The Anglers, Walton on Thames

I have the misfortune of living close to this "pub", and given it's location, my circle of friends often end up in here during a mini pub crawl around the local area, and I can certainly say that the Anglers is most definitely the LOW POINT of the evening! We often have a chuckle amongst ourselves to the terrible service by the staff and the dirty surroundings. Even more so that we continually return back to the establishment (simply for it's prime location on the river).

On fist impression, you might be forgiven for stating that what I am telling you is false � however, spend a few moments taking a closer look around and you�ll soon realise the truth! Take one step further and try and actually get served. I have been at the bar on many occasions with not another soul attempt to be served and there isn�t a sign of any barman.

When one does turn up, you�ll have the trademark effort of running through your order, and then the staff member frantically looking for a clean glass � it seems this place continually has a problem with their dishwasher and I have on so many occasions had to deliver the White wine drinks to the females in our group in PINT GLASSES, simply because they are either out of wine glasses or just haven�t washed them.

If you do manage to get the correct drink, served in the correct glass, then pay close attention � on many occasions, I have returned to the crowd to deliver the drinks and true to Anglers trademark, one glass will be ridden with dirt or some other slime that could easily be MRSA!

At this point, please don�t lean on the bar to relax yourself whilst you wait for you drinks! If you do, you will suffer the misfortune of having your sleeves sticking to the wooden face with multiple layers of dried alcohol. It seems tradition for the staff here not to clean the bar from the week�s worth of spillage it has encountered!

All of this leads me to be horrified by the thought of what could POSSIBLY be within their food kitchen!!! It takes a brave man to order food from the Anglers!

The next thing you will notice if you have the displeasure of sitting near the front door is that they employ a galoot of a bar manager to patrol the establishment. Every 2 minutes he will feel the need to open the door to walk outside for a breath of fresh air (maybe he is intoxicated by the smell of the kitchen � or perhaps the boredom of �working� within such a desolate environment). This will then lead to a routine draft pertaining through the front half of the pub as everyone begins to order coffees, teas or hot chocolates in order to heat themselves up. This will continue throughout the night as the �bar manager / doorman / gorilla� will persist to strut round the pub, blind from the fact that he is surrounded by empty tables full with empty glasses and full ashtrays that haven�t been cleared for a good half hour!

All in all, I have travelled the world and been to some pretty rough, down and out places � and I really haven�t got a problem with it, but when you�re paying the extortionate prices that the Anglers charge, you EXPECT to get good service and a clean environment, and under the existing management, this just isn�t going to happen.

Do yourself a favour and head down to the local Weatherspoons where you�re going to be served a good value pint in a clean environment!

26 Feb 2006 11:47