The Sportsman 'Time Well Spent', Mogador - pub details

Sportsman 'Time Well Spent'

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Description

Built in 1532 the Sportsman used to be used as a stop off for the Royal family when out hunting. Situated on the edge of Walton Heath, Lower Kingswood the venue was sensitively renovated in August 2008.
It is in a unique location, at the end of Mogador road, just off the A217, Lower Kingswood. It benefits from no through traffic.
The spacious bar area has been extensively refurbished and now offers a country environment with modern standards of service.
The restaurant has undergone an extensive change and is now elegant, spacious and typical English in it's design. Seats 70+. Can be changed to a ***PRIVATE FUNCTION ROOM UP TO 70 PEOPLE***
The Sportsman is very well known for it’s fantastic outside garden areas which can seat up to 150 people.
Car Park for 60 cars.

Due to a superb country location The Sportsman is perfect for dog walkers, horse riders, runners, cyclists and families.

For a complete picture & menus please visit us at
*** www.timewellspent.info ***

(last updated: 6th Aug 2009)

Address: Mogador Road, Mogador, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7ES [map] [gmap]

Tel: 08721 077 077 (ref 5255)

Website: http://www.timewellspent.info

Nearest train stations Reigate (1.9 miles), Tadworth (2.1 miles), Betchworth (2.3 miles)

Pub facilities/features:

> Current user rating: 6.9/10 (rated by 53 users)
> Local guide: Surrey pub guide
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other pubs nearby:

Fox on the Hill, Lower Kingswood (0.7 miles), Yew Tree 'Time well spent', Reigate Hill (1.3 miles), Blue Ball, Walton On The Hill (1.5 miles), Admiral, Reigate (1.5 miles), Jolly Farmers, Betchworth (1.6 miles) - see more nearby pubs

 

user reviews of The Sportsman 'Time Well Spent', Mogador

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

5 most recent reviews of 51 shown - see all reviews

Aspalls cider (nearest thing to a real cider for several miles around).
Visually attractive location but while it is strictly true that there is "no through traffic" immediatly outside, the pub is only 350 metres from the M25 and while it is hidden by trees it can certainly be heard and smelt. Handy for walks on the Common if you don't mind being so near the motorway.
jgurney1 - 20 Aug 2010 16:51
VIsited for the first time on a showery bank holiday Monday and have to say I was very impressed.

Certainly the pub is more geared towards food but frankly that is a reality of the pub trade in modern times due to legislation changes.

Clearly a lot of money has been spent on a recent refurbishment and very smart it looks too. A good sign is always the state of the toilets and these are first rate.

Because I was driving I didn't check out the wine list so I can't comment on that. However the beer selection was good with four different beers on pump, I plumed for Sharp's Doom Bar which was very good and clearly well kept.

Menu had a good selection of main meals and snacks. My wife and I both choose bugers from the snack menu and we pleaseantly surprised, the presentation was good and the quantities were generous. Also liked the little touches like a free dip with crackers brought to the table and free water offered as well. Good work.

Staff were very friendly and attentive without being over bearing.

The pub itself is in an excellent location on the edge of the heath and just a very short walk from the North Downs. I would certainly recomend booking as the pub was very busy, although admittedly due to the weather eating outside was not really an option.

Nice to see a walker and dog friendly pub. Will certainly be coming back shortly and bringing friends with us.
kevmac - 3 May 2010 13:32
This place is without question in a super spot, one of the best in Surrey with no passing traffic on the edge of a great roaming heath. We have used the pub every month or so for the last few years and have seen the changes under the owners, which have all been positive and in the right direction. The staff are nice & polite and the beer range (so my husband tells me) is always good and the quality ‘top notch’. We use the pub for our monthly meal treat and we have yet to experience a poor meal, with most being outstanding The menu changes often with the prices never being to over the top. The reviews below seem a bit over the top in my opinion when this place does exactly what it says on the tin. A good example of country pub & restaurant!
strangelove - 16 Apr 2010 08:34
Marc Jones,

Firstly, allow me to praise you for going to the trouble of writing such a lenghty reply. It's obvious from this, that you are very passionate / take great pride in what you are trying to achieve at The Sportsman.

Perhaps I was a tad harsh / rash in my review.

I fully understand that is essential really, if modern pubs are to be successful, that they must offer a high standard of food.

However, I also feel that the most successful pubs have the ability to strike the perfect balance between drinking and dining.

As mentioned in my review, the fact that the same staff member asked us twice, in quick succession, if we wanted to eat, almost made us feel as though we were taking up valuable space by NOT eating.

We made quite an effort to purposefully seek out The Sportsman that day, after reading about it on this website. Travelling by train from Brockley (South London), changing at East Croydon, then trekking through the muck up the steep-faced Reigate Hill. On our arrival, all we wanted was to relax and enjoy a few pints before exercising the dog in the adjacent field.

Having said all that, I would have no hesitation on recommending The Sportsman to friends or indeed returning myself in the Summer, when it must be a beautiful spot to sit outside in the sunshine.

So, no hard feelings and I wish you every success with The Sportsman in the future.

Pat Bateman.


Pat_Bateman - 19 Feb 2010 10:55
My name is Marc Jones and i am the owner/operator of the Sportsman. I would like to comment on the review below by Pat Bateman.
The factual comments on Pats review were uplifting to read..... Lovely pub in lovely countryside area, good food offer, prompt and efficient service. It’s nice to hear that we are achieving these aims.
I do, however, feel vexation with his comment ‘that’s where the positives end’

Taking into account the evolutionary period the trade has gone through in recent years and the challenges we continue to face, I would be very interested to hear how Pat would run his own pub restaurant. Like so many others, if he was to stop for one moment and think, he would realise that conditions for this trade have changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years. Social change/ Smoking/ driving laws all mean that the days of a pub being able to profit from large drinking crowds are gone. Is this what most Landlords want? Probably not, however, we are where we are. I understand the romantic image of the old style pub some people hold onto and why they believe this to be so much better than the modern trend, but it is now impossible to make a living to the old model. Hence the huge number of pub closures evident across the country.

I have personally been involved with the industry for 20 years in many guises: Barman, Manager, Area Manager, Company Director and now as owner/ operator of the Yew Tree & the Sportsman.

I believe The Sportsman to be a fantastic example of a country pub/ restaurant thriving in a very difficult market. It is a pub that achieves a very comfortable compromise between drinkers and diners. I am passionate in promoting the drinking side of the business, and our range of ales, provision of bar stools etc... Is testament to this. I have no objection to criticism, so long as it is fair and informed. I would welcome the opportunity to develop Mr Batemans thinking on this industry and would welcome a meeting. I feel confident, that his reviews( which seem extreme in their volume) might then be worth reading.
My phone number is 01737246655 or you can contact me by email on www.timewellspent.info

TheSportsmanMogador - 18 Feb 2010 21:16

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