please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great selection last night CBOB Hobsons Mild, Twickenham Sundancer and Gothick Dark, Springhead Roaring Meg and Saltaire Cascade. Pub packed and great atmosphere. Bagrat is having no problmes maintaining the pub's popularity and quality of beers. Some new staff on, but all eqaul to the task.
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I totally disagree with the comment made below by pub2pub. Bagrat is doing a good job - still a very good choice of real ales (although we don't necessarily need four guests ALL from Twickenham brewery are there were recently !)
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I'd agree that John and Sarah were a tough act to follow. However, I think the pub has maintained its standard in a historically difficult town. The new management has certainly kept the real ales up to standard and has gone out of his way to regularly feature the local Twickenham brewery ales. It is a pub highly regarded by CAMRA. Food is standard Wetherspoon's grub. Service is always friendly. A Wetherspoons isn't my ideal pub but it is excellent value.
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I have to say that this pub has got worse since john and sarah have left! Im not sure bagrat knows what he is doing! i will definately not be going in this pub!
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re: previous comment... they say many a true word spoken in jest ;-) There is speculation over what is to become of the building over the next year or so. Notice the outside windows on the 1st floor are the only 1960s originals along the whole street. I just hope for the town's sake they keep a Wetherspoon's on that spot, even if they eventually do a complete rebuild. With its friendly atmosphere, and interesting layout with booths and split levels, and of course its all-year-round variety of low-priced real ales and pub grub, it would be a great loss to the town centre.
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Total hole, the whole town/pub needs knocking down and starting again.
anonymous - 15 Nov 2007 12:29 |
just for the record the Moon Under Water has not had a change of management. Pete is still there after 6 years of service
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Alas John & Sarah's departure was unfortunate timing, just before the Camra 2008 GBG (Good Beer Guide) went to press. If the management change had been a week or so later it would have been too late to remove the Moon (Feltham) from the 2008 GBG and it would have been included. Ironically, the change of manager at the Hounslow Wetherspoons, Moon on the Water ocurred after printing and so it remained in the 2008 GBG.
I agree it seems unjust, but it is policy and down to timing. A new manager has to prove him/her cellarmanship for 6 months to maintain trustworthy GBG entries in CAMRA's name.
Bagrat (and staff), keep up the excellent beer quality and friendly service, and... don't leave before August!
anonymous - 9 Nov 2007 15:31 |
Yes the Moon did not go in the guide for 2008. This is general policy that when a branch is informed about a change of management the pub usually does not go in. Bagrat now has the chance to prove himself and not get in on the back of John and Sarah. From what I have seen, with the quality of beers and the increased range (local beers), I don't see that as a problem. Keep it up Bagrat.
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This pub failed to gain entry to the 2008 Good Beer Guide due to the change of management earlier in the year. This decision sucks as there are other pubs that have had a change of management in the last few months, but they've still got in there. My CAMRA membership expires soon; thankfully.
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I like this Pub, as it's everything a wetherspoon pub should be but it seems more than that. There's a good atmosphere most all of the time that I put down to a mix of barstaff who take pride in their work and the locals who frequent the place. It's the local, when I'm in town, visiting. At least a choice of four "guest" ales makes it so much more appealing than other local alternatives.
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Out with the old, in with the new, although the new manager, Bagrat (that's his name), has featured behind the bar for some time under John & Sarah. After some weeks now, and the intro of non-smoking, and albeit following a hard act, the new manager is keeping the beer standards well up to scratch. This pub has been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide pub for some years and the beer quality, and choice looks to be continuing at very good standard.
...and generally: What a difference 'No smoking' makes !!
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They've Gone!
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Unfortunately it's true - John and Sarah are going but no date fixed yet for their departure. Great shame as the pub defintely deteriorated when they left once before. Guess it's up to JDW to make sure it doesn't happen again.
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Bad news... the grapevine is rumbling... John & Sarah are leaving (again) soon for pastures new - possibly a long way-away. Could spell the end for this oasis as plans are still showing the pub being demolished and more new flats being built; although they are still supposed to be building a new pub / bar on the site of the old library although I think it will be too close to the Red Lion...
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Call that a "Refurb"? Just a lick of paint... Apparently the company spent £30K instead of £80K. More like £30...
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The Moon on the Square should not need much introduction as it's fairly much a typical Wetherspoon's hostelry in terms of fare and fair price, ambience and good service. Although the bar staff tend to be subject to the same rapid turnover as many a Wetherspoon's pub, they are generally well-trained, efficient and swift, certainly as far as the drinks service is concerned. Oh, and polite and friendly too, of course, which helps.
However, be warned that the pub has become increasingly busy since the opening of the first phase of The Centre, Feltham opened in the summer of 2006. Food service can sometimes take a while and on one occasion I was nearly forgotten after paying for a main course. Such complaints aside, though, the food is well-cooked and excellent value.
Wetherspoon's site in Feltham forms something of a cheery gateway to the "new" town centre- not strictly new, since many of the 1960s-built shops and this pub itself have been retained along with a few remnants of the 1930s buildings on Wilton Parade from the pleasant original High Street so short-sightedly demolished in that decade.
The Moon on the Square is less than a hundred metres in front of such prestigious names as Asda, Next and Matalan, whose arrival is indeed helping the town to shed it's tainted image too often associated in the past with the infamous Young Offenders Establishment to the west of the town. Having said that, the pub had its fair share of trouble with criminal activity such as drug dealing and other occasionally unpleasant activity in its early days, but this was nipped in the bud and you can feel quite safe here these days. In doing this, Wetherspoon's management once and for all cast off the sad final legacy of The Cricketers, the Courage pub which previously occupied these premises before Wetherspoon's took them over, gutted and refurbished them and brought their reliable brand of pub style to Feltham. Mind you, in recent years they've also benefitted from the loss of any notable competition; with the exception of The Red Lion, this is now the only pub in Central Feltham since the demolition of The Prince of Wales for a McDonald's, and The Railway Tavern for new flats in the town centre.
The Cricketers was once a typical, friendly local with a singalong pianist. The Moon clearly is not, with the usual Wetherspoon's ban on music and, to be honest, less of a community feel maybe than some of the other Wetherspoon's pub conversions. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant place to while away an evening in conversation, drinking and eating with your mates and has a mixture of seating including the comfortable little booths reminiscent of the snugs of old.
Around the walls are pictures and something of the history of old Feltham, a handy addition particularly if you're in a historical mode after visiting the excellent local history section of the new library opposite, which closes at 8 on Mondays and Thursdays. The 1960s town centre changed the retail character of Feltham once and for all from the pleasant market gardening centre it remained until just after World War II, but the area does still have something of the feel of an urban village and a diverse community, many of whom can be found drinking here. They are occasionally supplemented by rugby crowds on Saturday nights, staying at local hotels after matches at Twickenham (RFU) Stadium just three miles away.
This is my regular haunt when drinking with friends from out of the area in Feltham. It is now a pleasant, generally trouble-free place to enjoy a reliable if not always quiet pint. When Wetherspoon's took over, they demolished part of the upstairs area including the rather strange sixties "arm" which hung out over the entrance to the centre shops. What remained now houses the loos and some office space. However, you might think you've had one too many as you climb the stairs and see the cheery figure of a pilot dressed in old-style flying gear sitting on a crescent moon, but this is the arty nod to the aviation heritage of the area which began long before Heathrow. Chocks away, barman!
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Sarah & John made a welcome return earlier this year after a 6 month 'sabitical' - in which the pub and the beer quality dived off the board. Now they're back in control, have ditched the TVs and are concentrating on running a quality pub once more!
ps - beware - stay away from table 24 (it's my dad's table!!)
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A good solid pub! They serve beer; and if you're inclined.. curry on a Thursday evening! Its handy for Feltham high street, and Feltham B/R station if you're travelling into town (London). Mainly salt-of-the-earth characters & Airport workers, relaxing after a hard shift at Heathrow (Yes, airport workers do work hard, I know, I worked at Heathrow for 8yrs, and enjoyed every minute!)
FELTHAM is under-going a 'renaissance' at the moment, & for our cockney friends that means re-birth! A lot of the old Feltham town centre has been knocked flat, and a completely new town is emerging! And the 'Moon on Square' has survived all the bull-dozing, and lives on to maintain a good service to old loyals & new patrons alike. Its exciting whats happening in Feltham at present. In the 80's I didn't like Feltham, and stayed well clear. Now... its a lot safer, there's more housing, and its a lot more civilised. Well done Hounslow Council, well done J.D.Weterspoon, and well done you people of Feltham! (I'm sounding like a councillor, but you don't witness the COMPLETE changing of a town very often, during a normal lifetime, but here is proof!) And this is the longest review I've ever made...that must say something!! Checkout the Moon, after work, and be pleasantly surprised!! The staff are good too, i will rate them 11 out of 10 !! The choice of international beers/lagers is good too. If you've never tried 'Zwiec' lager (Czech), try it here! Its cheap (under £2 a pint) and its smooth, and you'll dance home singing afterwards!!
(A barman told me a story of a stolen car which crashed into this bar through the main doors, about 3 years ago..!! Ask a few locals, they may remember it!!) But that sort of thing doesn't happen in Feltham anymore...!! Things are different now!! TJ
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Great breakfast bap friendly service good selection of real ales.Usual Wetherspoons early morning atmosphere where the clientele only depart from four letter words when ordering a drink!
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Went for a pint in here after a long absence, and I have to say, give them credit where it's due, it's OK. Absolutely packed mind you, they must be making a mint. Despite this, you always get served quickly and they always have an excellent choice of beers.
There are some very "unique to feltham" customers, but most of the leary kids don't come in here. I certainly wouldn't mess with the landlord judging by the size of him either..
TheGP - 31 Jul 2005 19:47 |
A large chain town pub in a rough town and frequented by a mix of local office clientele early evening, plus some rougher local characters who seem to live there. Pub is strictly managed and any trouble is rapidly dissolved. Excellent quality, ever changing, range of real ales always on tap. Beer worthy of its Good Beer Guide status.
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Cheap drinks...thats about all i can say, from the outside looks like a good pub. Walk 2 more minutes away, towards Tesco... The Red Lion is miles better
anonymous - 26 Jun 2005 20:26 |
Usual Wetherspoons strengths - cheap, good beer selection, usual weaknesses - lack of character, staff want to clear customer soon after 10.00pm plus one additional weakness - worse even than average clientele.
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You said it GP it holds the dregs of Feltham
anonymous - 23 Feb 2005 22:44 |
Feltham females selling themselves? So it's not just the beer that's cheap in a Wetherspoons..
TheGP - 18 Feb 2005 13:32 |
sorry but have to say low lifes ,underage drinking and many feltham females selling their self from this pub ,not a nice atmospere or staff
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Best pub in Feltham eh?
I hate to say it, but he is probably right - But bare in mind that there are no decent pubs in Feltham it is not saying much.
Personally, the Red Lion is marginally better.
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Currently the best pub in Feltham, decent Beer kept in good nick. Foods not bad especially the Curry, haven't tried the breakfast yet.
TC - 1 Sep 2004 19:19 |
As a Wetherspoons goes, is OK I suppose. Good and cheap ales.
Unfortunately, locating a dirt cheap pub in the middle of Feltham, especially so close to the D.S.S, results in a permananent residence of the hopeless alcoholics.
Which is common to many a wetherspoons I guess. If you are waiting for a train at the station, then it is your only option now the Railway Tavern was demolished.
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Welcome to visitors from Ankh-Morpork, there is a convention on 20-22 Feb so this pub will be full of Disk-Worlders.
Enjoy 3-4 decently priced Beers and a variably friendly atmosphere.
Quasi - 18 Feb 2004 18:25 |
A friendly, local pub - don't blame me this was in GBG.
Some of the locals are friendly, beers normally in decent nick and John the landlord always pours a full pint.
Wetherspoons especially good value on a Monday.
Tim C - 12 Feb 2004 13:06 |
Grim and nasty - describes most places in Feltham. But it does have three very well kept and ever changing guest ales.
Alan - 24 Sep 2003 11:31 |
The Cricketers was a proper local, as a Wetherspoons it does vary from manager to manager. There was a superb South African manager Damon who moved North.
Try the Hounslow Moon
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