please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Used to be my first choice as a local but recent visits have seen it slip down the order. The refurbishment has made it look a little bit nicer but that was nver the point of the place and they have lost quite a lot. Most average point is the fact that it is so expensive (2 pints and some pistachios set me back £11) but I also don't like the way they have such an expansive garden and then have to close it so early (one time we were literally hounded out of there by staff who were clearly massively eager to get home). When there are so many better pubs in the area I find it hard to come up with a reason to go there, it is even too pretentious to show the football now.
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Went on Saturday night when it was very warm and we expected the place it be full, especially in the garden; far from it. The reason is, I suspect, the food, which despite the absence of customers took 45 mins to arrive (2 adults & 2 kids meals). My new potatoes had been substituted for garlic bread (they have no potatoes?), and the kids fish & chips were those Macdonalds style wafer thin fries and a piece of fish about 3 inches long. Overall far from impressed and sad that as a local they've missed a real opportunity here. The beer is OK, if a tad expensive, but the bad food & bad service means I won't be going back again in a hurry and nor, it seems do many others.
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Did my annual visit to the 'Boudoir' recently... (H&H my old Dad's local. How its changed since then!)
Clean+neat+tidy enough, plenty of seats (all different) and plenty of tables out the back in an extensive garden area (no good at this time of year tho')!
East/European bar staff, pleasant+efficient enough, but my opening joke was totally lost, and any repartee will be brief! I enjoyed my lunch-time 'Morelli' beer. But thats about it.
Can i make a suggestion 'JB', rather than the Pig&Whistle, nearby, go a bit further uphill towards Richmond Park, and try 'The Plough', by far the best pub in the area. TJ
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Large Youngs establishment on the main Upper Richmond Road in Sheen, not too far away from Mortlake Station.
Having heard that the pub had reopened following extensive refurbishment, a sort of morbid curiousity compelled me to go see for myself whether widespread local rumours of the pub's demise were true, or indeed premature.
Sadly, the two previous contributors are spot on. We now have basically a food orientated family venue with the atmosphere of a Harvester, but with a gastro pub menu and prices to match. Table service is provided at the rear part of the pub, where the previous intimate railway carriage style booths have gone.
The former public bar on the left is now The Bellini Lounge and was locked on my recent visit. The pub's website describes it as a "boudoir style cocktail lounge, primarily for private hire....". Had my Polish been up to scratch, I might have asked the barmaid for a quick peep inside, but I doubt I'll be hiring it !
On my recent visit, neither the Youngs Special or Ordinary were available, with only the Winter Warmer being on. Admittedly it was in good form, but basically this pub does not really offer facilities for drinkers only any more and I quickly drank up and left.
I retreated to the formerly much-maligned Pig and Whistle - where a pubby convivial atmosphere now exists - and you may well wish to follow suit.
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This impressive refurb has turned the pub into a hotel lobby. Nice enough ...if that is what you are looking for....but it is not a local pub.
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I had eagerly been anticipating the Hare to reopen after such a lengthy time being refurbished.
Unfortunately when the day came to visit what used to be my favourite local for a beer I was bitterly disappointed. I understand that many pubs these days are heading along the modern route of gastro food and drink but it feels like the heart and soul of this pub has been ripped out. Agreed it looks impressive in there but it distinctly lacks any real character, and what’s with renaming the saloon bar the ‘Belinni lounge’, its Sheen not Soho!!
The bar staff seemed ok at first glance but when asked if they would be showing the England v Australia ODI match I was told they wouldn’t be. This being in a pub where I would often go for a few pints to watch whatever sport they would be showing in a relaxing atmosphere!
I’d say if you are looking for a decent pub in east sheen which is clean, has some atmosphere and isn’t trying to be pretentious then the pig and whistle is now the place to be. If you want a posh pub meal come here!!
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Refurb now complete and reopened. Overall not a bad job, but sad to see the public bar go to be replaced by the "Bellini Lounge" (!) which was locked on my visit today. Large beer garden has been spruced up a little and we now have waiters and waitresses to serve at table. More emphasis now on food (as is inevitably the case these days!) but menu looked reasonable and not overly eexpensive for gastro pub type food.
Usual Youngs beers - I had the Kew Gold which was in goos nick, plus a number of lagers including Amstel and Kirin.
Accepting that "modernisation" seems to be the name of the game as far as breweries are concenred, then this is one of the better Youngs refurbs. My rating remains at 8 - the same as before.
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This is a very big Youngs pub with a very large garden out the back. Unsurprisingly, Ordinary, Special and Bombardier were available alongside standard and premium lagers. The manager (?) seemed OK and aside from the vast saloon bar that is set out with plenty of tables there is a separate public bar where the music cannot be heard and the dartboard looks well used.
I didn’t think this place was anything special and next time I’m in the area I’ll probably drink elsewhere.
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Came here to watch the rugby on Saturday. Great pub with a huge garden, professional staff and mature clientele. Had roast beef dinner - good portion and price. Definitely one of the better pubs in the area. Hear there is going to be a refurb soon. Will be back to try it out in April.
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Nice pub, fine Youngs ales and helpful staff.
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Is it true about the rumour that Youngs have made a
planning application submitted on this pub? Where a refurbishment planned by owners Young's which will remove the 1930's separate public bar described as a remarkable survival from its day? Yet more English pub Heritage being destroyed by Youngs? Any more information from anyone?
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Beer garden good, beer itself average, clientele a little edgy on a Saturday night in my experience, although I have a feeling I caught the aftermath of a football match. There are better options in Sheen, let's face it.
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Typical of Youngs and the area, with only decent beer to recommend it, which is why its in the Beer Guide.
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Went last night and it was busy (not surprising really being as it is the week running up to Xmas) and only two bar staff!! Sort it out. I noticed there were enough staff in the so-called 'Staff Panto' that we had to endure but they all seemed to disappear when there was work to be done.
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The pub seems to have changed for the worst in the last 6 months.
Used to be a fairly friendly place to visit for a family meal and a pint at the weekends. Unfortunatley the last few meals we have had there have been poor at the best and the once friendly welcome to families has now been replaced with a terrible attitude to children.
anonymous - 29 Sep 2007 19:59 |
In a sentence; This pub has nothing. No atmosphere.A little rough
anonymous - 23 Sep 2007 15:15 |
Seems quite an uninspiring place to me. It's not particularly bad, however, and the service is usually pretty good on my irregular visits (bar one occasion). The atmosphere seems quite hit and miss in the handful of times I've been there, sometimes decent enough and sometimes lifeless. On the whole, somewhere you'd go if it was convenient to you, but not somewhere you'd make a point of going to.
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overpriced.similar to all of Youngs pubs. Food is is extremely poor value,another head office menu that does not cater for the dwindling clientele.Staff have always been friendly, but repeated management changes are not good,and a sure sign of this pub's demise.Poor value for money,what are Youngs doing?
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Beer always perfectly kept and cool.
Very nice and efficient staff, especially the Transylvanian girl.
Not quite as busy as it used to be, which I attribute to football occasionally taking over, and the gaudy carpet that someone at Youngs likes these days.
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Speaking as an integral member of a four-time winning pub quiz team (from only 6 appearances mind you!) I can heartily recommend this public house! It used to have a snooker table in the back of the main bar where I first tried out my black mamba cue, but that's gone now to make way for some cosy little booths. Decent ales, good pub grub, large beer garden, dog friendly, full length locking door in the (only) cubicle in the blokes bogs etc, etc. If you buy 2 main meals over a combined certain price (£13?) you get a free bottle of wine! A potentially messy but very welcome touch!
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Beer in excellent condition love the public bar.
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UKcharlie may be right. The Plough and Hare & Hounds are easily the best East Sheen pubs. Visit both and judge for yourselves; they are only c4-500 yards apart.
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Vying with the Plough for the top pub in Sheen, i reckon the Hare & Hounds edges it slightly: Great beer selection which is very well kept at lower prices than other places in the area. The clientelle is from a wide range of ages and backgrounds giving it a nice atmosphere where theres always someone to talk to at the bar. Staff are friendly and the large beer garden in the back is great in summer.
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Probably...the best pub in Sheen..!!
Now, you have to visit the Hare to see if I'm right!!
A spacious pub, clean & tidy (recent re-fit), with a massive garden area at the back, great when the weathers nice. The barmaid was extremely efficient, and friendly. I would pay for that alone, but it came with a beer - which didn't touch the sides, as it was an extremely hot afternoon!
I have not tried the Hare in the evenings, maybe you have, and can fill us in on the Sheen nightlife scene..! TJ
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Seems to have had yet another colour scheme change - feels different every time I do this pub. It now feels like what Youngs would refer to as "modern traditional", but the outside drinking area is the big draw here in Summer.
Worth stopping off for a jar if passing through
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The snooker table is no loss. It was only ever used by Vest-Man and his friends, and the noise they made annoyed the cr*p out of everyone else. Despite being a fairly ugly big boozer, it draws an amazing range of ages, interests and social types. Cracking pint.
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This pub seems to have gotten better over the years and now has a mixed crowd of oldies and youngsters. Beer garden out the back is lovely in summer, and great food served!
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What's happened to the famous snooker room and the full sized table ?
Pub is just not the same without it
John - 9 Nov 2004 16:23 |
the best pub in east sheen by far. tanya runs it perfecty. if your in the area you must visit.
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Very good pub. Does have Sky Sports and the barman was v. good, he could serve 3 or 4 people at the same time.
John - 9 Sep 2004 08:57 |
Love this pub, full of old boys who nip to the bookies which is close by. The large lounge section has a youger crowd. Nice large grassed garden with a swing and slide at the back.
jen - 2 Jul 2004 10:09 |
Full of old male regulars, and that odd fruit-tasting Youngs Export lager. Low totty count, but good enough with the right company.
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Great old "Young's" pub, with huge grassed area out back. morris dancers used to play there sometimes during the summer.
ross cameron - 19 Jul 2003 01:20 |
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