Rifleman, Twickenham

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user reviews of the Rifleman, Twickenham

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Sadly, it looks as though this new couple will be moving on later this year. It seems that the rent has been hiked up and they can't afford to keep it any more.
daveid - 24 Apr 2012 16:09
Hadn't been in for years but popped in last week and had forgotten what a lovely little back street boozer it is. Had a really well kept pint of ale, cant remember what it was, I'd had a few. Friendly barman, nice atmosphere, will be back. 8/10
THE_Ale_TEAM - 22 Mar 2012 18:10
I like it.

This reminds me of pubs I went to in my younger days. You can't buy weathered charm, something that most pub refurbishments get woefully wrong. It's small inside but very welcoming - when I last went in they asked me if wanted to buy a ticket for the meat raffle!

I hope the couple that run it manage to keep it going.
Grumbles - 15 Mar 2012 13:40
i hope ivorbeer introduced himself to the landlord/lady when he returned, and discussed his reviews in an open and honest manner.
or maybe he cowardly went in 'undercover', hoping to write some more anon critical tripe.
if you're not brave enough to face those you criticise, stop posting on the website.
TW1 - 1 Jan 2012 14:41
ivor beer back in the area a couple of weeks ago
well much improvement
service 9/10
value for money 9/10
housekeeping 9/10
ambience 7/10
much improvement made lots of effort for christmas, even now a kitchen
well worth a visit
needs to be advertised more as in a back street where locals are spoilt for choice, if not it will not make it like many more pubs like this, with no fault of the management
2012 will be survival of the fitest
ivorbeer - 27 Dec 2011 16:39
Visited a couple of times over the past two years, both before and after the change in management.
Always felt very welcome, bar staff always very friendly and helpful. Local beer (Twickenham Fine Ales) on tap, very well looked after.
Good luck to the new landlord & -lady. Keep up the good work!
MarkVP - 8 Sep 2011 12:10
Great little local run by young enthusiastic couple! Always very calm and polite! Kitchen now ready soon to do food after a mini refurb due in November! Looking forward to it!
Giacomo10 - 1 Sep 2011 15:20
Very pleasing to see this place open up again. Backstreet locals are a dying breed and this place meets that bill very well. Good to see that Twickenham Ales are still on. Here's hoping that it's the success it deserves to be.
Dave_the_Bee - 21 Aug 2011 19:57
Ivor beer,
I am Luke, the Landlord at The Rifleman Pub, just read your review, and i apologise you did not have a good experience at our lovely local pub.
It would seem by your other comments on other Pubs that you are not a fan of
Tranditional pubs and prefer a more modern drinking establishment. Id also like to add that at the time of your visit the dust levels in the pub may have been high as we have had builders in to fit the kitchen, and have plans for some more works to be carried out soon. If you would like to come back in and discuss your dislikes with Cloe and Myself we would be more than happy to listen to any constructive critisisms you may wish to voice.
Anybody else reading please do not let this last review put you off visiting this lovely gem of a pub. one of few backstreet locals left in the area.

youcandoit - 4 Aug 2011 16:07
ivor beer back in the area
service 2/10
house keeping 4/10
value for money 5/10
hospitality 1/10
pub back open with young couple that do not have much iof a idea
of dealing with customers seem to shy for this trade
this pub in my view will not survive
not enougth local trade to the pub and no reason to travel to it
shame another one to bite the dust soon
ivorbeer - 17 Jul 2011 15:07
Like the other postings, I'm very pleased to see the Rifleman open again. A friendly pubby pub.
We had the Twickenham beer which was delicious (but too expensive at £3.50 a pint and the half pint meanly rounded up to £1.60). Will come again occasionally but not as often as we would do if the beer was the same price as the Prince of Wales round the corner.
Moderate_Nige - 22 Apr 2011 17:41
Went to Rifleman to watch the rugby..great atmosphere..although not doing food as yet..they supplied us all with free..yes free roast potatoes and little sausages on the bar..fantastic.! Had a great time and will go back on Saturday to watch the rugby ...obviously hoping for the snacks again.!
jollypubber - 17 Mar 2011 13:46
A very friendly place to have a relaxing drink. No gimmicks. It looks promising and cosy with a lovely young couple running the place. Looking forward to food in the future.
gemma1982 - 6 Mar 2011 16:33
Hey..just walked past The Rifleman to see it's opened again..yay.! So obviously couldn't just carry on walking past....went in to find it's the new owners opening day..the couple seemed very nice and eager to please. Hadn't been into the pub for some time but it definitely seems to have had a little makeover..very cosy. Had a great pint of Courage Best..few problems with the till it would seem..but hey, first days always have hic cups...nothing pen and paper can't solve.! I really hope it works for this young couple, they have some great plans for the future. It's so good to see this little pub survive the hard times....i for one will be supporting it, it would be such a shame for it to close again. The landlord says they hope to start doing some great homemade food soon.....lets watch this space..!!
jollypubber - 5 Mar 2011 14:12
Pub has now closed! Bit of a shame! Thankfully the one round the corner is surviving and is not bad at all!!!
Giacomo10 - 26 Jan 2011 10:14
Probably one of the brst pubs in Greater London. Don't be put off by the previous review. It can be a very busy pub at times. I have been using the place on and off for forty odd years now and stil go back for more. The licensee and his team run an excellent pub and keep the beer very well. So if you like a good pint in a traditional pub then try "The Gun" as it is affectionately known by most of the TRUE local residents.
sirpaullee - 29 Aug 2010 16:55
Fantastic back street pub with a good choice of beers and helpful, friendly staff. EXCELLENT
kenbabs - 20 Jun 2010 17:41
Smallish pub situated in a quiet residential side street just off the Hampton Road.

It's a former Courage pub - as evidenced by the trademark cockerel sign - which now seems to be privately owned. A white washed exterior, seemingly recently painted, with frosted leaded windows, leads into a pleasant, but rather unremarkable and featureless small L shaped bar. On one wall is an old Courage Best mirror.

On my recent Sunday afternoon visit, the pub was desperately quiet, with never more than half a dozen customers in total whilst I was there. Those that were there were evidently not regulars and, tellingly, as a group of three left, I overheard one say "we must have doubled their trade today". I might have reasonably expected this to be a community orientated local, but, on the basis of my visit, this does not seem to be the case. One wonders what its customer base is, if indeed it has one. It's a bit worrying if you can't get people through the doors at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon

The pub displays Cask Marque accreditation. Beers on were Twickenham Original, Courage Best and Youngs Ordinary. The Twickenham Original - £ 3 .00p - was in good form. A fourth pump was not in use.

I find this a difficult pub to sum up. On the one hand, the landlord seemed a genuinely friendly fellow, notably asking me if I was enjoying my pint, and the pub seemed reasonably clean and well run, but, on the other hand, the pub does not look desperately inviting from the outside. Curiously, there were no advertising or sandwich boards outside to indicate what one might find inside ( eg - do they do food, do they show sport ?) - and there's nothing at all that would encourage the casual passer by to drop in. I called in on the recommendation of a local that I had ended up in conversation with in the nearby Prince Albert and, even then, I very nearly carried on walking past as I approached the pub.

We keep hearing that 30 plus pubs are closing every week. I didn't dislike this pub at all , but, on the basis of my visit, it wouldn't surprise me if this pub joined those ranks
JohnBonser - 29 Apr 2010 09:17
Re the last post - any pub that puts off lager drinkers and people living off credit get's my vote. And on my last visit I had an excellent pint of Twickenham Spring Ale served efficiently and obligingly straight from a new barrel after the old one ran out.
MeurglysIII - 21 Apr 2010 23:25
Tatty boozer, poor choice of lager and I was charged 50p for paying with a card. Won't be rushing back....
Stoned_Moses - 27 Mar 2010 00:12
Everything a backstreet pub should be.
therichieboy - 25 Mar 2010 13:40
Great little pub - been going here on and off for years. Changed hands a few years back and the new landlord seems to be really friendly.

Good range of ales (Twickenham, Pride & guest ales) and a decent range of lagers also. solid wine list too. Interested to see that they are Cask Marqued now so the beers must be good.

They have a pub dog, too, which is a nice touch!!

Locals are welcoming and the staff friendly - often pop in to watch the rugby here - great atmosphere.

Recommended
BigBadBilly - 30 Oct 2009 15:24
Only just discovered this pub and it's now my favourite in the area. Great little traditional one-bar local's pub off the beaten track in a quiet, mainly residential side street. Friendly, welcoming young staff, excellent range of beers with Twickenham's ales in top condition (this is the brewery owner's local). 2 flat screens showing Sky & ESPN (both at the same time, if necessary). Not tried the food - I'm sure it's very good ;-)
Teddy_Boy - 10 Oct 2009 14:48
Unspoilt, traditional back street pub. Regulars and occasional visitors all made to feel welcome. 4 well kept real ales - Youngs Ordinary, Courage Best, one from the Twickenham range and the fourth pump supplying beers requested by customers. Top marks to the landlord.
ALAN.C - 30 Jul 2009 19:03
Brilliant old school tiny pub with friendly staff, locals and resident dog. Good selection of ales and a great atmosphere similar to the Eel Pie pub. Definitely worth checking out.....
drunkintheevening - 10 May 2009 18:04
I have revisted quite a few times and continue to be impressed. The landlord is, as a previous post says, a nice bloke and the beer range is decent, the quality excellent. This has all the makings of a cult pub - provided that people like me don't keep writing about it on BITE!
MeurglysIII - 6 Jan 2009 21:47
Great locals pub, but also very welcoming for newcomers. The new landlord's been in place for over a year now and keeps a good cellar and reasonable prices. Always a Twickenham ale on, with other guest beers rotated on a regular basis. Does some good pasties as well!

A good place to watch rugby - relaxed and friendly.

Recommended.
philknox - 27 Nov 2008 17:01
Excellent no-nonsense boozer. The young landlord is a nice bloke, had time for a chat and told us about his plans for the pub (nothing too drastic, don't worry!)
barclay - 24 Nov 2008 13:56
I was very pleasantly surprised. The pub is currrently being repained and, although a bit spartan inside, is actually very clean and tidy. It is a locals pub and a drinkers pub - but a nice snd varied clientele and actually not unwelcoming.

Bar service was excellent on my visit - incredibly courteous with an enquiry as to the quality of the beer. As to which, the range was more than ok - two Twicks + Youngs Ordinaire and Courage Best. The beer I sampled was in very good condition.

All in all, this is definitely worth a look in, especially if you are taking in the Prince of Wales which is just round the corner. The two would do very well working hand in hand.
MeurglysIII - 15 May 2008 23:10
A real local pub with a local loyal group of locals who accept strangers and engage you very quickly. Staff a good and responsive. Beer well kept but the endearing focus is it is a local and the locals support and maintain this homely atmosphere.
Noddy56 - 3 Aug 2007 16:01
an OK pub - not really the most welcome I have ever felt, but I guess this is a real locals pub
mike2004 - 23 Dec 2006 10:00
I just moved to very near here although i lived not far away before. Decided to pop in and came straight back out again. Could be a gem but a totally wasted opportunity like the one on the main road 50 yards away. In locations like this they could do so well but are content with being rubbish little dives.

Nice things bout pubs that so few managers realise is - there's a lot of choice. So I'll be exercising mine.
anonymous - 14 Oct 2006 02:00
This is the 400th pub I have rated on BITE so I feel I should attempt to leave a decent review. There is not much to say about this pub, I found it by accident never even knowing about it's existence before. It was absolutely empty apart from one other customer. A very spartanly decorated place, I wonder if it gets busier during the evenings? Strikes me as a very local pub. Toilet is quite narrow, at least might catch out any fat Hounslow chavs wandering in here by mistake.

All in all, OK, but nothing out the ordinary.
TheGP - 26 Mar 2006 20:38
Change of ownership has lead to a much improved pub. Sells the local Twickenham Original ale regularly. Quiz on a Monday evening and some food available. No longer a frosty welcome as loads of new faces are now drinking here.
anonymous - 30 Jun 2005 13:01
Like the Fulwell Arms this is a place that gives you a frosty reception if you're not a local

Shame as nice beer garden in the summer
PJ - 1 Mar 2004 12:45

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