please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I enjoyed my brief visit here, although is more of a restaurant feel than a pub feel. An interior mix of old fashioned elements going into a modern feel
Nice for a stop off
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The Broadside was decent enough but the Adnams was the only one on much to the chagrin of some disgruntled looking ale fans at the weekend.
Ember inns have customed this hostelry to their own corporate intentions. Not a terrible pub by any means.
What is slightly incongruous is you had the ale gentlemen, then the usual Ember inn clientele eating food and then a group of geezers who might ask you who you was looking at if you spilt their Magners.
No individual character but reliable enough.
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Retains some of its character despite Ember Inn's unfortunate clone-dressing of some parts of it. Went for the Adnams Broadside - which was actually one of the best tasting pints of Broadside I'd tasted anywhere, which was a really pleasant surprise. Food was overpriced, with sausages slightly red in the middle. Great beer, average surroundings, below average food.
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Retains some of its character despite Ember Inn's unfortunate clone-dressing of some parts of it. Went for the Adnams Broadside - which was actually one of the best tasting pints of Broadside I'd tasted anywhere, which was a really pleasant surprise. Food was overpriced, with sausages slightly red in the middle. Great beer, average surroundings, below average food.
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The interior of this pub has hopefully just been covered over and equally hopefully the ancient timbers and smoke stained plaster work can be revealed if and when such a building as this falls back into the right hands. Formula food menu, too brightly lit but fewer of the clique customers of the past. The last part possibly due to the Good Companions shot-gun incident a few summers back.
That said, not bad - just disappointing, and given its age amazingly lacking in character. So few really decent pubs nearby.
Pip-pip!
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Stopped for a quick one as I happened to be passing, to see if it had settled down from the refurb.
Not really. It'll never be the same. Bloody vandals.
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Nice pub... interesting style. It's kept the features of the old house/builsing.. low celings, fireplaces. There are lots of little areas makes it feel like your own private area. The staff are friendly too.
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Ventured back to check out as was going to be in Warlingham for new year. Same regulars as have always been there but the other 2 pubs on the green aren't inviting. Decor settled in a bit more but have same reservations about the atmosphere of the place. Better of in the Goodies or the revamped Hare & Hounds at opposite ends of town
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Have now been back to find the old dining area revamped and extended behind the old drinking area. Looks good (but still new) but didn't eat so can't comment on the food. The great old bar with low beams has been wrecked though as the black wooden beams are surrounded in walls covered in (mock?) pine and cheap paint. The bar counter (retained) has also been extended round to the extension adding further light and completely removing an feeling of being in a historic pub. Didn't see the Harvets though
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Now back open as an Ember Inn. They managed to resist the temptation to knock it through, so the five small rooms to the front remain, with a new extension to the rear. Of course they couldn't resist the temptation to paint all the old wood panelling in stupid pastel colours and replace the rickety old furniture with identikit MFI stuff. An Ember Inn as I said so same expensive microwaved stuff as Vintage Inns served in silly oversized soup plates. No chance of a basic sandwich, the usual over-elaborate affair with an unneccessary plate of chips presumably to justify charging nearly a fiver for it. Unusually for an M&B pub they did produce a nice pint of Harveys. Was an 8 point pub, now 6.
Nick - 23 Aug 2004 10:58 |
currently closed for the afore mentioned renovation. Waiting to see how damaging the changes are
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15th century coaching inn featuring several small rooms, low beams and a real fire. Serving London Pride, Youngs and Harveys (the latter was probably a guest judging by the hand written pump label) at reasonable prices. Recently changed owners who have applied for planning permission to make it more into a restaurant which may ruin a old pub or may not be so bad if it only changes the dining area off to the side
lout_from_the_lane - 20 Feb 2004 13:24 |
