The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead

Unless the place has changed beyond recognition since I was last there about two months ago I really can't understand a number of the recent comments. It does seem from previous comments that the Sunday menu may not live up to the rest of the time but the food has always been very good in my experience.

With respect to the last reviewer I can't help thinking that he has either not eaten here or has not eaten at a Berni/Harvester (for which I would not blame him at all): the Ramblers Rest is about as similar to those other august establishments as vintage champagne is to asti spumante. There is no comparison. I don't want to be churlish either but if he can remember it as a private residence he must be knocking on a bit and have been an exceedingly early driver: it used to be Dene Farm restaurant for many years and before that it was a tea house - I have seen a photo of it labelled as such dating from 1910. Interpolating a bit, therefore, I would estimate his age to be at least 115 and that's assuming that the tea house use started in 1910 when the photo was taken and not before. To be absolutely fair, the photo may have been incorrectly labelled but the tea house use was in place at least by 1932 so perhaps he's only in his 90's. Are we sure we have the right place?

I don't know whether it is an attempt at snobbery to compare perfectly decent restaurant-type pubs with Bernis and suchlike but personally I don't think it's all that clever.

Come on chaps, tastes differ and honest comment is fine and helpful but exaggerated Mr Grumpy comments don't help anybody.

27 Feb 2007 22:16

The Pawson's Arms, Thornton Heath

I agree with previous reviewer - great for a beer or two before (and after if I'm honest) a match at the Palace. Very friendly staff who have always made us feel welcome.

Great stuff and we won't go anywhere else.

This is the real "Palace and Proud"

28 Apr 2006 19:33

The Prince Of Wales, Cheam

One of my favourite pubs since I have more or less taken up eating lunch as a full-time career.

I haven't had a bad lunch there over the last three years or so that I've been an occasional visitor and, although the menu may not be quite as extensive as at one time, it is still nice and varied and there are always some good specials. The staff are very friendly and attentive. One of them seems to have appointed me as his cullinary advisor and often asks what I think of my choice with a view to making his own lunch selection.

As for the clientele, it never ceases to amaze me that some people seem to want to go to pubs full of clones of themselves; from what I read nearly all pubs are full of pretentious gits or yobbos (and often both!) and I rather suspect that some of these comments may tell as more about the commentator than about the pub and its habitues. For goodness' sake variety is the spice of life and life would be pretty dull if we were all the same. We sat on a table next to Colonel Hangem-High-and-Flogem-Raw the other day (in a diferent pub) and he didn't cease to talk complete and utter ******** in a loud voice the whole time - he was great value for money and single-handedly justified the cost of the lunch!

I may actually be a bonehead and am almost certainly a complete yob. I suppose some of the regulars have more tattoos than I have (none) and some may have more degrees but does that make them bad people?

Well done Prince of Wales (and can I have a cheap lunch next time I'm there?)

28 Apr 2006 19:28

The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead

For goodness' sake! Why do some people use these sites as an opportunity to rip the **** out of each other? People will have different preferences, different experiences and different tastes. Now let's all be nice to each other!

As far as this pub is concerned, I have been there five or six times in the last couple of months and haven't had a bad experience: the food I have found original, nicely presented and, whilst not the cheapest, still good value for money. Without exception the staff have been polite, helpful and friendly. The clientele is mixed but do you want to go to a pub where everyone is a clone? We sat on a table next to Horace Flogem-Hangem-and-Dismemberem a week or so ago and he was fantastic value for money.

On the smoking side, although a non-smoker I must confess to a bit of a sneaking sympathy for those who would rather not have to go outside for a smoke. If I were to be entirely selfish, yes, make it non-smoking but we're not all the same are we? A smoking area might be OK without unduly troubling everyone else. Some smokers migh take exception to watching me eat but they have to put up with it don't they?

Good stuff Ramblers' Rest

28 Apr 2006 19:03