The Kings Head, Teddington

Agree with David - used to work over the road in the late eighties, Jim Ship used to run the place with his ever-so-attractive wife (what WAS her name??) and Pat at the bar. Benny Hill used to sit at the bar too. Anyone else remember the stuffed camel and all those ornaments?? Used to be a great place when you weren�t quite old enough to be legally drinking.

I think this place may now be in a bit of a mid-life crisis? It�s having a bit of an identity problem. Try as I did, I just could not relax in there. Too up it�s own behind by far. Shame really, I finished my pint and got out � fast. I�m not saying that there�s a lot better in Teddington, or that I�m right � just that I remember it being a lot less unpretentious and a lot friendlier and busier.

26 Mar 2006 23:18

The Fountain, Twickenham

Oh my dear lordy - went in 'La Fontain' for the first time in a long time the other evening for a post-workout, er, lemonade. I'm back in England for a while from Australia and this used to be the first pub on our weekly Friday boys night out years ago - good memories of this one. Maybe I should have been content just remembering.

Absolutely stunned by the wide selection of in-breeds, yobs and assorted scum on show. If you want to sit alone reading a paper over a quiet drink, DO NOT visit this place. Maybe they should change the sign outside to 'Twickenham Borstal'? Very young, unshaven, loud and aggressive oiks in baseball caps arm-wrestling and comparing jewellery, and that was just the girls. Also, what�s the point of a non-smoking section that�s comprised of three tables that are three feet away from the smoking section where Trace and Dazza are busy taking part in tonight�s world record attempt in the �Fastest smoked packet of twenty B&H� category?? Meanwhile the sound of Gazza in the toilet on his third and final 'Biggest Grolly' attempt was a joy to behold. Finally, congratulations must go to the couple in the corner who participated in their own �Mixed boxing with obscene language� event � what fun.

This place used to have a dress code and polite bouncers on the doors when I came back a couple of years ago, what happened? A real shame as this place is just about within staggering distance to home � never again I told myself. But here�s the thing; I did actually go back in the middle of the day the week after (after first cleverly checking if the place was yob-free by sneakily peeking through a side window!) and found myself in a completely different place; pleasant bar staff, decent Stella (with a teeny dash of lime - sorry) and an airy, non-threatening atmosphere. Come on management, I know I�m not the only one to say this, get a big broom and sweep all those *ossers out of there. If you�re tired of life, head down to The Fountain.

26 Mar 2006 22:29