please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Was there last week. Had a pint of Adnams Bitter for £4.20. A little pricey, but all of Surbiton did seem that way and it was very nice.
Staff were friendly to me, might have changed owners since the comments from 2012 and 2013?
Huge pub dog so maybe not one for people scared of dogs.
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First time out in this area, thought I'd drop in as part of a tour of pubs to see what's on offer. It's a decent location and has good prices for london & near the river + has outside tables, takes cards, pool table, good selection on offer, etc. Seemed like my type of place, especially if you sit outside - relaxed and no fuss. Weirdly, pub landlord seemed put off and said that me and my friends were only there because we couldn't get a table at another pub. Errr...so, seemed clear it was a 'locals preferred' type of place, which is fair enough as it didn't seem v busy. Left after 1 drink after being nagged over moving a reeking ashtray. Lots of similar pubs in the area that might be a bit warmer, not terrible but not sure I'd return...
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I have just met a friend of mine for a quick beer and a game of pool at the fox and hounds and I cannot believe the treatment we have received! I ordered 2 pints of beer and was not met with a hello, please or thank you from the land lord at all. He was cold and very unwelcoming. The reason my friend and I went to the fox and hounds was because they have a pool table and we wanted a game of pool. After we had begun our second game of pool the landlord decided to come and speak wi us. He told us that the last time we had been in the pub (some 4 to 5 months previous) someone had been doing cocaine in the toilets and he had been watching us!!!!!!!! I am a professional hard worker who is a company director and shareholder of a company I am not some skallywag who partakes in the use of drugs in an unwelcoming and unfriendly pub. While I apploar the use of zero tolerance policy on drug taking I felt that the landlord was accusing us of taking drugs on his property. He was rude and ignorant and had no tact at all in discussing a taboo subject. All over the pub there is CCTV cameras and signs stating the management reserve the right to refuse entry, children are only permitted at the discretion of the land lord and must vacate the premises by 8:30pm. The signs and notices are aggressive and unwelcoming. I would not recommend anyone to go to this pub while under the current management of this landlord when there are far superior and friendlier establishments very locally. I will never step foot in this pub again as I am seething with anger at the treatment I have received from the landlord .
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Spacious "knocked through" pub with roaring fire, dart board and pool table. Courage Best and Bombardier - I had a pint of Bombardier and it was in good nick. Couple of flat screen TVs but not in use on this particular Saturday afternoon even though there was rugby on terrestrial. Radio providing what seemed like loudish background music.
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Only been in once but I quite liked it, nice warm feeling about it and plenty of space. Could be very busy as on its own in terms of location. Just depends on whether the immediate locals want to stay by the river or head into surbiton. If I go into kingston I'll pop in here on the way from the ditton but if I lived close to this pub Id frequent it alot more
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A quiet, local pub. Amstel on draught which - as a lager drinker - I like. They take cards which - as someone who rarely carries cash - I like. A great view of the setting sun over Hampton Court and the river. If you crane your neck a bit. The regulars are mild-mannered and friendly but there aren't many of them. A recent refurbishment in 2008-9 feels only partially completed and the pub's decor is an acquired taste but it certainly doesn't feel characterless, just that perhaps the fun-times here were in times-gone-by. After the re-fit (which mainly involved a lot of work on the patio out the front) there was an interesting looking Italian menu being served but - as of August 2009 - there is no food being offered. Just looking around at the number of people in on a Saturday night will tell you all you need to know, there just isn't the trade.
Surbiton has quite a few pubs really and here, perched on the end of a residential 'river road' and facing a busy Portsmouth Road it just feels a bit isolated and forgotten. Perhaps when the students return in the autumn it will fill-out again, sitting on the pilgrimage between Seething Wells halls of residence and Kingston-upon-Thames. Other nearby pubs and bars offer more in terms of style, wines, views and food but the Fox and Hounds is honest & friendly. It certainly deserves some attention and investment from the local community and perhaps a bit of work to improve the interior layout from the owners though - I suspect - this might be a challenge given the low trade at the moment. The landlord confessed the other night he didn't have Sky, I suspect cost is the issue here too. It all just feels a bit precarious.
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Has been cleaned up since reviews below. Courage Best and Bombardier wre on. Seemed generally ok.
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Have popped into this pub several times over the spring and summer this year. The landlord, his staff and the regulars were all very friendly. On three occasions I took advantage of the advertised meal and pint - all for �6!Thoroughly recommend this pub, good home cooking, good service.
One thing I would recommend to the landlord is to offer another real ale or two to attract more of my friends and other proper ale drinkers to visit more often, though the Courage best on offer is very pleasant.
The place has recently been refurbished and has really cleaned up its act. 10/10 to the landlord for effort - really nice bloke too.
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The sign has gone. This is symptomatic and the pub really does seem to have fallen on hard times. I went there a couple of years ago and it was better then than it is now. Beer was John Smiths Cask (not bad to be honest) or Courage Best.
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Great pub. Does a fantastic pint of Hog's Back T.E.A. Pool table, regular faces and a top landlord.
Maino - 25 Nov 2007 19:43 |
I would advise anyone NOT to go to this place. Its dirty, shabby and the staff are unhospitable. The advertisement outside states food is served from 12-2pm. We went to get some lunch and the bar staff told us they had a leek in the kitchen and food was not being served. After we had finished our drinks i noticed 3 people at the bar eating..asked if food was being served now, the bar staff told me it had gone past 2pm and nothing available at this time! Ok..if thats the service you get, they dont deserve the custom...pass this place, even if your gagging!!
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I can not believe these comments!! How much were you paid to say that or are you just friends with guy who trys to run it? I have adamantly refused along with all my friends to ever go back. Place was ok for a while but last two years its become shabby, dirty and some wierd customers in there. Guy who runs it always trys to have conversations with you when me and my friends just wanted to chat together. Not sure if he's a bit odd but he talks in disjointed sentences, asks personal q's besides telling you stuff bout himself that we don't want to know and laughs at his own unfunny jokes. Food was random too-sometimes on mostly off and badly presented-really became inedible. Someone please save this place or knock it down as whoever owns it now doesn't know what a good pub is!!!
anonymous - 11 Jun 2007 13:11 |
In Kingston/Surbiton riverside area, this is one off the best. Generous reasonably priced Sunday roasts, and I seem to remember an open fire...rare to find a rural feeling pub in this area.
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Nice enough pub.
Have had Sunday lunch in here a nd a few beers on several occasions. All very pleasant.
anonymous - 12 Mar 2007 17:15 |
Has the potential to be really, really good. Promising from the outside. Thoroughly good egg guvnor who puts on non-tacky entertainment. In fairness the decor inside is utterly depressing and drab/tired. If it was gutted and redecorated with a bit of natural light it would be everyone's first choice.
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I'm glad to see the rating for this pub edging up. A non-pretentious local on the riverside road (but the wrong side of it). If this was in Kingston it would have been demolished by now.
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i visit this pub allmost every week, ok i am young and people have said they are trying to attract more student crouds, this is semi true... i am not a student, however i am of student age (19) but i love this pub, the staff are brilliant, the atmosphere is great (its quiet, but not too quiet, i like to chat as well as drink) i drink here becuase it is a pub, not a 'student bar'
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First ever visit from yours truly on Easter Sunday - very impressed indeed.
Nice traditional pub - sadly not particularly busy, probably due to the large Beefeater close by on the river side of the road. Had a good value Sunday Lunch for only � 5 and a reasonable pint of Hogs Back TEA - which initially came out as cloudy and the barman came over to my table and changed it without me even asking !
Formerly a Courage Pub - note the old style cockerel sign - most of the regulars were drinking Courage Best, which was the only other real ale on.
Well worth the walk along the riverside towpath from Kingston to reach, I 'll definitely try and visit again sooner rather than later
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Unpretentious, if a little shabby around the edges. A shame it's not on the other side of the road, next to the river.
Far enough from Kingston and Surbiton to give it a "local" atmosphere. One for the "quiet drink" brigade, i would fancy.
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Great pub !
Friendly localy pub, with nice staff, and good food.
Tends towards the quieter which makes for a nice place to go for a chat with mates etc.
Has a dartboard too which is a rarity these days.
In the summer, alll sorts of peculiar events go on here.
Nice change from the chavvy chelsea pubs on maple road
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We visited this pub about 5 years ago and it was great. Sadly now under different management who in our opinion have let this pub deteriorate very noticeable. They definitely go out of their way to attract the student population. The beer was poorly kept, it was noisy and rather dirty. It a shame because it was a nice pub. We have a group of friends who have stopped coming here also.
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Not sure who you saw but love this place-real pub, real friendly and i'm going back lots. Has to be worth a visit.
anonymous - 13 May 2005 14:01 |
Was that Kirsty Gallagher there on saturday nite? Amongst all those rugby boys??? She's lovely-does she visit often? Like it here.
anonymous - 10 May 2005 14:34 |
Glad i found this pub. Great sunset spot. Proper pub un-pretenscious and relaxed. Will visit regular.
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This pub has a brilliant and friendly atmosphere
Just recently i have seen lawrence dallaglio who seems to know the owners. The barstaff are always good for a chat and food...well thats another plus-good pub grub with homemade chips.
anonymous - 9 May 2005 17:00 |
i went there the other night and saw these rugby players: michael watson, lawrence dallaligio, joe worsley, jan bonnie, rodery davis, damien cronin, buster white. there were more but id be here typing for ages!!! the service was great. the food was brillant. will definatly make this my regular.
anonymous - 8 May 2005 18:57 |
Pretty good, was child friendly when the Rugby was on , good rugby crowd too. Stoodenty pub in the evening.
Jim - 29 Oct 2004 15:47 |
I used to drink at the Victoria until their prices got so stupid. Glad I stopped going as have now discovered this gem. Very reasonably priced, decent old pub atmosphere and friendly locals having a bit of banter. I am suprised it's not busier. The bar staff are great and it has a pool table. Probably more of a winter pub as the busy Portsmouth road makes it just a bit too noisy to enjoy sitting outside.
Nicholas - 4 Oct 2004 15:16 |
great people taken over, it has a lovely atmosphere and really good food...keep it up
anonymous - 2 Mar 2004 13:54 |
Nice pub, great memories of Sunday lunchtimes in the early eighties.
Warren Stevenson. - 25 Jun 2002 18:56 |
