The Woodman, Woodmansterne

I have used this pub occassionally for many years now and it does seem to be in a bit of a slow decline at the moment. It now has a distinct "down at heel" feel - it has become a bit scruffy and needs a bit of TLC. Its in a nice location, and the regulars are Ok but do seem to think they own the joint - but thats the way it is when a boozer has a very loyal bunch of regulars, which this lot are. They are not all chav's and rough types as mentioned below. I have found the staff friendly enough in a "matter of fact" kind of way, and when I have eaten there the food has been good value. The last guv'nor Allan was pretty much on top of it all,had a lot of energy and was interested... but it remains to be seen if the downhill slide will be reversed.

18 Jan 2007 06:51

The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead

My wife had lunch here during the week recently and reported an extensive menue and good food. Indeed we ate there a few months ago (just after its makeover)and found everything to be very good indeed - if a tad expensive, but then decent food in a pub usually is. However, when we went there for Sunday Lunch a couple of weeks ago it was all very dissapointing. The Sunday menue is not the same as the weekday menue with rather limited options - particularly the vegetarian ones. The main course portion of pasta served to my daughter (over �7 if I remember correctly) was so tiny we sent it back, the mussels were teeny little things swimming in a clear, tasteless watery broth (now the mussels at The Running Horses in Mickleham are a different matter-excellent!). The bread is very good though...The first Pimms served to my missus was mostly lemonade, but I liked the Cider which is not your usual fizzy variety (can't recall the name)...The young and overstrected staff were certainly helpful enough and brought us free roast potatos to our table by way of apology for the mean sized pasta portion. It is in a nice location and has a beer garden. The beer garden would be a very pleasent place to sit and enjoy a pint in the sun, but is marred by the constant background drone of the (I assume) kitchen extractor fans. I wonder if it was absolutley nesseccary to site these so intrusivley, as they mar what otherwise could be the saving grace to the joint. The Ramblers is not really a pub anymore, but seems to try to be a sophistacted, modern "bar" / gastropub which is fine, but with its relatively high prices and aspirations the place needs to shift up a gear. I hope they pull it off, as overall it has the potential to be a very attractive place to while away a couple of hours.

20 May 2006 06:57

The Well House Inn, Mugswell

Perhaps Parkhillian, you should try the William Morris. Lordy, lordy.

15 Jul 2005 18:55