please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Hi, i'm Jonny the manager of the pub, just to let you know we have a new phone number which is 0208 940 8513. it will be updated properly after the weekend. in the meantime pop in and see what we've done with the place!!
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The marlborough will be re-opening on the 8th May (builders permitting)
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Marlborough is re-opening on 7th May in the evening
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Is this pub closed for a refurbishment? When is it reopening?
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I don't think this pub deserves a sub-5 rating. I've been there three times since recently moving to Richmond. Each time my experience has been enjoyable. I suspect, based upon previous reviews, that management is attempting a turnaround.
I like the space and the food. The two times I've eaten, I've had some of the best casual food I've eaten in Richmond. Granted, I've limited myself to the steaks but each time they have delivered a reasonably priced plate of good food. And, if you are looking for impeccable, adaptable and obliging service, you'll probably have to accept basic friendliness instead.
I found it unpretentious and friendly. Plus: lager, ale or cider--they usually have more than one choice on tap.
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Do not eat Sunday Lunch at this pub!
We ate Sunday lunch here in Spring 2007, at was excellent. 1 year later (Feb 2008), against the better advice of other reviews we tried it again. The food and service was awful. Veg was stone cold, meat over cooked and staff not helpful (although they did offer to "heat it up"). The bar here serves a good range of beer, but it is always slow to get served. So, OK for a slow drink, but I won't try the food here again.
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I wandered in here just wanting a drink and was served by a very surprised barman who was probably astonished that I did so without being accompanied by my wife, children, several other relatives, and wanting a full meal. Clue, pal: it's supposed to be a pub, that's as in House, Public. Not a local branch of Mothercare set up in a Victorian barn which it resembles.
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We went here for our works drinks and I had some worries after looking at the comments on the website. However it is a perfectly pleasent pub. The bar person who served us was really nice, we ordered food which everyone enjoyed, the manager very helpful. There was music but it wasn't too loud (and it sounded alright). I got favourable comments back from other people in the group to. We were there on a fairly quiet Thursday. I understand it's part of a chain - which doesn't suit everybody - but I'd go there again.
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About five years ago this was a fantastic pub that was always full and I went every couple of weeks.
Oh how things have changed. As other reviewers have said the service is not only terrible now but the bar staff are actually aggressive and threatening. It used to be worth the walk up the hill but not anymore. Avoid like the plague.
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This pub is a disgrace. We visited earlier this week to find a completely empty pub and garden accompanied by disgruntled bar staff and heavy metal music. Despite this, and due to convenience, we stayed and upon trying to order a further drink at least five minutes before last orders we were rudely and point blankely refused. The upside is that we all left very sober, the downside is that until a change in management and attitude this once great local is no longer such.
And yes, we too have experienced the frozen fish!
anonymous - 1 Aug 2007 11:54 |
Has really gone down hill in recent years.
The food is ropey in the extreme - ordered fishcakes the last time I visited and there was ice in the middle !! No apologies from anyone, and they still tried to charge me.
I used to visit there most nights when Oisín ran the place 3 or 4 years ago.
Since the frozen fish, I haven't been in.
A well deserved nul points !!
anonymous - 22 Jul 2007 08:47 |
Visited last Saturday. Queues at the bar were a problem with some long waits. Gets a such poor mark chiefly because of the lack of soap in the gents toilets which was reported but nothing was done about it.
sharm - 20 May 2007 14:01 |
Do they still do a quiz in here on a Wednesday eveing?
anonymous - 5 Apr 2007 12:19 |
Nice big garden for kids; could do with some new play equipment though and a general tidy up. Sadly the fences around the garden are not always secure so if you take little ones into the garden make sure they don't escape through a fence/gate!!
Found service helpful and cheerful. The food is good, though with a lack of a childrens option it is very pricey when going with kids; would like to see a childrens option on the menu (something
that isn't just a bowl of chips).
Good selection of interesting beers, which is great. All in, a good child-tolerant pub.
anonymous - 5 Apr 2007 12:18 |
I had a pleasant enough lunch in here the other day. Barman was efficient. Choice of beers was plentiful. "Stumble on, brother..!"
And now that the loo's fixed, Mick Jagger has no more excuse not to visit..! TJ
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My local pub. It has recently been renovated and I do like to more now.
Shame the staff can't be a bit more helpful, and am sometimes disappointed in the food.
Oh well, it is stumbling distance from home so that has to count for something!
sem07 - 14 Mar 2007 13:55 |
What a great pub, prime location, great staff, great beers, great food, well worth a trip up the hill.
BTW teejay the toilets were fixed today!
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Richmond Hill...what a location! Mick Jagger living around the corner...Ronnie Wood not far away either! This should be a really nice pub.
My meal was ok, the selection of world beers & lagers is unusual, and worth checking.
However, some people say you can judge a place by the state of the toilets...! If you suffer from asthma, or any other breathing disorder do NOT go in the gents loo...!! It has a serious DAMP problem, not helped by the centre urinal, whose pipework is still damaged, and has an unfortunate trick of 'peeing' back at anyone near!! (How embarassing.. explain that damp patch..!) Management, it needs sorting quick!! TJ
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Well not a pub you would want to drink in and eat. The staff ignore you and are left waiting to be served.
My friend tried the food which she said was nothing more than average. But the place has a lot going for it.
anonymous - 21 Feb 2007 15:36 |
Since the management change, the policy changed to 21 plus. My friends and I have gone there for the past year and really enjoyed it, but now we cannot even drink there. They are now are going to lose alot of business from the students who live around the area. We really just wanted a pint of Fruli, but now we must try to find another pub close by for our cravings and our business. It was nice knowing the Marlborough, but good riddance.
anonymous - 18 Feb 2007 21:21 |
Did I mention the list of 'world' beers on tap at the Marlboro..!:
Kirin Ichiban (popular Japanese beer); Liefmans Frambozen (thats Raspberry beer folks!); Becks Vier 4%; Heineken 5%; Belle-Vue Kriek (a red,cherry beer); Maredous Blonde (sounds French); Paulaner Munchen (a clear German beer); Staropramen (premium Czech lager); IPA Green King; Leffe (strong Belgium beer 6+%); Fruhli (is that strawberry beer...!!)! And thats just for starters, further down the bar away from the door are more ales & beers. A fair choice indeed. I like this bar! We will have to re-visit. TJ
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The Marlboro' is a no-smoking pub, up Richmond Hill. A far uphill walk from Richmond town centre, but as I discovered well worth it!
A long thin bar, with seductively dimmed lighting at night. A large soft leather sofa infront of a log fire at the far end (nice on a cold night). But there were hardly no more than a dozen people in there at 10pm (closing at 11pm mid-week, Midnight Fri+Sat) begging the question 'why'? The 'good lady' and I quite enjoyed it in here, the piped music was soft and 'bluesy' but not too loud. Clientele tended to be the over 30's, who didn't need smokes, weed, or raucous music! (Sorry if I've put you off now..!) But I would place the 'Marlboro' definately high up in my top 10 of Richmond pubs. Thanks Ben! TJ
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Leffe ! Fruli ! nice !
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The people who run The Marlborough have absolutely no idea. It is, unfortunately, my local. Fortunately the most excellent Roebcuk is just round the corner.
I was in there the other night and had to wait 15 minutes to get served, while no other customers were waiting. The bar staff have a tendancy to ignore you, the manager will walk past and smile meekly, but not actually step in a pour a pint. The beer is variable, not particularly well kept. Green King IPA (rough), and Bombardier (passable) are always on. If you're lucky there might be a guest.
The food, as other reviewers have mentioned, is awful.
The recent 'refurb' was basically a lick of paint and some tables re-arranged. It's a real shame - if the management got their act together they could make this into a great place. As it is I won't be drinking there again.
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Good with a big group, but a bit pretentious. Nice Belgium beers, however.
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Really getting worse, as time goes by.
Got a blue plastic finger in the middle of a fish cake there recently, and no apology from the manager. Had to remind him that I shouldn't pay for the meal !!
A well deserved nul points
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The Marlborough is a bit odd. You can have a really good night here, but everything is variable - especially the staff. The beer is generally quite good, they had Moorhouse Golden Witch on the other week for instance. The food on the other hand is overpriced and pretty shocking - check out The Village cafe next door if you want to eat, then come back. I like the decor - relaxed, comfy chairs, nice beer garden, wooden floors, giant sudoku, worth a visit anyway, especially if you live round the corner...
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I wouldn't bother. Go round the corner to the Roebuck, upstairs is no smoking if that's your bag but better service, atmosphere and view frankly.
anonymous - 13 Jun 2006 16:23 |
This is my local and I'm afraid to say it has gone down hill badly over the last 2 years.
The food when you eventually order can be ropey - I once got a still frozen (in the middle) fish! Half the menu seems to be unavailable every time I order.
The garden has slid into a bit of a state - needs a serious going over with a mower.
The staff are a bit hit a miss. Most of the boys working there seem not to give a damn about their customers. The manager seems blissfully unaware of anyone but his own cushy little number 'running this place'. I really hate it when they do not pay attention to who is next to be served (a pet hate of mine) - and there are always people waiting to be served which seems incredible as the place never seems that busy.
The pub could be great again - but needs a serious overhaul. Put the customer first, get some more attentive staff, two proper chefs and a manager that understands minimum standards of customer care and you may see me back.
I'd rather be in the refurb'd Roebuck.
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Used to love it here, but what has happened to the place. Read the reviews below and nothing more to add to them unfortunately.
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Very child friendly, nice enough outside area. Terrible food and when I complained to the Manager I got a whole load of abuse! Awful service which is a real shame as it could be a nice pub. The Manager is rude and offensive. (and ginger and balding).
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Trendy and expensive. Definitely worth a visit!
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Great location , but another pub ruined by a characterless refurb . Foods not bad , but can't have your after dinner smoke !!!!!
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whatever happened to boris? I miss him dearly.
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I think I can add some light to these comments...I used to work at the Marlborough, from about 2000-02, when it was indeed managed by two lovely Irishmen, Oisin, Andrew, and then later, assistant manager, John. And experienced the "re-furb" as it was called, by Six Continents, the owners. I loved the staff, the pub, the regulars, and the atmosphere we created. I don't know what it is like now, but I am anxious to see in a month when I come to visit from the States. I just hope all the regulars haven't gone elsewhere because I really want to chat with them.
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Should be better than it is. Sometimes great sometimes appalling. Can't make my mind up, lovely location in summer and have banned smoking now which is nice but unsure if good idea. Indecisive maybe.
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A great pub marred by practically endemic overcharging by the staff. I can think of at least 5 occasions amongst friends that have involved serious overcharging on bar tabs etc... Still, pay in cash, check your gold fillings and you will have a good time as it's a great pub with no pikies able to make it up the hill.
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Was much better before they did it up a few years ago.
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Amazingly found out 4 vodkas are only £8.20 Maybe "chavs" have a problem with maths. Little oiks should probably drink in town, and leave the adults on the hill.
anonymous - 4 Jan 2005 20:30 |
o me, it's one of the best pubs around. Food is just great, i love it, and the service isn't that slow as some people say. it's a very nice place to chill out in the evenings. I quite like to spend monday nights there.
anonymous - 30 Nov 2004 13:58 |
I've always been a big fan of this pub but I had a very bad experience there last night. Having been to settle up my tab I realised that I had been over charged. The bar staff took about 20 minutes to try and resolve the problem only for them to accuse me of having drunk 4 vodkas. The managers comments summed up the experience, "If your lying I hope you burn in hell." Angry words were exchanged and I left with the refund, but to be honest I would have given them the £12.50 back just to retrieve 30 minutes of my life.
anonymous - 27 Nov 2004 11:51 |
crammed on sunday afternoon. food well worth trying.shame the weather was too cold to go into the garden.
anonymous - 24 Nov 2004 13:00 |
I went there on a Saturday night for a change and it was full of top totty! Too young & tasty for me but worth noting! That said, the service was as dreadful as ever; surely the slowest in Richmond? Oi manager you need 4 people serving and you will get more money!
Jake Holloway - 17 Nov 2004 16:55 |
This used to be a great pub until earlier this year. The garden is still massive and great in summer and the interior isn't tatty as mentioned below, but it is laid back. The food used to be great but is now just okay, and the service is deadly slow at times, taking over an hour for a sandwich to arrive sometimes. I think the management must have changed recently and they're just not coping. The staff are okay usually but some are really up their own arse and do make you feel like you are being really out of order asking for anything.
Angela Spangela - 21 Oct 2004 13:42 |
really nice laid back sundays. food pretty good, but friendly staff make it worth the walk up the hill. try the real ales.
Piers H G - 18 Oct 2004 00:45 |
I was told about this place by a friend of mine, who told me it was worth a visit. So I visited and can not complain, leffe on draught, lot's of foreign beer in bottles, real ale was good. I didn't have any food on this visit, but if it is as good as the beer, I'll defenately come back to try it. watch this space. well worth a visit.
Saint - 24 Aug 2004 23:32 |
Rubbish, the place is clearly being run into the ground, has potential but is tatty beyond belief
TheGP - 22 Aug 2004 20:26 |
Used to be a great place when it was run by an Irish fellow with a funny name. Anyone know what ever happened to him? Agree completely with the comments below by the way.
Mary - 20 Aug 2004 15:05 |
I found the staff at the pub to be very unfriendly, making the punters feel as if they were asking for the world, not a beer. The kitchen closed before it should have done. The beer was no more than ok. Nice garden. I would not ever contemplate wasting my time to go there again.
Ben - 18 Aug 2004 13:52 |
I live fairly close too, and feel the pub is really worth a visit! Go on, you know you want to.
John - 28 Jul 2004 22:48 |
Well, I returned for summer drinks recently but can't say my opinion has changed that much. Outside it's nice but does very much strike one as a 'work in progress'. Like this pub in fact which seems to exist in a strange limbo, teetering on the brink of oblivion on one side and genius on the other.
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sadly, it aint what it used to be two years ago. not really worth the walk up the hill
john - 2 Jul 2004 22:50 |
Disagreeable unfriendly sort of place with surly wannabe yuppies behind bar. Music always a couple of notches too loud, beer average. Only worth the trip if you live next door, which I do, sadly.
anonymous - 29 Jun 2004 21:21 |
fantastic atmosphere there on weekends, great bitter, bbq red hot and delicious, a delightful summer pub
John - 29 Jun 2004 18:07 |
Seems like there a mixture of views about The Marlborough. Personally, I like it. It gets very busy in the evenings and finding a seat can be tough. Food is good, beer is alright, decor is smart.
radandmark - 11 Jun 2004 17:37 |
Was there in the summer, and the garden is great, especially in the evening when the parents and kids have gone home. Have been there quite a lot since, and the staff are friendly and accomodating, as is the manager who is quite funny when he's drunk.
Cazza - 3 Mar 2004 16:45 |
Essentially this place has narrowly saved itself from P&P/All Bar One purgatory by adhering to two of the most fundamental rules of pub - keep the lighting low and the colours warm. You can't argue with that and as it is it's a nice place to go. In summer it could suffer from it's big windows, although much of the seating does remains to the rear which might help. I haven't seen the garden and I can't recall the prices being overly expensive - it is Richmond after all - so I'll give it 7/10 for now but it will be up for review come early summer.
Good for: Winter weekend nights
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Typical of the richmond set, very expensive and not really a pub!
tibbs - 24 Feb 2004 12:58 |
Used to be a really nice pub but changed management. Now the service is awful and the food has gone right down the pan. The manager hasn't a clue and the lines are filthy,time for a clean. Do michell's and Butler know anything about running pubs and managers. Er! No seems to be the answer.
anonymous - 13 Oct 2003 00:51 |
Marlborough is lovely - lots of candles, big sofas, wooden furniture and a fantastic outside courtyard at the back with more seating. Food was lovely & there's a great wine list. No complaints here..
JT - 27 Aug 2003 16:49 |
Used to be brilliant. New management recently and it's really gone poncy. Still worth a visit but service is awful.
jimmy - 21 Aug 2003 22:38 |
Lovely chilled places, sofas for curling up on in the winter, barbie on the go most days in the summer. Only complaint would be quite a narrow menu.
Emma - 13 Aug 2003 14:29 |
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