please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
April 2014. Plough shut for 6 mos we hear - structural changes needed.
Also ownership changes needed. Current owners - Scot+Newcastle/ Heinekin ? ? - have permitted a series of incompetent and incapable tenants and managements over about 10 years.
An opportunity to put it right next time.
Refurb the pub, toilets car park, kitchen and possibly accommodation. Maintain the cellar.
Then put in management who have the money, wit and all other necessary resources to run it properly - so many customers driven away by the Freehold owners installing hopeless organisation time after time.
Hopefully English Heritage and the council won't permit it it be knocked down for housing . . . Await it's re- opening with baited breath
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April 2014. Plough shut for 6 mos we hear - structural changes needed.
Also ownership changes needed. Current owners - Scot+Newcastle/ Heinekin ? ? - have permitted a series of incompetent and incalable tenants and managements over about 10 years.
An opportunity to put it right next time.
Refurb the pub, toilets car park, kitchen and possibly accommodation. Maintain the cellar.
Then put in management who have the money, wit and all other necessary resources to run it properly - so many customers driven away by the Freehold owners installing hopeless organisation time after time.
Hopefully English Heritage and the council won't permit it it be knocked down for housing . . . Await it's re- opening with baited breath
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Good news - the Plough has re-opened - did not manage to get to look around as it was packed with both car parks overflowing. Will try again later this week.
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PUB IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Arrived at 17:45 to find it closed but there were lights on inside so assumed it would open at 18:00. Turns out it's closed probably for 1-2 weeks. Their website doesn't mention that it's closed down and apparently the brewery want to re-open it asap.
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Had a very nice couple of beers here yesterday, very good staff, friendly and fast service every time. nice range of beers and spirits. have been several times over the last few months and have always had a good pint, a nice place to sit and a friendly atmosphere. Car park at the front of the pup can be a bit tight for space with all the sl merc's and Jag's but there is extra parking on the side of the road just past the pub.
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Dropped in here for a lunchtime pint yesterday. Cant say I noticed the decor but the bar area seemed pleasant enough. The beer Hogs Back something or other was fine. Sat outside in the sun. Not a fan of piped music, it's always so very difficult to please everyone. Think outside would have been better with no music. The food (a chicken and bacon club sandwich) more than made up for it though. Truly excellent! Definitely going back there when I get the opportunity.
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As a local I like what they have done and are trying to do with The Plough. I've been coming here since I was 17 and have seen it go through many ages. The landlord has always been very pleasant to me and other guests I have taken in. The decor may not be to everyone's taste but it's different and interesting. It's a shame it lost some of the regular gents but some of them were generally moaners anyway!
What's great is that the landlord is also trying to encourage people in by putting on some different events and I applaud him for that and hope that we continue to support him. He's interested in knowing what works so rather than post negative comments on this site people should also give feedback when they are there so he can address any problems.
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A small country pub located in a quiet part of Cobham. The pub is not very deep but quite wide with the bar directly in front of you when you go in. There is a food serving area to the left of the bar. Courage Bitter, Sharps Doombar and Hogs Back Spring Ale were on the bar when I was there. The Spring ale could have been colder but otherwise was pleasant. Comfortable lounge and quite homely. There is also a garden area next to the smallish car park.
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why would the landlord of another nearby pub feel the need to support a rival business, and if indeed he was some sort of philanthropic crusader would he not have commented on other local pubs?
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Chic refurb but so disappointing - a classic example of substance over style Bar is like a wine bar - no bar towels and pints served on napkins but still peopled by tracksuited yoof and estate agents like it was a proper pub. Staff friendly enough. The dining room looks great but they try to hide the direness of the food with fancy presentation. Mrs X had burger (burnt in a rock solid bun) on a board with mayo (in a miniature brass saucepan) and chips (in a bucket). It was more like a visit to Robert Dyas than a meal. I had fish pie, served in a 4" skillett for �13. We both has starters but by the end of mains were still hungry. We got the dessert menu but by then we were the only people left and the staff had lost interest and were all stood chatting at the bar. We left. Wine was warm and lifeless. When the refurb of the toilets is the highlight of a visit, there is something very wrong.
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Hi. I am the wife of "movewiththetimesman". Im saying this as i wish to be honest in my comments for the genuine readers interesting in finding out about the pub. I am not writing to defend, but to discuss my local.
Im well surprised that "drytraveller" and "woolywors" hate the new refurb. It was sooooo badly needed but its been tastefully done. Cobham is a chic place but the pubs have never fit the image. But the resturants have, which is why they are packed out every day! You mention its like a Laura Ashley catalogue, well thats good isnt it? its fashionable. Im not particially keen on the management of the pub (not meaning the staff itself) but I feel they have done a good job in reviving the pub that was near to burying its own grave. Since its relaunched, its been so lovely to see so many people (even at 4.30 on a Sat is was still packed) and the atmosphere has finally started to re- emerge. i have been a big critic of the place for a few years, lifeless and outdated (not just decor, but food, ideas, etc). Im all for a traditional pub but it was just about the old gessers proping up the bar. As said above, Cobham has very little choice and its so exciting for me to have somewhere now that we can walk to which is worth walking too! There are definite improvements to be made, ie I dont like the logs outside either, it is not practical, but you have to give them a pat on the back for trying to be different....pubs have such competition these days. The menu is revamped and seems much more interesting, the back room has been brought to life and will finally be a part of the pub and the new conservatory, wow the seats are soooo comfortable and cosy decor.
For the record, i have no relationship with any of the staff at the Plough. The motivatation for this long, and possibly pointless to some, comment is because (a) im excited to have somewhere to go for a drink without driving and (b) I feel "beerintheevening" has been taken advantage of a bit now and you cant always get a clear picture on what the pub is really like due to the interests of some of the commentors, but I hope I have given you the urge to go and try it out for yourself and make your own opinion, i feel the effort and money taken into the change in the pub deserves your own opinion.
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ps - sorry to harp on but the 'Rugby on Sky' is part of Sky Sports that costs 1k+ a month the equivalent of 4k of beer sales just to break even. A no brainer to ditch it from a screen that 15 people tops could gather round.
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Drytraveller, thankyou for your reasoned second comment. I am not the landlord of the Plough but a traditional pub in the next town. Send me a message and I will be happy to talk more.
I felt in need to defend this refurb as it is so easy for people to slam pubs on this site without any thought for the emotion and hard work that goes into them and the fact that a lot of peoples livelyhoods are at stake as well as the future of the pub itself.
As you say, go back in 6 months and see - in the meantime I am sure many new customers will enjoy the 'new' Plough and hopefully the trickle of old regulars creeping back in will find they quite like it afterall and add to the doubled turnover that has already hit.
Cheers and the manager is a nice guy, I promise.
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Thank you hertz.... i did wonder myself about movewith's identity. I know a couple of the local landlords and none of them think much of the changes made, nor do they think much of the management.......and if you know a few of the local pubs pots/kettle come to mind.....
I've been in again myself, thinking maybe I got the wrong idea. I am now convinced my first impression was right. I'm not going again. And for movewith's benefit, I am considerably younger than the over 55 grumpies he referred to.... i dont need slippers and pipe, nor a zimmer frame ...i was never a fan of some of that particular school of regulars anyway, but they must have spent a small fortune over the years....income I would imagine they now sorely miss. All I know is that what used to be a wonderful old pub now looks like a cross between a laura ashley catalogue and a badly arranged timberyard. And I'm told the rugby on sky is gone...great move, with the heineken cup coming up. Thats a big Fri/Sat/Sun crew who will be going somewhere else.
I wish the owners well - I have no desire to see another pub closed, but I fear the worst. I can only assume they have a great plan none of the rest of us are party to.
If it is still open in six months time I will pop by and try and be objective as to progress. I'm not here to sh*t stir. But for the moment my hard earned beer money will be spent elsewhere
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IF I were the cynical sort, I might think the pub that "movewiththetimesman" is landlord of, might very well be a recently refurbished pub in Plough lane.............
Personally I agree with drytraveller and woolywors
Popped in last week for the first time in over a year. Used to be a regular years ago, when it was nicknamed the "Youth club". Didn't realise it was going to be refurbished. Wished Massive or whoever owns it now hadn't bothered. Staff were too interested in talking and joking with each other to bother with the very small number of customers present. Didn't see any evidence of rude manager, but judging by the apalling attitude of the staff he may of course be leading by example.
Sitting outside, you are subjected to constant elevator music. Not good. Can't speak for the food - didn't intend to eat anyway, but thought the menu fairly uninspiring. Only two of the four beer pumps were on - not a good sign after only a week open, and the pint I had (spitfire) wasn't brilliant. Went to the Black Swan afterwards. Much better. I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend the Plough - especially if you know it of old - nor do I think I'll bother going again. There are still some good pubs around. Great shame really that this now isn't one of them.
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HONESTLY! drytraveller and woolywors, you should both stay at home with your pipe and slippers!
Great changes made here, it is still a wonderful pub-the refurb has brought about some great touches and sensible changes. Super atmosphere and FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL manager.
Would suggest all to give it a go, yes its been modernised a bit but blimey its not only for the over 55 grumpy old gits who used to dominate the bar putting off anybody new to the pub or born after 1960......!
For the record I am not an employee but a landord of another nearby pub.
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This used to be a great, great proper pub. Then the french came, it became l'auberge at the Plough, and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.....
Whoever is responsible for the refit needs shooting. The outside looks like a lumber yard, with logs all over the place for seating. There is an 8ft painting - spotlighted up for heavens sake - of a dog wearing glasses behind the bar, and the wall paper i can only assume was pieced it together from an old samples book. If English Heritage had any teeth they'd be well bared and biting. What has been done to this wonderful old building is nothing short of murder in the first degree.
As for the service.... if the "gentleman" I had the misfortune to encounter is indeed the manager (which I am led to believe is the case) there there truly is no hope for the place. If it were possible to give this a minus rating I would, just for the refit. At least the berr was alright.
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Recently refurbished old 'local' now tacky. A listed building that has been messed about and lost its character. Beware of rude bar manger.
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Attractive country pub near the River Mole. Courage Best, Brakspears Bitter and Surrey Hills Shere Drop which was very good. Ivy growing over the red brick walls outside, low beams inside. Decent.
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Visited for the first time the other day. Didnt exactly blow me away, but found it a decent, highly viable alternative to other more noted establishments in the area.
Attractive, quiet location, friendly staff, and a decent sized terrace. No real view but nice enough to sit outside, and the interior looked good too.
Would come back for sure.
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We were staying in the area and visited this pub on Saturday evening and were blown away by the food and the service! Interior is very good too - clean and atmospheric.
The set menu (�16.95 for three courses) was great - I had vegetable soup, cumberland burger and apple tart and it was gorgeous! My girlfriend had trout salad and risotto and she loved it!
Three real ales on - Tribute, TEA and something else that escapes my memory but they were very nice indeed.
The barman and waitress couldn't have been more pleasant and helpful and we were so impressed we went back on Sunday evening for a meal but were disappointed to find that there is no food served on a Sunday evening!
Speaking with the Australian landlord it turns out that he was brought in from another pub about two weeks ago by the owners to turn it around. He found that the kitchen was staffed by three bottle washers so he brought his own chef with him and will only be there for about another month (the landlord that is) before he is sent off somewhere else.
The chef is staying so I really hope that this pub stays as good as it is when he has gone. We live in Brighton and are seriously considering making the 2 hour round trip to go back there again soon as it was so good!!
So if you are in the area then give this place a try - I'm sure that you won't be disappointed!
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Used to drink here ages ago, before L'Auberge got involved.
It's nice to see this week, that the bar is still exactly the same, but the restaurant seems to have died off a bit.
A nice quiet spot on the edge of town, decent pint and best of all, friendly staff.
Perhaps we'll come back more often ?
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Apologies, this review was meant for the plough in stoke dabernon.
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I cannot describe how badly this pub is run. As a local resident I have now stopped going in due to the despair I feel when seeing it so badly mis-managed.
The staff do not have a clue, the decor is dire, the pub smells terribley and has zero atmosphere. It is soul destroying to see what used to be such a fabulous pub being run into the ground. They have now resorted to having a 'bouncy castle' in the garden in an attempt to lure young families in - a sure sign that your trade is struggling ! The sooner new owners take over who know how to run a pub, the better !
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Realised my comments about this pub getting in the CAMRA beer guide applied to the Old Plough - not this one at all. So ignore my post!!!!
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Pleased to see this pub has made this year's CAMRA guide, as the landlord has made a tremendous effort to get in there - all credit to him.
The beer is ever-changing and he'll welcome suggestions on your favourite ale tipple and do his best to get it in.
There's good food there as well, although it's the beer that really makes it worth stopping by.
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It does have a 'L'auberge' restaurant as part of it, but that is a Massive Pub Co thing, it isn't the only one (there is one in Clandon and one in Teddington for example) and to their credit they tend to leave the pub part alone. This pub is nicely tucked out of the way off the road. Unlike almost everybody else there I reckon, I didn't get there by car, having arrived by train and doing a circular walk around the local villages. Beer: a very good drop of St Austell Tribute.
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The Plough seems to be re-named "L'Auberge at The Plough" (going up-market are we..?) and there is a different phone number on the menu now, if you have problems with the number shown above here.
Try: [email protected]
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Nice little 'country' pub. I like the hanging basket display out the front. Blink driving down Downside Road and you'll miss this pub. Small car park at the front for about 15 cars. Tv screen opposite the main door welcomes you in, do not be dismayed, there's a tv-less restaurant area over to the left side, or you can sit at tables out the front and collect car numbers...
Staff were friendly, and so was the manager despite a customer reversing into his car in the car park outside..!! I would not have been quite so understanding had it been my car...
An interesting pub, i would revisit if in the area, but eclipsed by the splendid "Cricketers" on the green down the road! 7/10 TJ
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Excellent all round,food, beer, staff all excellent. Is there room for a snooker table in the end room? If not you could certainly put some old pub games down there? What about some newspapers too?
Seant - 28 Apr 2008 20:37 |
Very nice backwater pub frequented by the local wealthy 'doddery brigade'.
Pleasant bar staff, good service and choice of beer.
The sandwich I had was nice but well overpriced.
Not a lot of parking spaces so wise to get there early.
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It isn't cheap, but I can't believe anyone would think it would be, in Cobham, in this day and age.
There is no doubt that they concentrate on food, but not, in my opinion, to the detriment of the drinking clientele. In all, a reasonable pub, and I agree that it would be my local, too, if I lived in the area.
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Not a bad pub, beer was ok Adnams Explorer. I would reccomend a Christmas day dinner there but at �75 a pop i would need a second mortgage.
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A slightly pretentious pub, as befits the area. Talked to some chap called Salter, who seemed nice enough, if perhaps a little other-wordly...
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Expensive but what do you expect in Cobham?.
Beer is usually pretty reliable, the food in the L'auberge is extremely good while the pub grub in the rest of the pub is reasonable but nothing special. Parking can be hellish and some of the clientele worth shooting but if I had to live (or could afford) to live in this neck of the woods then this would definitely be my local.
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Nice summer pub with relaxing beer garden and good choice of ales.
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Can be very good if you go at the right time. Watch out for pretentious gobbos though pretending to enjoy inane conversation about nothing of interest. Too expensive.
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Nice patio area for the summer. Drinks are a bit expensive, but clientale is good.
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Part of Massive pubco's "l'auberge" chain, so pretend French bistro bolted on. The pub part is fine though, nice range of beers including some on gravity, public bar with telly, sandwiches as well as restaurant stuff, open fire, something for everyone.
Nick - 16 Aug 2004 12:06 |
