The Kings Head, Shepperton

Liked the place in the early 1990s as it had the feel of a country boozer, what with the burning fires & location. They remodelled it just after by extending out the back & creating a small courtyard beer garden which enhanced the setting. Basically it was the only pub I could take a girl that I knew wouldn't have some drunk muppet or chavvy regulars oggling the ladies. Unfortunately they're now catering to the lower end of the market & its heaving with blokes in Nickelson tops & ladies with soo discrete shoulder tattoos. Don't know if its the pub's fault or a general deterioration in the standards of the younger generation but these people don't know how to behave after a couple of pints. I had my 8 yr old nephews in the courtyard last summer & had to leave as the pissed up pikeys were swearing their heads off by the pool table.

1 May 2010 10:38

The Phoenix, Sunbury on Thames

No doubt the nimbies in the local area are trying to strangle the life out of another business enterprise in the area with their lame and empty reasons to curtail the opening hours of this fine establishment. Its almost Orwellian the way some residents want to hammer the local economy and reduce Lower Sunbury to a ghost town. What next on the agenda, an organised book burning night on the green for unnacceptable reading material?

7 Mar 2010 15:10

The Red Lion, Shepperton

When I moved hear in 1989 this was one of the best pubs in the area but the those halcyon days are sadly gone. It had the benefit of two bars, one a parlour by the courtyard beer garden & the other for the sports coverage. This area led onto a games room & latterly a small outside beer garden at the back of the pub. Although the last tenant inherited a pub needing some TLC the guy had no idea what he was doing. The large riverside beer garden on the opposite side of Russell Road had its 6' privy hedge lopped & replaced with a picket fence that didn't screen the noise of the passing traffic on this busy road. The courtyard garden had a cheap looking tarpaulin roof put over the benches for the smokers which ruined the lunchtime trade and for some reason swiss-style shutters were put up on the upstairs windows on what is essentially a Victorian pub! The clay facia tiles were painted white but aborted after about 3 rows so it gives the appearance of a run-down boozer. As a pint's about �3.85 I'd go elsewhere as the pub has zero appeal now.

5 Mar 2010 12:21

The Crossroads, Shepperton

Not a regular but with the escalating prices at The Red Lion & Kings Head I've frequented the Xroads over the last 5 years to catch the footy on their 38'' wall mounted TVs. Although in need of a refit & some TLC by the brewery(come on Punch Taverns), I've always had exemplary service from the male/female staff & have never had to wait unduly for a pint. It doesn't help that they run the bar from one till at the back where the locals congregate so at times the front areas resemble a study are at the library. Although there's a big open and grassed beer garden its given zero attention and the ambience isn't helped by the coven of smokers who shelter under the parasol. If only they'd sort this out they'd get more people eating in the summer months as its now the only pub in the centre of Shepperton with this facility. People tag this as a rough pub but bar the bad language(which the manager should crack down on) the people are pretty salt of the earth types & far removed from the 'pikeys' inverted snobs have suggested on this site previously. Did I mention that a pint of Smiths & Fosters is �1.60 on Mondays, thats about 65% cheaper than the self-styled smart pubs in the area.

5 Mar 2010 12:04