please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Bring back RHEDD - that band that played on a Sunday! They played a couple of Sundays a couple of years ago and we've never seen them there since. Wicked singer and guitarist and great covers from modern to old rock classics. great fun. Packed with a great atmosphere on a live music night - you can't beat it. Best pub in Dorking!
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Met up with some friends for a few drinks and a chat at the Kings last night. About half an hour into the evening the music was turned up really loud. We asked it to be turned down which it was. Then five minutes later the blond barmaid turned it up again. It was again turned down agian. This scenario was repeated until we were forced to move on to the Star.
Another worry is the Gents toilets. They have the reputation of being the most disgusting in town. Last night each time the door was opened a vile mixture of urine and God knows what could be smelt from the bar! Unfortunately after a few pints I had to actually go in. I almost threw up with the stench. I am sure these were recently decorated. What a shame they can't be kept clean. Time to phone Environmental Health I think.
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I said APPEAR to be around.... If it's not blatantly obvious who you are then no-one will go hunting for you!!
And as i've said plenty of times I LIKE THIS PUB!!!
I simply commented that the staff seemed uninterested, that's all!!
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And again...
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:35:58
i dont know who you are but you must drink in my pub and you like my beer therefore let me know what you think i should do with my staff
Right so that's one point cleared up, you are in fact running this pub.
Let's have this discussion in the open shall we, there's no point continuing to send messages to my inbox, it makes you look as though you have something to hide! Any visitor to this site who sees you are open to constructive criticism and prepared to listen to the public will give you full support as will I.
I admire any guvnor who is prepared to meet his public and actually respond to them in person!
You have a cracking pub there, if you take some time to concentrate on the basics you will have an exceptional pub!
Simple things like getting the staff to greet people who approach the bar, eye contact is VERY important! A smile, a cheery 'Hello', people know then that there prescence is welcome. If it's busy and they're not going to get served straight away, having someone behind a bar who says ' Hi, will be with you in a mo!' tells you you're not going to be stood there like a plank for hours! No-one minds waiting if they can see staff working hard and know they have been acknowledged!
I am in no way slating your pub, I genuinely believe this is by far the best pub in Dorking, but by working on the little things you have an opportunity to be so much more! Take this advice as you will, but any guvnor who doesnt listen to his public will ultimately struggle.
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this is to simon if you have a problem with my pub come and tell me and you obviously dont come in my pub that often cause i am here 24/7 except thursdays
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From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:34:11
no they haven't touched anything but you seem to visit a lot of pubs my suggestion to you if you have a problem with any member of staff in any pub speak to the landlord and i can get sorted
I agree with you, the landlord/manager should be sorting this stuff out but if said manager/ landlord doesnt appear to be around at that time there is no point complaining to the staff concerned! Any manager/ landlord should be aware of the customer service or lack thereof his staff give to the public regardless of any criticism they may or may not receive!!
And whilst we're on the subject, how about having this conversation on the review page for all to see instead of sending flippant messges to my inbox!?
I take it from the lack of response you are indeed connected to this pub personally, would you care to share with us all in what capacity??
I actually like this pub a lot but this kind of attitude is exactly what has rubbed off on the staff there.
9 Apr 2008 22:44
The Kings Arms, Dorking
Thought my assessment was quite fair, clearly touched a nerve there judging by the messages I was sent! See below...
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:18:10
you seem to visit a lot of pubs are you not liked in any of them
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:20:17
if you have a problem with any staff why dont you speak with the landlord and actually tell him what your problem is cause then in might be sorted
I actually rated this pub a good 7 out of 10, tell me karaoke how are you associated with this pub, one can only presume you are the manager in question! Have you abused the other people on this site who have posted fair and accurate assessments??
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And yet another message!
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:34:11
no they haven't touched anything but you seem to visit a lot of pubs my suggestion to you if you have a problem with any member of staff in any pub speak to the landlord and i can get sorted
I agree with you, the landlord/manager should be sorting this stuff out but if said manager/ landlord doesnt appear to be around at that time there is no point complaining to the staff concerned! Any manager/ landlord should be aware of the customer service or lack thereof his staff give to the public regardless of any criticism they may or may not receive!!
And whilst we're on the subject, how about having this conversation on the review page for all to see instead of sending flippant messges to my inbox!?
I take it from the lack of response you are indeed connected to this pub personally, would you care to share with us all in what capacity??
I actually like this pub a lot but this kind of attitude is exactly what has rubbed off on the staff there.
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Thought my assessment was quite fair, clearly touched a nerve there judging by the messages I was sent! See below...
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:18:10
you seem to visit a lot of pubs are you not liked in any of them
From: karaoke
Sent: 2008-04-09 22:20:17
if you have a problem with any staff why dont you speak with the landlord and actually tell him what your problem is cause then in might be sorted
I actually rated this pub a good 7 out of 10, tell me karaoke how are you associated with this pub, one can only presume you are the manager in question! Have you abused the other people on this site who have posted fair and accurate assessments??
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Top pub!! Good beer, and good food, great live bands!
Staff need better training though, too slow and seem dis-interested.
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great pub,great real ales,great staff and great food has a quiz on monday nights and live bands on wed and sun nights
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The last 2 comments are unfounded this pub has decent real ales and food and has live music on wednesday's and sunday's .The under age drinkers have been removed and slowly but surely the regulars are coming back
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i agree with most of the comments bout this pub,been here a couple of times,staff are rude and unfriendly new manager is no better this pub is rapidly going down hill need decent manager and decent staff.
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This should be a really good pub but I have unfortunately been completely put off by the unfriendliness of the bar staff which has at times verged on being extremely rude. Big shame as it is my closest pub and does some pretty decent ales.
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New manager came in. Hope to visit again soon.
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This pub is full of atmosphere - large black beams, roaring fires - and the food is varied and good. However, I agree with earlier comments about the staff - we had a fearsome barmaid! We had ordered ham, egg and chips, but ham and chips arrived. When I pointed this out, she argued aggressively that we hadn't ordered the egg, then when I said I didn't want the egg now, she said: "So you never wanted egg!" She also offered no sauces and was stroppy when I asked for some. So my favourite pub is now no more, I won't be visiting it again.
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A lively pub with a good mix of drinkers; ales are well kept - last night had 4 on: Sharps IPA which was excellent, Archers Good Intentions, Greed King IPA & Pride, none of which I tried.
It can take a while to get served, but you can't have everything.
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A nice looking pub and a good selection of ales. That is if you can get hold of one. I came in off West Street and stood at the bar near the entrance... and stood and stood while the barmaid was chatting to friends in the lower bar. Eventually got a nice pint, but didn't fancy the long wait for the next one.
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Great pub for live music on a Sunday night.
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I agree with walklerino, this pub has really gone down hill. The bar staff don’t really seem to want to serve the customers and most of the customers seem to be talking about what they did in school that day!
I will try and avoid the Kings Arms in the future and make my way over to the Pilgrim. It is a shame, as this used to be a real gem of a pub. What is Dorking doing to itself?
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This old proper pub, has now deteriorated into a kiddies playground and in my opinion will have to be vary careful to hold onto its licence. It is such a shame that the staff now seem poorly trained and seem to be content on speaking to their mates rather than serving their customers.
I saw with my own eyes on a Friday night, 2 fifteen year olds and 3 sixteen year olds served without question. I know them from my sons school!
I know this happens, but 3 of them walked from the bar with 4 pints of Stella. When I confronted a very young 'barman' and asked him why he did not challenge any ages, I was totally dismissed.
As a local Councillor I will be making my feelings felt about this once lovely establishment and their next licence meeting.
Still do very nice real ale, but is heading downhill rapidly!
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Good choice of beers; good atmosphere; wide lunch selection and well cooked. One of the best pubs in Dorking.
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Best place in the area on a sunday night. Food okay but what is wrong with serving proper chips?
anonymous - 18 Oct 2007 14:16 |
one of the best pubs in Dorking - really good choice of beers
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Went here on Sunday eve just gone. Nice atmosphere and saw a fantastic band who were playing there that night. Good pub for beer and will definately be back to catch the band again.
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Called on a Friday night fairly early in order to eat. The bar area was crowded with bar stooled drinkers making it difficult to see what ales were available and then to get served. Other than that no complaints with a fine pint and a good meal.
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Visited yesterday for lunch with a colleague. Lovely food and very reasonably priced. This is a beautiful old building with huge potential, but the inside is a bit dirty. Would definitely recommend for lunch, but didn't get a chance to sample the beer as I was working :(
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Best pub in Dorking for proper beer and atmosphere.
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I go to this pub as often as I can, but recently it seems to have gone downhill. The other night they even had video football on, then piped loud music and the Barmaid smashed the empty botles into the bottle bin so loud that I was put off my beer. Beer still good though. Too smoky, but roll on July. I hope that the excellent Landlady re-groups soon!
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Nice pub but as others say too smoky..and I'm a smoker. And the beer was in poor shape, too warm and tired. I realy hope I caught it on an off day.
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Not much to look at but probably the best pub food in central Dorking.
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Popped in here after going to The Old House At Home great choice of ales relaxed atmosphere,possibley the best pud in the town
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Can be hit or miss. It was very smokey on my last visit and the beer wasn't at its best. The friendly barmaid had plenty of cleavage on show (two sorts!).
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PEACH are here again on Sunday 26th June.
Check out our new website @
www.peachtheband.moonfruit.com
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The music is quite entertaining in this pub. Does seem like 1 of the more lively pubs in Dorking
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Cant be beaten apart from a little slow on out of lunch & eve hours service. A proper pub for drinks and chat. No pool table, limited TV. Fruits set at the back. Excellent food and a real old world feel. Make yourself at home and soak up the atmosphere and just chat to people. Brill live music Weds and Sun !!!! If you want noise, aggression and generally idiot type pubs sod off back to London.
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Is it under new management? Less bitters, annoying music playing and a TV has appeared.
Was the best real pub in Dorking. Now my jury is out...
Alan - 12 Nov 2004 15:25 |
I agree with AleMan, this is a very good pub, perhaps the best in Dorking. Always good guest beers at £2.25, I had the porter this week, very good. However and this is a big however, the staff these days are very slow and not professional (they are friendly though). One barman even picks up your full pint from the top with his fingers round the rim where you drink from. I say would Bet Lynch do that !!
Gareth - 6 Nov 2004 19:03 |
To Ms. Sloane Square -- surely this is a wind-up! This is a first class public house - excellent choice of beer from London Pride to Greene King IPA and a couple of guest ales. Food is very good and quite reasonable in terms of price. As for the pub - it oozes quality. Nice mix of live bands on Wednesday and Sunday evenings and it caters for everyone from 18 to 80!
AleMan - 22 Aug 2004 22:06 |
SUNDAY 29 August. PEACH are playing rock and pop covers from 8:30pm. DON'T MISS IT!
anonymous - 6 Aug 2004 12:28 |
BORING ! If this is a real public house then get be back to civilisation ie. LONDON!!!! Full of old men and women talking about politics, the countryside and crime is devastating the town. Poor selection of wine tho' loads of real nice selection of beer (NOT!)
Ms. Sloane Square - 28 Jun 2004 11:15 |
Fantastic food. Well recomended.
gge - 16 Apr 2004 17:18 |
Fantastic pub with great staff. Been my home from home for 10 years. Its pricey but warm and friendly. A proper pub, no jukebox or pool just good people and good conversation!
mark - 7 Apr 2004 16:07 |
This pub is first class. Excellent beer and very good food. May not appeal to the trendy, rich upstarts from Kensington, Wimbledon, Putney etc. -- this pub is a REAL public house! Has bands most Wednesday's and Sunday's evenings. Pub dates back to the 15th Century and has kept a lot of its original features ie. low ceilings, wooden floors etc. Deserves more than a measly 5.6/10 -- should be a 10/10!!
James Best - 31 Dec 2003 11:14 |
Nice looking pub with plenty of charachter - the problem is its so damn expensive! Great food though...
monty - 28 Nov 2003 16:27 |
Has live music on some Wednesdays too - check out FOXY on 3rd December 2003.
Nick - 17 Nov 2003 14:16 |
Nice place good atmos VERY expensive beer though
paul - 7 Aug 2003 18:40 |
Recently visited the UK from Australia and found this pub and the staff to be fantastic!!! This is our daughters local pub.
Tony - 3 Jun 2003 07:52 |
Another excellent pub to be found in Dorking. Good choice of beer - London Pride, IPA etc. Food is very good as well and there is live music every Sunday night!
Andy - 29 Apr 2003 12:14 |
... but there often is music - Friday and Sunday at least. I've also passed by of a weeknight and heard dulcet tones floating out onto the street. Perhaps you were early. Good pub. Also try the Cricketers.
Dave - 11 Feb 2003 11:35 |
My favourite pub in Dorking. Good young crowd.. warm and friendly. Why no music????
lewis - 3 Feb 2003 10:57 |
Excellent Food!
Katy - 22 Jan 2003 09:15 |
Dating from the 1540's this is Dorkings oldest surviving pub. Plenty of cosy snugs and a seperate dining area means this is one of the towns best public houses.
Harry - 13 Dec 2002 14:53 |
