place with plenty of tables. Large TV but you can sit behind it to avoid it. Good Thai food available all day at weekends, also Mon-Fri lunchtimes and Tue-Fri evenings. Only one real ale - Flowers IPA served in a Greene King IPA glass! - but it was fine.
3 Jan 2006 17:04
The Cork and Cheese Ale House, Southend on Sea
Big place, a bit scruffy and mainly elderly male clientele, but that's what you'd expect with this range of real ales and (at the weekend anyway) no food. The Nethergate IPA was wonderful, and cheap. Friends had the Yellow Snow but I found the name offputting! Go to this place while you can, because it's rumoured the shopping precinct that houses it is going to shut down soon.
3 Jan 2006 16:59
The Hand and Raquet, Wimbledon
That reference to "quiet drink" on 31 Aug 2004 is sadly out of date. Now, top volume music is blasted out by a speaker over every single table. No chance of any conversation at all. No idea why they do it: everyone seems to have come to chat not to dance! Manager turned it down ever so slightly when asked, but we couldn't really chat until the music stopped abruptly at 11:00. Then they tried to rush us out of the pub. Most of the beers were off too ...
29 Dec 2005 11:15
Excellent for an evening out with friends in a smoke-free environment with a leisurely meal. Wide selection of wines, massive menu and friendly / helpful service. Top quality food. But not a suitable place to go if you're in a hurry; or on your own.
28 Dec 2005 14:48
Beautiful looking old traditional pub allegedly four hundred years old. 2 or 3 real ales include Wadworth 6X. Food served 12 - 2:15 daily, and the five homemade dishes are delicious - and quickly served. (The non-homemade dishes could be bought from a supermarket.) All food is very cheaply priced. The drawback is that there are no areas of the pub free from tobacco smoke; it seems all the customers and staff smoke.
20 Dec 2005 15:14
The Porterhouse, Covent Garden
Don't arrange to meet your friends here - it's like a maze. So many floors, half-levels, different staircases, that in the end you don't know where you've looked! But if you arrive together you should be OK. Even when packed to capacity the service is quick and trays are provided to help you carry your drinks to your table. Wonderful selection of draft and bottled beers from around the world (listed in a book!) and great food too. Not cheap though.
20 Dec 2005 15:01
The Bell And Compass, Charing Cross
Dreadful. Crowded out with youngsters; couldn't physically get to the bar at all on a Friday night. And customers got very agressive if we brushed past them - which was unavoidable. Some people had resorted to standing outside to drink - despite the rain! But we just went to another pub ...
5 Dec 2005 12:09
The Sherlock Holmes, Charing Cross
Nice pint. Very quick service despite the crowds, which was impressive. Pity we never managed to get a seat.
5 Dec 2005 12:04
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
Often extremely busy weeknights after work - especially from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This means no tables, slow service, very smoky, etc. Curiously, also, it's uncomfortably warm immediately under the heater and uncomfortably cold near the door. Better later on - or when both 'parts' of the pub (both sides of the alley) are open to the public and not used for private parties. Didn't try the food (lunchtimes only), but enjoyed nice pints of Badgers Best and Sussex.
29 Nov 2005 15:23
Not the healthiest place to go: smoking allowed (and practised) throughout; flies everywhere - inside and out; limited selection of food, mostly very fatty. The place urgently needs a makeover: upholstery worn so thin it shines, seats too low for the tables, windows that shake every time a truck passes! Indifferent staff. High prices. Redeeming feature: a nice pint of Courage Best :-)
8 Nov 2005 14:29
No sign of the new 'Doric Arch' branding yet. But obviously mainly Fullers beers now. Quite acceptable, and a better menu than previously, all served until 8pm. Whether you will get a seat - particularly in No Smoking - is anyone's guess though, because no two nights are alike. The pub, and loos, are a bit scruffy so hopefully there'll be an overhaul soon.
5 Nov 2005 17:40
Very busy, so very noisy - hard to have a group conversation here, let alone a mobile one. Also very warm, and bar staff a bit slow to serve.
So in every way a victim of its own success really! But you can see the attraction: nice pub, good venue, at least 3 real ales, and Thai cuisine.
Oh, avoid the loo - so cramped that it's a bit TOO intimate!
4 Nov 2005 12:34
Nice little pub that you'd never find by chance, because it's down a back street in an industrial area. That may explain why there were loads of seats on a Saturday night, and we arrived unannounced but got the whole back room to ourselves! Selection of Fullers beers and lots of lunchtime food options listed on the wall (though we didn't try them).
1 Nov 2005 16:46
The Magpie and Crown, Brentford
Scruffy old pub (wouldn't suit young trendy types) but a wonderful selection of real ales, continually changing as you sit there! And excellent homecooked Thai food that goes surprisingly well with the beer. Highly recommended if you're in Brentford.
1 Nov 2005 16:41
Very nicely refurbished while retaining period features. Loads of empty tables on a Monday night. All male clientele?? Choice of 3 Youngs ales. Food menu looked good but not tried.
11 Oct 2005 11:59
Excellent selection of (apparently homecooked) food until 9 p.m. and of real ales. Hey, and we managed to get a table on a Friday night. It empties out earlier than most pubs. Good 60s/70s music too.
10 Oct 2005 10:56
Scruffy pub but with good beer and nice meals. No smoking area is a bit small and smoke wafts into it from other tables.
27 Sep 2005 14:28
The Kings Tun, Kingston Upon Thames
Characterless modern-looking pub, but large no-smoking area, good food and very cheap ales. Handy for Kingston shops.
27 Sep 2005 14:26
Excellent home cooked food at lunchtime (pies, roasts, etc.). No delays - it's served up as you ask for it. Good selection of ales too. Very popular with elderly locals.
27 Sep 2005 14:24
The Badgers Rest, Walton on Thames
Friendly place, mainly geared to eaters but plenty of spare tables suitable for drinking only, later in the evenings. Good food including snacks. Bass and London Pride always on.
30 Aug 2005 15:14
Great. Very friendly local with Youngs beer. Thai food Monday thru Saturday. Quiz nights Tuesday and Sunday. Free nosh late on Sunday night!
1 Aug 2005 18:26
The Barley Mow, Englefield Green
Good mix of refurb and trad inside. Nice back garden. Youngs Ordinary, Pride and 3X all on draught. Reasonably priced food including three Sunday roasts.
4 Jul 2005 10:12
No wonder they've won so many awards: great selection of Harveys ales and great food too. Definitely a place to suit the over 50s male ;-)
4 Jul 2005 10:06
The Prince William Henry, Southwark
Youngs ales, top quality food, and plenty of seats on a Friday night: not just hard seats but armchairs and sofas too. Wonderful! The toilets need upgrading though; they let the place down.
4 Jul 2005 10:03
Had hardly arrived and the TV was switched to the cricket, and a bunch of 'fans' started bawling and screaming into our ears. There was no escape other than by leaving the pub altogether. So had a nice (hurried) pint but couldn't try the food and shan't go back.
4 Jul 2005 10:01
Youngs draught beers. Best pub food anywhere, but expensive. Gorgeous roof garden (you just must see the hanging baskets). All staff friendly and helpful with the exception of one snotty female.
1 Jul 2005 12:59
Ashley Park Hotel, Walton on Thames
Clean, modern but characterless pub. Packed (no spare seats) on quiz nights but plenty of room other nights. 3 real ales guaranteed.
1 Jul 2005 12:55
Good beer (Jennings Lakeland and Cumberland both on draft - served cooler than at most places). Wonderful food selection and quality. Top class accommodation yet inexpensive. The service completely went to pieces on the night they had a kitchen fire (poorly managed) but otherwise an excellent pub.
30 Jun 2005 11:49
Busy early on Friday night but soon got very quiet. Excellent home-made food thru 10:30 PM! 5 real ales on draft and 5 malts.
6 Jun 2005 10:39
Pleasantly surprised that on a Thursday night there were spare tables upstairs. Not sure about the 'real ale' - the Old Brewery was served from a keg not a hand pump. And only one toilet (F)!
3 Jun 2005 15:48
The Nelson, Farnham
On the main street. One local ale (sold in aid of Ukraine) v pleasant indeed. Good quality lunch very much enjoyed. Recommended.
13 May 2022 19:35