please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
|
This pub is a bit on the expensive side, I ordered around of drinks last night which came to 16.00 quid - Don’t think we will be in any hurry to go back.
|
Had a nice drink in this pub in very comfortable surroundings, several real ales available, friendly bar staff, very busy but service was excellent, found the prices no more expensive than any other pub at the moment (apart from spoons obviously)
|
way too overpriced need a second mortgage if you fancy buying a round £18.50 for four drinks.Wont be returning in a hurry.
|
Popped in before the cinema for a quick sandwich and found The Bear a pretty good place for a quick drink. The sandwiches were simple and not overpriced, the staff were friendly but nearly mad from listening to same Christmas album for the last 2 weeks.
|
Had an awful experience a couple of Sundays ago; went in for a late Sunday lunch and a pint - the prices were rediculous (food and drink) and our food took an hour to arrive despite the dining area being quiet and our order being very simple; once it did arrive I'd sooner have found a Weatherspoons and paid less than half the price for better food !
|
shit pub full of 16 yr olds being sick
anonymous - 4 Sep 2007 15:07 |
slow service,plastic glasses,surley staff not geared up to handle race day crowd
|
Couldn't work out who they can justify the prices of beer and larger for a bog average pub in the communter belt - then realised it's a Youngs Pub - 'nugh said!.
anonymous - 17 Jan 2007 17:16 |
"Eat - Drink - Sleep" (thats what the inscription says above the door as you enter this pub)!
I only did one of the above, and a very pleasant lunchtime drink it was too.
For the lager buffs out there, who dare, the Bear has Stella, Star', Fosters, Hoegaarden and Peroni on tap. (The latter Italian beer was £4.30 a pint)! So we only had 6 of those..! (i jest)!
A walkaround bar, with smaller comfy areas off it. A restaurant area at the back, and a small (6 tables) 'no-smoking' area on right hand side (not as 'comfy' as the smoking room next to it though..! Roll on July'07..) All in all a nice pub. I don't get to Esher that often, but now I know where the 'Bear' is, thanks to 'Laid back Ron', I shall certainly revisit. Even Mrs TJ gave it the thumbs up (and she's a very choosey lady..!!) First impressions: 7/10. TJ
|
We had high expectations after the recent complete renovation, but were disappointed to find is was still a smokers paradise and attracting the younger element who can't hold their drink (we witnessed one 'lady' who threw up in the pub). Nice.
|
Oh dear Sunday luch for 6 of us and it cost just short of £200 now it was nice but not that nice.....when will the catering guys get the right balance? Esher is a very rich area but the place was half empty. When i spoke to the staff they said the catering bosses set the prices and change the menus as often as a bus changes destination!! I fear for when the beer comes from bedford as ell it can only mean more price rises.
|
Drink prices are indeed extortionate as comment below states, bought a pint and a gin (single) and tonic and it came to over £8. The refurb was not to our liking wither, quite cheaply done, with the typical ‘m trying to look like an interior designer by getting a vase and dumping some metal twigs in it and tad a- what a great design- not! It has no warmth or real character and we couldn’t wait to leave. If drink prices came down- fine- but with drink prices as high as a top London cocktail bar in these surroundings- someone’s having a laugh….
|
Yes but ... given the previous review is pretty much one of a restaurant, what happened to this being a pub? The beer is ok, no more than that - but then it now comes from Bedford, not Wandsworth.
|
What a transformation! I went there for dinner a couple of weeks ago and WOW! The food was great, the service excellent and very reasonable priced I think. The girlfriend and family all enjoyed themselves too. Well done Youngs for transforming this pub in to some thing extrordinary & truly wonderful.
anonymous - 5 Aug 2006 14:45 |
Has the refurb made any difference to their past extortionate pricing policy, cellar keeping and staff training ?
Biker - 22 Jun 2006 11:06 |
Bear Esher is currently undergoing a massive refurbishment to bedrooms, bar and restaurant.
Opening 18th June.
Please log on to www.bearesher.co.uk for more information
|
came here about 10 times on lunchbreaks while working a the cinema opposite, really pretentious, full of typical Esher snobs and this reflects on the prices, i think i payed about £3.40 for a pint of Stella. Food was really nice tho and the pints top quality. i think a few Chelsea players are regulars here. 7/10
|
I must just have struck lucky. It seemed to me like a typical Young's-style pub before they started 'cafe-bar'modernisations - large, rather imposing, slightly impersonal. I was there twice last year, and both times the bar staff were competent and civil, and the beer excellent (Young's Ordinary, no double vodkas,so I can't comment on them). Beautifully cool inside on an oppressively hot day,pleasant outside on a slightly cooler one. Music can be loud, but it's easily avoided. P.S. I was wearing jeans and T-shirt.
|
Worst Young's house I have ever been used.
Clueless staff offering appalling service, expensive poorly kept beer only slightly redeemed by the fact that the food was a little better then expected.
|
John Terry of Chelsea and Engerlund infamy was mentioned in recent media dispatches in the same breath as this pub. That in itself is a good enough reason to never come here. This smarmy pub is all about the posturing and futility of overcashed muppet life in Esher. The pub is bland, the beer is not so good, the seating areas seem to be a mix of living rooms, as though some DIY geezer went mad, and the atmosphere is shoking, unless you are a Nokia coming to look for another tweedy Nokia to mate with. The pub gets even worse when Sandown Park racing is in operation, when it feels like it is trying to be a country type pub, and fails dismally. This part of the country is poorly served by quality boozers and you would be best advised to continue in London
|
Having visited this oub only once, my comments should not be taken as established fact - only observations on the moment.
* Overpriced, but the area does carry a certain 'premium price' based on the fact that some are willing to just pay up and look big.
* Staff Training, appears to be non-existant.
From a business point of view, another example of 'charge what the market will stand' and get out.
|
You go in here if you have to!
You have to re-morgage to buy a drink, and the bar staff are well kinda rude...
to be fair i went in recently and it was better...but i still cant justify those prices!
|
The Bear, pretty much where someone would go if theyre not quite wealthy enough to buy a round at the Albert Arms. Or are dressed "inappropriately". Not that this means its cheap... £6.80 for a double vodka and coke? I could buy a cheap shirt and get into the Albert for that!!!
|
Just bought a copy of the good beer guide 2005 and this pub is in it. How ?? The beer wasn't that good and at the prices it charges you are better of going else where.
|
I quite like this place - if I feel like a change from the Wheatsheaf and can't be bothered to fight off the Yuppies in the Albert, this is where I come. Its no great shakes but its warm, friendly and in no way pretentious.
Ciarán - 26 Aug 2004 15:57 |
Far from good. Its quite expensive and the food menu is very limited. Poor atmsophere in general. Best avoided.
Bob - 20 May 2004 12:37 |
its dull, lifeless, boring and the bar staff are complete idiots who couldnt pour a pint if their life depended on it!!
sarah - 27 Jan 2004 18:46 |
Bar staff are rude and i got id for a coke and i was drinking coke because i was driving. Aww that made me angry.
Sean - 20 Jan 2004 16:01 |
I have to agree with many of the other contributors here. I was full of hope when I saw the pub from the outside but couldn't believe they really charge three quid for a Stella. I don't mind paying a little extra when drinking in London - but this is Esher for goodness sake!! The landlord is clearly taking the piss out of the locals and they are fools for putting up with it. Drank up, left and vowed not to return. They are not taking the piss out of me.
Chris - 3 Jan 2004 00:39 |
I feel violated every time i buy a round, shockingly expensive. combine it with no music, a second rate atmosphere and lots of aussie barmen/women, and there really is no reason to go there.
Scotty Boy - 24 Dec 2003 13:35 |
This Pub has definately gone down hill. No atmosphere, expensive drinks and a strange Ozzy lad who juggles bottles of beer to show off and complains that its not his turn to get ice!
Steve - 20 Sep 2003 17:06 |
The comments and the ratings seem to speak for themselves. There are much nicer Young's pubs throughout Southwest London - give them a try for a breath of fresh air. For those of you who have registered complaints about this pub:
write to:
John Young
YOUNGS BREWERY
Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 4JD
or telephone
020 8875 7000
|
Not a lovely place. Found nicer on my UK pub tour.
Phil - 16 Jul 2003 15:19 |
Extremly average. Has a wierd but at the back that looks like a train carriage though. The car park is crap as well. Go to the Albert!!
Mike - 19 Mar 2003 14:53 |
skip nav