please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Haven't been in this pub for years but I used to pop in sometimes when my girlfriend at the time used to live nearby. It's not a bad place from what I can remember, it's close proximity to the station gives it a sort of 'Saloon' like feel - all that was missing were the swinging doors and ceiling fans.
I remember there were some locals who practically lived in the place. They are probably the same people who post comments here. I would go back if I was in the area, but I live the other side of the country now so probably won't.
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I love you Steve
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Well done the Railway!, the only pub in the area it seems, serving really good proper pub food without needing to take out a loan to buy some of it. The beer seems to have been lowered in price too. Its still the perfect place to relax after work watching the world go by outside.
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As somebody already mentioned, for a station pub this is very good. The guy who runs the place is probably one of the nicest, most professional guys youll see behind a jump - always friendly and helpful. This rubs off on the staff also - always very cheery and accomodating. The menu has a good selection and the food is always very tasty and you never have to wait long either. Always good for football, they often show more than one match which is perfect if its champs league. Good smoking area out front with big bench tables and heating. Only complaint is that because its a station pub sometime the odd dick head falls off the train into the pub. Then again, ive never seen any trouble in here and ive been going for a good few years.
Probably in the top 3 pubs in Kew
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For a 'station' pub it ain't half bad - well worth falling out of the train and falling in here. Friendly staff and well kept beer but, like the man said, you wouldn't want to have a session here as there's better pubs down the road.
BobOs - 17 Sep 2008 18:19 |
Perfectly acceptable place to stop, although not exactly a venue to spend hours. Drinks have always been good, food is nice. Probably the best station pub I've even been in.
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Thats odd, I've never heard it called that and I've been drinking there for ten years
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Ahhh - the Thug and Slapper as it's affectionately known locally...!!!
It's ok.
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I enjoyed having a drink in here sitting by the huge glass windows that back onto the platform and watching the people waiting for a train look longingly at my pint.
The music was at a nice level and there was a television showing Sky on the wall. There is plenty of covered seating outside the front of the pub where you can sit and watch the cash burds and company directors bustle past.
The barmaid was a little offish as she was having a heated debate with the other barmaid in some distant tongue, which was a shame as I am quite nosy.
Drinks on offer were the usual suspects plus Broadside, Lancaster Bomber and Hobgoblin.
I’ve been to a lot worse station pubs than this one, but if I lived local I probably wouldn’t drink here as there are better offerings in the area.
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OK sort of place, with reasonably kept and priced ale and food which was alright. I guess the problem is that it just can't loose the feel of being a station bar. It has little charm or feel of making you want to stay rather than get on the next District line train, though the conservatory bit is quite a handsome building.
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Don't venture this way often but after a stroll round the Gardens we came here for a bite and a pint. Not bad to be honest. Run of the mill baguette at £3.50. Well done to the bloke at the bar who was polite and helpful. Didn't venture to the bogs so can't past comment.
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seems to currently be undergoing another staff rotation!
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new photos! hooray!
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wasdfsaf
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Home to some of the most rude and ineffective barmaids I have ever had the misfortune to meet. ‘So sorry that I chose to spend my money here’ is a phrase that springs to mind, it must be a massive insult to them or something. You don’t go to the pub to get nagged more than you do at home, do you? They seem to think it’s their god given right to run the place how they want and to disregard any requirements of the customers, whether it be ordering a drink or basically asking for any service of any kind whatsoever. Hate to use the cliché ‘the customer is always right’, but here, all to often, the customer is wrong, regardless of how polite you are to them, or for whatever you happen to ask for. The majority of the staff are fine, but there are certain individuals who make this place an unpleasant place to frequent. Sometjing needs to be done. Not a good look for a pub that used to be very welcoming, customer service does not appear to be an important factor any more. Very disappointing, it didn’t use to be like this.
anonymous - 13 Nov 2007 23:17 |
The renovation has still not done much for this pub. The same sloppy service, badly poured beer and dirty glasses.
At least the smell from the toilets seems to have abated a bit.
riddz - 11 Nov 2007 12:11 |
fuckedy fuck fuck arse bollocks arse
Hellooooooooooo?
Just trying to get some attention - Is anyone still monitoring this site? Where are the photos I uploaded? I demand answers!
;o)
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I uploaded some new photos of this place the other day, will they ever appear???
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Well its open again, and I must say it is an improvement. More than just a lick of paint this time, the fitted seating indoors has been removed and the wide space consuming tables replaced with high tables and stools. This solves the problem of having to squeeze past people when its a bit busy. The wooden floors have been stripped and re done as has the bar itself. A large mirror sits on the wall behind the bar which helps to make the place a lot brighter than it was previously. The outside area is vastly improved with large umbrellas and heat lamps, as well as brand new benches. The conservatory looks more a less the same, albeit with a few new bits of furniture. Unfortunately the toilets are still downstairs (I am however told that this is temporary) although they have been retiled and all of the fittings have been replaced generally making the experience far more pleasant! Yet to try the food but it looks like your average pub grub - the prices have all dropped dramatically as well, which I think is a good thing as they reflect what you get a bit more now - speaking to people who have eaten there I have heard good things. Drinks prices seem to have stayed more or less the same - in fact again in some cases, there have been price cuts. They also now serve Erdinger on tap and Staropramen is on the way too. Still has a quiz machine and a fruity for those of us that wish to dabble in such things!
Not too sure about the chandeliers though - or the random wallpaper in parts of the pub (although I am told this is all the rage at the moment??!!)
Gets the thumbs up from me.
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yeaaaa u right, but...
it's quite hard to do it in 10 days :)
maybe next time the railway will get more time to do a proper refurb.
that would be nice.
but for now we gotta be pleased with what we've got :P
by the way,
I know that those smells have nothing to do with smoking..
Last time there was a problem with the cesspool - I hope that after refurb it won't happen ever again! :) LOL
c u at the pub
anonymous - 11 May 2007 10:46 |
My last comment again failed to pass the censor !! The whole point is , that without a proper refurb - ie bogs/kitchen - it will still smell , those smells have nothing to do with smoking.......
anonymous - 10 May 2007 06:59 |
do u think that 10 days is enough to make any structural improvements?
I don't think so!
It's good that after 2 years of planning, the pub was finally shot for refurb!
No more smells, dirt etc! ;]
....And in 2 months - goodbye to all smokers! yeaaaaahh :P
anonymous - 9 May 2007 12:57 |
As I previously commented , although bite didn't allow it for some reason , the refurb looks very much like a paint job to me - all done in a nice shade of brown !!! No signs so far of new loos , kitchen etc etc . This will be the 3rd recent refurb where no structural improvements have been made - reopens this Friday , I so hope I'm proved wrong on the gents front !!!!!!
anonymous - 9 May 2007 08:19 |
Are any of the staff being refurbed ie serious attitude lessons !!!!!
anonymous - 24 Apr 2007 14:06 |
Well its finally actually shut for the refurb! Will be interesting to see the changes in a couple of weeks time...
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Do like this pub but:
Believe refit is the best thing. They have a truly remarkable ability to produce smells from the basement/toilet/kitchen that would have a slaughter house cleaner more stunned than the animals they butcher. Have informed the Guinness book of records but apparently they were narrowly piped to the post of "Most nauseous gas in a public area" award by the Bhopal disaster.
Look forward to grand opening.
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Closing for two weeks on Monday 23rd April for a refurb (finally!)
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I remember Steve. Thos roast dinners were legendary. Update on the refurb - looks as though it is now going to be happening late March. There have been some problems with the planning permission etc
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I worked here for a couple of years and i have to say that Steve the chef made the best roast beef sunday lunch i've ever tasted.
Towards the end i'd only work sundays just to get that gorgeous meal.
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A decent boozer which I hear is due for a refurb . On the kids front - the landlord used to limit them to the conservatory area up until 6.00pm - this seems to have gone out of the window recently . I don't think anyone has a problem with supervised kids having lunch but a horde of them charging around near the bar area is irritating and frankly dangerous (unless we are going the plastic pint glass route !)Lets hope that with the refurb this problem can be solved as this is one of a handfull of pubs in the area and very popular with the locals .
anonymous - 16 Jan 2007 12:14 |
I agree, there does seem to be a lot of kids in there, especially at the weekend. Is that you squatter? ;o)
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Unfortunately has returned to being full of children running wild.....
anonymous - 9 Jan 2007 08:38 |
Free wireless internet access is now available in this pub.
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Had a very pleasant Saturday lunchtime visit - decent selection of beer and pub food at reasonable prices.
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good choice of beer (including lovely white beer) but average food in a perfectly acceptable hostelry....perhaps best avoided when there's a big rugby match on.
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Refurb postponed till January
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Update - refurb due in November...
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I was in there last night too, you're right the music was far too loud. Unfortunately that tends to happen when the manager isn't about. This place is having a complete refurb soon, watch this space...
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I popped in here for the first time this evening and really liked the way it backed onto the platform, I thought that was quite quirky!
The music was far too loud but the bar staff were friendly and we didn't wait very long for food.
I didn't think it was smelly or sticky but then I was visiting Kew - all I could smell was money and it was nice to look at tree's!
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I visited Kew gardens with my Mum last week, We called in here on our way to the gardens for some lunch. Two bar staff hadn't a word of English between them, so ordering the food & drinks was really frustrating. We then waited 45 minutes for two soups & potato wedges. The soup was cold and potato wedges were still frozen in the middle. There was no condiments on the table and we had to ask for our cutlery. That took another 5 minutes while it was being wrapped or washed or what ever!It really was a horrible experience from beginning to end.
Its a nice pub with a superb location & great features inside and out. Im all for equal opportunities and believe in giving everybody a chance. Start with giving the staff the customer service skills that they need!
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'depresionados' means 'holes'? Ha ha ha. That is a pretty witty retort isn't it Professor Algis?
The Railway serves (or at least used to serve) Fruli and Hoegaarden on draught, which makes it a hit with me. Shows the regulars have a touch of culture about them. It is clean, bright and I never seen chavs here let alone in Kew.
Professor Algis proudly concludes without encumbrance:
"Am very glad I don't like this place"
Yes and Me um Tarzan am very glad me do like this pub.
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This is a man who rated the cesspit that is Edwards as 'average' ! His comments on beer soaked depresionados ( Spanish word for holes in the ground ! ) and chav garden party seem a wee bit hypocritical for someone rating Edwards that highly . Algis , looking at your reviews I suggest prowling this site seems to be your speciallity which brings me to the conclusion you don't have a 'favourite local '(no one puts up with you long enough ? )
As said before , this pub is by no means perfect , but for some of us it is local and we like it , so go and find yourself a local and see if you can make some friends .
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Had the misfortune of popping in here Friday for a quick one, give it another chance.
At the risk of incurring the wrath of the the territorial smelly-pub lovers who seem to have nothing better to do than defensively prowl this website...
Came to the conclusion it is still dank, smelly, sticky and full of beer-soaked depresionados on the inside.
The outside is like a chav's garden party.
It's good that places like this exist, removes the people you don't want to see in your favourite local.
Am very glad I don't like this place.
"Witty retorts" please...
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Slacker - thought you'd back me up !!! This pubs always been a bit rough round the edges , but is so much better than most of these reviews suggest . Unless its changed hugely during my month of exile !!!
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Haha, marvellous...
You do get chavs down there every now and again, but I would say it is far from 'completely taken over' by them. You get chavs everywhere you go anyway, even at the green *shock horror*
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Slacker mate , think we ought to start defending the place !!! Allowed back in now - see you soon !!
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Met a mate there Friday - didn't stay long . Place has been completely taken over by chavs shouting 'deals' down their mobiles . Pass by and head up to the Green....much more civilised .
anonymous - 10 Jul 2006 15:43 |
The grumpy barmaid has gone now, current staff are all very polite and jolly, I for one like the place :o)
anonymous - 30 Jun 2006 11:37 |
Lets face it guys this place really doesn't quite make it . The beer is dreadfull , never tried the food due to the proximity of the rather nasty bogs next to the kitchen and there is an overall air of grubiness about the place .I must also add that it has one of the grumpiest barmaids I have ever had the misfortune to come across .
anonymous - 19 Jun 2006 07:47 |
On Monday there was a kids birthday party going on - have these parents never heard of Mcdonalds - ridiculous !!!!! Saw several people leave due to it......
anonymous - 30 May 2006 12:13 |
And god forbid being pissed. In a pub. And having an opinion? Oh no, can't have that.
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Clearly not very good at reading signs then are you
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No, no, not very good at all - grotty, smelly and therefore unwelcome.
At the risk of offending the regulars below (you guys have probably been sitting next to each other at this place for years) - the bar seems to be the permanent residence of p*ssed and raucously opinionated locals.
For a more comfortable drink go for a brief stroll to the The Inn.
Can't find anything too exciting/innovative about seeing the SilverLink trundle by and off-load a bunch of commuters looking office-weary whilst sipping badly kept beer.
Oh, and the floor is often sticky and the kitchen is by the bog - went in there once by mistake with my John Thomas half-out.
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Especially after they flooded last night. The water was inches deep...
anonymous - 25 May 2006 13:07 |
Maybe a total ban or some sort of caging device could be the answer !!! Anyway still can't help liking this pub and Landlord is a great bloke . Note to parents - there is a huge Green just up the road where I'm sure your kids would be much happier.......be aware at their tender age they are susceptible to malaria in the Railways loos during these summer months !!!
anonymous - 24 May 2006 13:05 |
Although to be fair, its hardly the pubs fault if parents decide to bring their kids!
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Thirded - Surely the kids would rather go to the park or something rather than watching mummy and daddy slowly get pissed in the pub all afternoon, its ridiculous
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Agree , the outside patio is like a kindergarten all weekend ! Theres no chance of sitting outside this pub for a quiet pint in the sunshine - unsupervised brats will make your stay a misery . Should be some sort of curfew at 5.00pm so at least those of us old enough to be there could enjoy the last of the daylight .Apart from that its an OK pub that caters to a decent group of locals , the bogs are pretty rank though with the kitchen next door !!!
anonymous - 18 May 2006 11:08 |
Too many damn kids - place was crawling with them Friday night !!!!!
anonymous - 15 May 2006 12:50 |
It was my first pub, back when it was the Pig and Parrot. Used to go in there after shcool and get served, even in uniform! Let the kids stay, I was one of them after all. Mind you the toilets are so revolting I've moved to Australia, will be in there for the world cup though... going to be legendary!
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Just a quick comment on what is otherwise a nice pub.I would rather entrust the pouring of my pint of Guiness to a middle aged,ugly decent bar man , than to a sullen faced,east European Barbie doll who doesn't give a shit and is only on the lookout for some unfortunate desperado to get married to !!Apart from that I quite like the place.......
anonymous - 8 Mar 2006 09:44 |
Been going there for years, totally quality little place but the girls loos! OMG! Defo leave a lot to be desired. And the fact that the kitchen is downstairs right next to the toilets. But apart from that love it!!
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used to be my local but find it a little depressing nowaday. good quiz machine though.
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Sleeper barred again !!!
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Indeed he is...
Squatter you must be in there quite a lot, so am I, I bet we would recognise each other, haha
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The drunk sleeper is back !!!!!
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Re Ludovic : Your comment to Squatter is one of the most ridiculous ones I've ever seen !!! This is indeed an OK pub used by most of the Kew locals - beers good as is the service . However I have to agree that at weekends it is ruined by an invasion of children - don't people realise the rest of us are there to get away from kids !!!!
anonymous - 19 Jan 2006 09:22 |
Nice pub, good beers, very relaxed in Summer actually.
Re. Squatter and the kids, a bit of indulgence, you did not arrive on this planet at 18!
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Shame about the sleeper being barred - added some much needed character !! Totally agree about the children , place would be better off without them.....
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Drunk asleep bloke is no longer there, he was barred! The no kids policy is only for the bar area as far as I'm aware, would not be a bad idea to extend it throught the entire pub though, I agree. I wonder if I count as one of the drunk squabbling locals? Hmm...
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The main problem with this pub is the drunk squabbling locals who sit glaring at each other . Also if you have a no kids policy stick to it , don't make them have to scamper through the bar (annoying everyone on the way)to sit in the conservatory at the back .Bit of a shame really as the landlord seems a great bloke who deserves better . Oh and the drunk bloke permanently asleep in the corner is a nice touch !!!
anonymous - 9 Jan 2006 08:54 |
But if they lost the screen then I wouldn't be able to watch the football in there and that would be lame.
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Not hugely impressive, but OK. The beer's not bad. They had Adnam's Bitter and Young's Bitter on the handpumps, plus Bombardier in the cask on gravity dispense behind the bar, which is something you don't see very often. The over-loud music and distracting video screen (showing Sky news) bring the tone down a bit. I didn't try the food, but the menu looks unpretentious, not straying much further than fishcakes, burgers and the like. Lose the music and the video screen and things would be much improved.
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Is it legal to have the kitchen beside the loo's? That is so grim.
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Very good beers. I'd catch the district line just to go in for a pint.
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Lovely management & certain staff are great. Couple of new female members who haven't quite proved their worth yet. Lack of smiles & bring personal misery to work. Also have found the service incredibly slow - actually being acknowledged within 10 mins would be appreciated. Open mike night is gr8. Food isn't for the price. Nice to be able to sit outside & is very sociable. Friendly locals
judas - 28 Jul 2005 17:27 |
What a surprisingly grotty pub. Being in Kew, I thought this place may be a little more refined.
However, I found the dodgy blokes going round trying to sell knocked off DVD's a bit off putting, also the blokes shouting stuff at women passers by.
Surprisingly leary chav customers - What are they doing in Kew?
TheGP - 18 Jul 2005 13:07 |
Quite a charmimg place. With a long main bar and a big conservatory from where you can enjoy a nice meal and a quiet drink while watching the trains drive by. Went there for the Open Mic Night and it was great. Lots of new talents and a bit of a laugh...
anonymous - 5 Jun 2005 13:37 |
Well the lovely Naja and Ronja have gone and this certainly detracts from the pub staff's pulchritude. The big screen is dire, the picture is almost always so faint it is impossible to watch. The broad tables opposite the bar make moving to and from the bar when busy challenging, the staff seem absolutely determined to regularly re-arrange the furniture in a manner that uses space in the most inefficient way possible. The new barstools can very easily and quickly be modified to become instruments of torture.
And still i go...
anonymous - 10 May 2005 17:44 |
No one called Dawn working there as far as I am aware, no...
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I see the name has changed since I was there. Is Dawn still behind the bar? The only one who could pull a pint!
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Been going there for 9 years mate..........
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Well it always helps if you know them or if you've been drinking there a while like I have, I usually get served pretty quickly, ha ha...
Yeh, the beer isn't the best in there, can quite often be quite flat...
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Lovely looking (some of them ),but not that interested in serving and when they do,can't pull a decent pint,or is it that the beer is always flat ????
anonymous - 11 Jan 2005 11:16 |
Oh come on, its not that bad, the barmaids are lurrrrvley...
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Dreadfull beer in a dreadfull pub.Take your wellies if visiting the loo ,which happens to be next to the kitchen-nice !
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Christ knows what pub you've been drinking in Johnathan, but 'lonely lovers and Humphrey Bogart' are the last things that springs to mind about this place. Unless when you say 'lonely lovers' you mean single blokes drinking themselves to oblivion...(of which I am quite often one, ha ha)
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Its a grand place. The previous user comments are a little outdated aren't they? 22 April, 2003? The staff are friendly, its romantic being next to the station, dreams of lonely lovers and Humphrey Bogart spring to mind. They have a great open mic night on the last Thursday, and you can almost hear the words, "Play it again Sam". Great food deals too, and tasty...
Johnathan Ross - 18 Nov 2004 12:55 |
one of the worst designed pubs i've been into, unless of course you like squeezing past people when trying to get from your table to the toilet. staff are ok and the food is alright. one hint though, try using real potatoes for the mash, people DO notice
john - 1 Apr 2004 12:18 |
The pub is not without its shortcomings, but on the whole it is pretty good. The food is straightforward pub grub but on mondays to fridays after 5pm it's 2 for the price of 1 - you cannot say fairer than that. If you like belgian/trappist beers on tuesday nights a range of about a dozen are also buy one get one free. The big screen is very big and clear - there is always a good atmosphere for big matches. The staff do however seem a bit put out when someone has the nerve to order a drink. The toilets are vile, even since the refit.
nick - 16 Feb 2004 20:24 |
Formerly the Flower and Firkin, this pub was shut down for a month while renovation work took place. Has now been spruced up and is far more welcoming than it previously was, although you tend to get less of the locals in there because of it. Can be a bit cold inside during the winter!
Slacker - 2 Jan 2004 15:36 |
Unhelpful staff, poor food, dreary atmosphere. Avoid.
eezie - 4 May 2003 23:35 |
Lunch there on April 11th.
Nothing around, if you are to pay a visit to Kew Gardens. Unfortunately, it was a bad day. Cold welcome. Cold place. Service starts at noon, not 11.59 am, please excuse me. Nothing special, but some locals enjoying their poor beers, awaiting for a train or a car to come.
If you can, walk to the river banks, and cross the bridge (15 minutes).
Gilles - 22 Apr 2003 19:20 |
