please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
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.
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I found myself visiting Kingston on Thursday and thought that I'd try The Ram seeing that the Griffin has now gone further along the road! It's a Spirit group pub of some possibly history considering its position close to the centre of Kingston and the Thames. On offer were a good selection of Ales; Doombar, Youngs, Green King IPA, London Pride, Nethergate and Bath Hare. I tried a pint each of the latter two. It should have been okay, but for the taste of dirty pipes. Pressing a button, doesn't clean the pipes and ensure good tasting beer. You have to attend to the main job in hand in a Pub and clean and pull through the pipes properly. Is the area Manager from Spirit a beer drinker? Silly question? I don't know in this day and age.
The pub it self was clean within reason; however the tiled area in front of the bar looked as though it hasn't been mopped recently. The toilets were clean, but here was another pub with no hot water to wash your hands. Soap alone doesn't clean germs, you need hot water too. The pub is a dark and dreary place, but it does have an area that streatches down to the River. However, this too is charmless considering it's positioning near the Thames. Can't Spirit group landscape the area? You have a brand new, world class theatre, The Rose, just along the way; why not spend a bit of money making this place pleasant. The drinkers of Kingston upon Thames deserve better. I certainly will look for a better pub on my next visit to the town.
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I dont like this pub.
It has a really bad atmosphere, and some of the staff seem to be stoned out of their nut.
the service was really poor i had to wait nearly an hour for my food, and the drinks were flat.
it's a chav pub
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Oh dear, what is happening to this place? It used to be a great Kingston pub for real ale.
I went there the other night. The Sharps Doom Bar was off, even though the pump clip was facing us. A few others were off too, but again with the pump clip suggesting otherwise. I had a pint of Outlaw Pale Ale, which was nice, but I wanted the Doom Bar. Don't advertise beers that you haven't got on!
Also, the bar staff are slow, dippy and generally uninterested. I guess they are students.
If you want real ale and a warm welcome in Kingston, go to The Willoughby Arms instead.
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Average for a Kingston pub, half-decent for a riverside pub. Occasional irritations like the constant "in or out" question and the famous time it stopped serving because one till didn't work!!
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taijix is absolutely spot on. I use this pub every day and am a 'happy regular' of The Ram - probably the best pub in Kingston. Good food and atmosphere.
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taijix - what are you like?
You are wrong 5 times over! Many 'happy' regulars? Tasty food? Lovely atmosphere? Exciting vibe? Friendly & Skilled barstaff? Ok, it has barstaff (I suppose...though have never really seen them).
Why have you hidden your profile? Do you work there? It would be great if you do work there, you could help put this place back on the beer map rather than mislead drinkers into 20 minutes of misery before sorting the place out.
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so you have to find this website and then sign up before you can post a review about this pub
then it's no wonder that the many happy regulars (myself included) and frequent visitors of the ram haven't been boosting the ratings, instead they just go back to the pub
tasty food, lovely atmosphere during the day, exciting vibe during the evening, friendly skilled bar staff. yes occasionally a few chavs come in, but it's in kingston so you can't avoid this with all the student clubs in the area
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Went in there again a month ago - (tried hard not to but I was in a round with friends). Pretty dreadful place - no point in saying anymore - still not changed.
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You guys are right, the Ram bites. I once thought this place was OK for a jar.I dunno, maybe being Canadian makes me slower in the head: must be the clean air, open space, tasty food and cheerful service staff over here. Anyway, the posers and goofs now own the Ram. Sad, really.
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Students ruined it (both by working there and patronising the place) and they still are today.
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Started off at this pub on a recent night out in Kingston. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews, ok it's not the best pub I've ever been too but it's still ok, particularly in comparison to most of the pubs in the centre of Kingston which are chain hell holes or poncey bars. The beer was good and there was an excellent selection (7 ales on tap). OK it's a bit tatty and the service wasn't that great but it proved to be the best place we visited all night (we went to 3 other pubs after this each of which got progressively worse). Luckily the friend I was visiting is moving soon so I won't have to sample the delights of Kingston again!
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Loved it for the 3 years I have been back in the area, until today... two staff on duty, one "taking a break" the other on the phone for 10 minutes and then serving her mates (who just entered the pub) while at least 3 others have been waiting for her to finish the call. I blame the management, never around and obviously don't train the staff in being aware of who's next, THE most important skill of bar staff.
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F'ing students have let this go down the sh!tter. Crap slow bar staff, the bar still stinks of puke and the beer is average at very best. How they have made the beer garden feel like your in a prison yard is staggering! This used to be one of the better pubs in Kingston but is now no better than a crappy chav/student union dive. Come and listen to wannabe indie people embarass themselves with musical instruments aswell...
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No JoPublovic, it is as bad anytime of week. I can't believe T&J Bernard have not sorted this place out. The reviews as staggeringly bad and have been for some time. What on earth are they doing? T&J Bernard...please....for the sake of humanity, shut this place down or sell it on to someone who can run it properly.
anonymous - 24 Aug 2007 16:02 |
This place is diabolical. I don't think I've seen somewhere go so downhill so quickly - I'm sure a couple of years ago it was quite cosy and civillised. They even did reasonably good food.
Went there on a sunny Sunday afternoon the other day and it felt like the games room at Feltham Young Offenders prison - teeming with teenagers on Aftershock, pitbulls and that luminous away kit. The claim to serve only over 21's is laughable. A handful of shirtless teenagers who had had way beyond serving doses were effing and blinding and the staff didn't have the first clue - probably too scared - about asserting authority. Just plain intimidating.
I know that part of the river turns does turn into a Day Release destination when the sun comes out, but they might make an effort and clean the toilets every so often - and perhaps consider a glass collector? The toilets ming as well. Truly, best avoided. It might be different in the week, but its a sorry story on weekends.
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Exceptionally poor service......and what is that dreadful smell?
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HOPELESS service.Why are most of the ales always off?
anonymous - 17 Apr 2007 23:02 |
I heard a rumour and I believe it may well be true that a number of people have died of old age/thirst/starvation waiting to be served here.
Potentially a great pub. Realistically until they sort out the shockingly slow service one to avoid unless you are a student looking for a cheap night out
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This pub has the worst ladies loos in Kingston.
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Around 10 years ago, The Ram used to be a fantastic Pub with great beer, good food and friendly, lively, knowledgable staff (Landlord/lady took a great deal of interest in their pub). Unfortunately this pub has changed hands a few times to owners that appear not to give a toss. The beer is awful, service is disgraceful and the food (used to be so good) is dreadful. I advise anyone walking past to carry on walking.
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I know that I am only a lowly Canadian visitor but, where I come from, a pub like this, full of chavs or not, is a licence to mint money. Everyone knows that England is not exactly the home of pleasant service, or of tasty food, but it does have top beers. Enjoy what is good and laugh at the rest. I like the Ram. Anyway, what's so pleasant about the skanky old Thames in Kingston anyway?
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Why are Kingston riverside pubs mediocre? I have no idea. Hammersmith, hardly the most salubrious town on Earth, redeems itself by having several pleasant pubs by the river. Kingston seems to be incapable of doing that. It seems the riverside here is designed to be looked at from the buildings along it, not actually used, which is a shame, but there is no reason why a decent pub or two can't take root here. Just because the town is oversubscribed with young families (just try dodging the pushchairs on a Saturday morning) doesn't mean it can't have good pubs - parents need pints too!
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I have been to this pub a few times now. It is a constant disappointment to me. It is in a prime location and what a waste. It could be something great. I am not talking about modernising it, all it really needs is some organisation. The service is so slow you could die waiting. I understand it can get busy but the last time I went in it was not so there could have only been 5-6 people waiting and it still took an age to get a drink. Get it together guys it is a nice place other than the slow slow service.
anonymous - 5 Aug 2006 14:30 |
The smell is probably from the stagnant bar staff! This is one of those pubs were there's a lot of activity behind the bar but nothing bloody happens especially at lunchtimes. You can wait for ages to get served drinks as the method of taking food orders seems to take ages.
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Worth coming here just for the fact that they sell Theakston Old Peculier on tap
Will2 - 12 Jul 2006 17:54 |
I agree with Lawrence17 partly in that there did seem to be a bit of a smell. But around the bar area, who knows why. But it was fine in the seating area. They showed Mrs Doubtfire here, not the sort of thing i expect to see in a pub. Good place to come if you are a fan of real Ale
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I quite agree with "sidjtu", except that it doesn't always have sport on; sometimes one is treated to loud and crappy pop music at a volume which makes it just that bit more difficult to make oneself heard, especially after factoring in the babbling plebeians
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Anyone who has enjoyed this pub as a pleasant old fashioned type of place where you could have a quiet pint might get a shock if they visit these days. They now have plasm TVs installed blasting out continuous sport, and as a result they are attracting a younger noiser crowd.On my last 2 visits it's been packed out with noisy and aggressive football fans.Good for business I'm sure but it's ruined a once decent boozer.
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Why does this pub smell so badly......there's a constant smell of sick next to the main entrance
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The Ram has finally been renovated, the walls have been been painted purple, new Tvs bought and some better furniture - however the toilets are still as bad as ever and the pub still has a shortage of glasses.
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Kingston isn't a very nice place to be on a wet Sunday but this pub really cheered us up. It isn't much special inside. but is cosy and nicely lit. Can't speak for the real ale but the food was nice and the staff were really friendly and actually seemed to be enjoying working there. They also had ecclectic music tastes which put an upbeat spin on the exeprience.
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After a horrific year this pub now has new management and the early signs are promising. Better range of beers now available and some evidence that the toilets have been cleaned. Very impressed by the quiz night on a Tuesday night - highly amusing quiz master.
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It seemed to smell of sick throughout most of this summer. Did anyne else notice this?
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I must agree. This was a very nice pub. The beer was good, a nice selection of ales on tap (6 if i remember correctly, 3 of which were guest ales). The food was very good no nonsense pub food (try the chicken cumberland pie if its on, very nice). The layout is traditional non tarty pub with some quiete nooks to talk with your mates in. All in all very good.
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We thought this was the best pub on the Kingston riverside. Good beer, excellent food at a reasonable price and service friendly. A good no smoking area at the rear. Smoking not allowed at the bar thank heavens!!.Beer garden overlooking river.
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seems an ok pub - massive outside bit, pint was fine. all in all, perfectly acceptable.
TheGP - 20 Sep 2005 20:50 |
If your at the Mill and fancy sitting down this is the place for you!
Nice out the back....
...and George Best has been spotted having a drink here so it must be good!
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I was always told "never trust a pub where the bar staff dress better then you, no matter how nice it looks on the outside". This is one of those pubs.
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Does no food at the moment because the chef is being 'customized'. Not sure what this means: fitted with a larger exhaust and a metalflake paint job? Beer ok though and the inside is trad, there is also an outside area behind the pub. Clientele a mix of younger people and tourists.
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A nice pub for the summer but not before a night out on the town.
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Airhead bar staff. Waited 10 minutes to be served, when it was nowhere near busy, with 3 bar staff. I was invisible?! Weird. Great location, and the food was OK when it eventually arrived. Needs proper leadership behind the bar.
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Great in the summer for a chilled pint with friends
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Good for an outdoor lager of a summer's eve. Toilets ming.
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Pretty good, however resent paying £2.80 for a pint of draft soft drink.
Lovely cosy seats, sadly the kitchen was closed, but the menu looked lovely. Would like to go there for lunch.
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Like this place in the summer outside on the benches. Good pub for a chat with mates, without being disturbed.
amumd - 10 Feb 2005 15:14 |
Last time I was in there someone was having a go at the staff for calling time about 15 minutes early!!!
I think the staff have lost interest.
The Druid's head (formerly a Hogs Head) is 2 minutes away and rapidly improving.
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Unfortunately, seems to have gone down hill over the last couple of years. And a very big hill at that. The bar staff aren't the brightest people on earth, there doesn't seem to be a manager, the beer's no good, the toilets are still a disgrace. It smells so bad, it makes you wish the air was still thick with fag smoke.
Badly needs proper renovation - didn't they give it a lick of paint quite recently? Sad really. Used to love it...
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I LOVE THE RAM, Nuff said. A drunken gathering on a Summer evening
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Met up in here about 6pm last Saturday. Seemed everyone else was doing the same as when we left at 7 having had a pint with the last arrival we left the place almost empty. The Youngs was very good but the Bombadier disappointing - unfortunately I started on the latter and the former ran out. Usually reliable though
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I have officially given up on the Hogshead (or rather the Druids Head) around the corner. The Ram offers a far more genuine pub experience and if all you are looking for are a few pints of an afternoon then you can't go wrong here.
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when I complained that my jacket poato was cold the guy whisked it away brought it back piping hot. Unfortunately so was the coleslaw that was on it! Microwaved coleslaw - mmm, nice. Evidently someone else was using the brain cell that the bar staff share between them
anon - 1 Nov 2004 13:31 |
the ram isn't that bad.... i think it has gotten alot better over the past year. it must be hard work running that size of a pub, especially in the summer, with a beer garden backing onto the river. personally, i think the staff are all very nice,and not idle as some have said.whenever i have been there, the only time customers have had to wait for drinks is when it gets busy, not because the staff refuse to acknowledge you standing waiting at the bar.overall, i think the pub has a nice atmosphere.and let's face it.....you're not there to admire the pub, you're there to drink. and thats what its good for.
anonymous - 14 Oct 2004 15:25 |
a small familie pub it's just been taken over by new managers steve and lyndsey who seem nice good crowd staff are nice nice beer garden that goes back on to the river lots of real ale's and verry good food
shaun donald - 30 Aug 2004 03:06 |
Poor old Ram is taking a battering!OK so you get plastic pint glasses but when pissed people go outside and drop their glasses I'd rather there were bits of plastic on the floor than have me toes shredded by glass. (Mmm, nice!). Does often take a lifetime to be served and ladies loos not always in a fragrant state... But it has a bit of atmosphere, beer is OK when you get it, food nice and beer garden nice too. Leave off it, I like the Ram.
Jane - 17 Aug 2004 11:10 |
Really gone downhill in the last two months inspite of a paint job. Staff are idle and content to chat at the end of the bar rather than serve, beer is often appalling and even on a quiet midweek afternoon staff require you to drink out of plastic glasses, while the men's toilets are full of grafitti and under several inches of water - needs new management urgently!!!
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this pub used to be one of the best on the riverside in kingston and a welcome break from the growing number of theme pubs that now dominate the scene. However, it is going down hill fast. The back area which looks out on to the river is littered with discarded fag ends and generally the place looks as though it could do with a clean-up. The whole place is unloved by staff who don't seem interested in anything but from chatting among themselves. There is even paint sprayed graffiti in the men's toilets which nobody has even bothered to cover up. The staff are poor and the cask beer quality is average. Such a shame but I won't be returning.
gearbox - 23 Jul 2004 09:44 |
Known this pub for many years, the smell is a drain that runs under the bar towards the door. In summer in tends to smell although the various landlords have tried numerous techniques to limit the smell including perfume and having drains cleaned. On a busy night this pub can run out of beers and serves pints in plastic glasses
anonymous - 1 Jun 2004 00:53 |
I used to adore this pub, but the stench from the bar area is getting too much to bear. Imagine what it's going to be like in the summer?!
The staff are very apologetic, who through no fault of their own get a great deal of verbal abuse about this. Apparently there is an area behind the bar that they cannot clean without taking the bar out. For God's sake, will the manager please close the pub and refurbish the bar? Rather lose custom for a week or two than forgo an entire summer of trade.
It is basic human psychology: people don't like consuming food and drink in an area that stinks of vomit, death and disease.
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We went there on the 16th April. Still smelled of sick, apparently it's the chemicals in the glass washer. I've worked in plenty of pubs and have never come across that before.....
anonymous - 23 Apr 2004 11:24 |
..two weeks later, bar still smells of puke AND the outside area was absolutely filthy.It's not that difficult to keep a pub clean is it? What a shame, seems to be going downhill fast.
Simon - 19 Apr 2004 14:44 |
Agree about the vomit smelling bar, though to be fair I've drunk in here loads of time and never had that delightful experience before.The week before I was in there at exactly the same time on the same night and it was a lot quieter and more pleasant, that night it was busy, smelly and the music was turned up loud.The only reason there was such a difference in atmosphere was that on the second occassion it was a warm night and people were drinking there because they could sit outside.Moral of the story; if you fancy a quiet night don't go when the weather's good.
Simon - 9 Apr 2004 12:38 |
Nice pub in general, but becoming easier to avoid in preference of other pubs where the bar doesn't smell of vomit.
Paul - 30 Mar 2004 19:27 |
Long thin pub with river frontage (all 25 feet of it). Was smokey when tried on one evening recently (yes the floor doubles as an ash tray) but good choice of real ales. Have previously called lunchtimes when it is busy with diners.
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More of a pass through than an all night stayer I reckon, but a good old pub nonetheless. Quite a novelty to be able to sit outside in the winter, what with their sod off big heather things. Not bad, give it a bash.
Scotty Boy - 13 Jan 2004 13:27 |
Went in just before Xmas - only 1 beer on (Theakstons OP) - what were the other 4 pumps for ? - No ashtrays litter on the floor - even if they'd had a busy lunchtime they could do better than this
steve - 29 Dec 2003 18:40 |
One of Kingstons stronger efforts. Nice and traditional, what more can you say?
Good for: Bog standard drinking with a mate
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I like it. Just a simple pub with a pub 'garden' if you can call it that...but drinks are quite nice and tis a good place to chat with mates!
Rara - 8 Aug 2003 11:49 |
good pub - good food - good location
jim - 23 Apr 2003 14:13 |
Good pub with a wide selection of ales and nice food. Only problem with the beers is the poor selection of draught lagers (they used to do Becks but not anymore) and the poor quality of the Guinness. Well worth a visit in the summer due to the large seating area outside on the river. Does take a very long time to get served on a friday or saturday night.
Angus - 28 Mar 2003 10:42 |
Really nice pub. Nice atmosphere on winter evenings when quite full and great in the summer with its big outdoor area by the river. Good beer, friendly staff. Worth the bus ride from Surbiton!
Ilsa - 24 Mar 2003 16:29 |
Still serves Old Peculiar, and a great pint it was too!!!
Mike - 24 Mar 2003 14:18 |
I like the Ram, especially in summer when you can sit outside. It also used to to serve Old Peculiar on tap - one of the few pubs that does in the area. Only problem is when it does get busy it is very difficult to get a beer - it has a very small bar area definatly one of my favourites in Kingston.
Mike - 19 Mar 2003 13:19 |
I worked in the Ram for about 9 months a few years back- it's a nice place to work eat and drink in-
But it is full of coppers, CID especially - Kingston police station is opposite the pub
David - 11 Mar 2003 13:15 |
Oh yeah - haven't noticed the Filth in there either. May be they're in mufti tho...
ElDickster - 23 Jan 2003 10:41 |
Best town centre pub by far. Cosy, if a little smoky, in the winter, in the summer you can sit out by the river and watch the world go by. Attracts a pretty good crowd considering - I think they have an Over 21s bar policy which keeps the oiks out. Nice ;)
ElDickster - 23 Jan 2003 10:40 |
Yup, it's a great place. I've been a regular since I was 18. I'm now 30, which just goes to show that it's pub that you'll feel comfortable in however ancient you are. And I've never noticed any coppers in there, although I suppose that's not to say that aren't any.
David - 11 Dec 2002 17:03 |
great food (although you can be made to wait ages) great location and much better than the poncy ones by charter quay - good pub to get away from shoppers etc and enjoy a decent pint - proper beer drinkers will love the selections here
simon - 30 Sep 2002 13:47 |
The east bank of the River Thames in Kingston has recently been 'developed', meaning that there are now several premium residential blocks priced way in excess of the means of local people, and with them a number of pretentious new bars. So it's great to see pubs like the Ram surviving unchanged in this prime location, for the present at least. The Ram has always been a very relaxed pub, equally at ease catering for shoppers, students, office workers and revellers. At the rear of the pub is a huge paved garden, a partially covered strip between the pub and the river, which seats over a hundred people. Combined with a good range of beer, wine and food, this is a fantastic place to get very drunk with good friends in any season. Just mind those monied New Media Mockneys!
Loz - 9 Aug 2002 00:29 |
