The Barley Mow, Shepperton

Great pub, proper job!! Highly recommended.

28 Aug 2006 15:13

The Abinger Hatch, Abinger Common

Again, too much emphasis on food, and the refurb is best left to the imagination. The food we ate here was poorly presented...I ordered a medium-well steak, and received a steak that was pink and bloody and luke warm..the chips were soggy and the salad was limp and unappetising. Hoping for better luck at the bar, I was disappointed to receive a pint of cloudy ale, overly warm (I understand it was summer, but surely all cellars are best kept chilled?). All in all a very disappointing experience....I for one won't be returning.

28 Aug 2006 14:13

Stephan Langton Inn, Abinger Common

Nice pub in a lovely setting...bar was a bit shoddy, and not much space...a lot of space given over to the restaurant...food was great but expensive. Unfortunately not much on offer for real ale enthusiasts...again the emphasis is on food here. I would give this pub a 6-7 out of 10. There are better pubs in the area for real ale if that's what you are looking for.

28 Aug 2006 14:07

The Plough, Coldharbour

I have been a patron of this public house for many years, and would say that I visit this establishment on average once every three months. In my opinion it is an excellent establishment, a free house, with character and great care taken in every aspect of the running of the place. Always spotlessly clean, excellent homemade food, and the real ales are fantastically kept...especially Rick's (the landlord) homemade ales, which he brews in a microbrewery behind the barn.

Having read through these comments, I would say that some of these postings are unduly harsh...Rick and Anna are a great couple, and deserve their time off (Anna being of retirement age and Rick not far off). Having been a publican myself many moons ago, I understand just what a stressful business this is, having the highest known divorce and seperation rate of any industry. The hours are excrutiatingly long, and what with the plough also being a 4 star AA rated B and B, I am not surprised that either Rick or Anna are around sometimes..has anyone considered that Rick may be brewing (a time consuming process) or that Anna is most probably cleaning rooms and helping out in the kitchen.

Anna is known for being sharp, she suffers no fools gladly, and in this business, this is a tool that is most needed, I have had first hand experience of people bringing their own food and drink to my old establishment, and seen it many a time while using the Plough, it being a popular haunt for walkers and ramblers. The basic premise is this....under no circumstances should anyone in a public house order water and expect it for free unless you are ordering food. Also please remember, that Free Houses are an endagered breed...of course chain pubs can afford to loosen the purse strings somewhat, but a sole business owner of a free house has many bills to burden, including the raised water bills and business tax.

All in all, I amy be biased having known Rick and Anna at the Plough for many years now, but I feel that this is a gem of a pub...you won't find many more like it, and if you expect different...well, there are many chain pubs to choose from, that sell shoddily kept beers, and pre packaged foods. For me, this pub is an easy 8 out of 10.

28 Aug 2006 14:00