please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We just visited the Rubbing House after a walk in the Downs with our two children. Was told very on entering through the door 'no under 18s in the bar!' My partner pointed to a free table in the restaurant and we were told 'No!' before we could even discuss if we're able to order lunch. Very unwelcoming for families or people enjoying the downs. Fellow walkers beware, don't bother!!
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My husband and I went to eat inside on a friday night. We had ordered our dinner and drinks by the waitress and then the maitre d come over and in a very unfriendly way asked us to move to a smaller table as they were getting busy. Suffice to say we won't be going back, even though this is our local pub and we have been before with our local association. Next tim we will be going to the derby arms next door.
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I found the place had a highly commercial atmosphere, was a bit expensive, and seemed to be organised for the convenience of the management, rather than that much consideration for the customers' experience.
Beneath the perfunctory civility, a somewhat hard attitude seemed perceptible.
That said, the beer and food quality were reasonably OK, but you'd think so at the prices.
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We went for a meal on Saturday, one of many in the past and has always been fabulous. But we havent been for a month or so and we are sooo disappointed the size of the meal is smaller, with the beefburgers coming with only 15 chips and the once glorious Moussaka in a tiny bowl and a smaller portion inside with next to no meat and no sign of an aubergine. We wont be going back.
We understand that prices have to go up but this not good.
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Went to this pub yesterday with my wife and son. We�ve ordered food and tea for two of us, because my son does not eat this kind of food, so he had his lunch at McDonalds beforehand. Steak was good, fish and chips were awful. When finished the food had to wait for one tea 20-30 minutes, and 5 minutes more for second tea :) I thought that�s a really bad service and we decided to go away when we finish our tea.
BUT suddenly a very big and aggressive man approached our table, behind his back one of the waiters was waiting. Without presenting himself to us he quickly and rudely asked if we have finished with the meal pointing his finger at MacDonald�s bag that was sitting on the table since we got into this place. He was unbelievably rude and basically was bulling us and told us to go away now without even finishing tea. I said we not going until we finish, he called POLICE. I talked to the police officers and they were surprised because they were told that someone (myself) really misbehaving at the pub (crashing things and fighting with a staff). If anything than it was other way round and me and my family were bullied by this guy who refused to give his name and just said that he is an owner and I should get out.
This is the most DREADFUL experience of pubs/restaurants in my life. Think twice before going there or be prepared be bullied by so called OWNER.
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We had a great evening with friends. The food was great and the service was excellent. Best steak in Surrey
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I complained about my raw fish and the Owner said if I didn't pay for it the waiter would have to...and scarily enough I think he ment it....I stood up for myself....and the owner with his bullying manner actually made me cry. I did eventually have my meal cost taken from the bill...it ruined what should have been a special family meal I left the restaurant feeling intimidated and extremly upset for both me and the poor waiter
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I complained about my raw fish and the Owner said if I didn't pay for it the waiter would have to...and scarily enough I think he ment it....I stood up for myself....and the owner with his bullying manner actually made me cry. I did eventually have my meal cost taken from the bill...it ruined what should have been a special family meal I left the restaurant feeling intimidated and extremly upset for both me and the poor waiter
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I always visit The Rubbing House when in Epsom the staff are very friendly and the food is spot on.
The pub is right next to the racecourse and views to the surrounding area.
The eating area is very comfortable and clean I recommend this pub to anyone visiting Epsom
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I was invited to this restaurant (it's not a pub any more) by a friend and was a little aprehensive at first.
I found the food OK albeit a bit overpriced. Had a few pints of Flowers which was a keg beer but OK but at �3.40 a pint well overpriced.
Lovely location but take out a mortgage before going there.
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Sorry but the beutiful location is about all thats good here. 3 times I have visited here in the last 12 months & every time been made to feel inferiour by the surley barstaff & the establishments over the top rules.
NO STANDING AT THE BAR :- Come on now its a pub.
ONLY SELLING 2 BAGS OF CRISPS AT A TIME:- If I wanted 2 bags I'd ask for 2.
NOT TAKING DEBIT CARD PAYMENT BELOW �10:- Its the 21st centry isnt it .2 men 2 pints �7.00 payment by cash only?
The atitude of the barstaff stinks, the look down their nose manner is totaly uncalled for. For people on max �20 a session, a little politness would go a long way to gaining the ocasional tip.
I will never cross the doorstep of this pub again
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Beautiful location but food overpriced and most disappointing - no child portions available so my grandaughter was brought a large, unappetising-looking cheese sandwich which she did not eat (�6.95!). My daughter found her tortilla inedible. My brie pannini hardly had any cheese in it and my mother's chicken pannini was much the same. Over-priced and unmemorable - we will not be returning and will not recommend the place either.
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I take exception to the last comment. It is too easy to deride Iceland, yet they serve a local market and have helped keep the high street going in dire out of town shopping centre times (a bit like generic theme/chain pubs). And if reviewers actually went there they would see it is not all alcopops and white bread, they actually have some quite interesting products and were the first (perhaps foolishly) to champion organic veg.
As for Brake Brothers, that is another thing. Generic, soggy and overflavoured food that is consistently bad from Cornwall to Cumbria. Home cooked (well home heated, but certainly not home made)
I look forward to my visit on Weds to the RH with some entrepidation.... But good viewers, you will be the first to find out whether it rises above a five, or falls to a P&P low
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Agree with the last reviewer. Had been recommended the Rubbing House but found that it served the kind of food you would expect expect at a "Brewers Fayre" but at far inflated prices. Absolutely nothing to write home about. The Sunday roast belonged to "Aunt Bessie" rather than the chef and everything including the drinks expensive. Maybe because of the location was expecting something of far superior quality. For the same sort of money The Derby Arms serves much better food and a much nicer atmosphere.
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Location is good. Staff mainly from Australia and S.Africa. Visited recently on 3rd December.
Waited very quickly, but starters took a bottle of wine between 3 persons before showing up. Main food not hot and asked for the meal to be reheated. Noticed other patrons weren't happy with their meal heat. Waiter apologised and returned a hot meal.
It is becoming obvious that Pub/Restaurants of this statue, are more and more using Brake Brother foods, and the 'so called chef' only has to reheat the prepared meal and lay the food out to look good. As everthing is geared to supply, no courtesy is promoted in the presentation of the meal. The most annoying feature is presenting a HOT meal with HOT vegetables.
Sorry, but I'd rather go to the extra expense of having a meal freshly cooked, rather than some promoted item that came out of 'Iceland'.
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extremely over priced drinks - came to almost �10 for two glasses of pimms - i nearly fell off my chair! Waiting staff cant seem to understand simple orders - double portion of salad recquested instead of any kind of potato - wasn't acknowledged at all, when i reminded the waitress when she brought me a dinner with chips (i have diabetes i cannot eat carbs!!) she angrily said that i had no recquested salad, stomped off and left me to it. Charming.
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The Rubbing House is my local and the owner is brilliant because I have just been diagnosed with diabetes and recommended by the hospital to drink diet lemonade, which I mentioned it to Zack about this and he ordered some diet lemonade in especially for me and also to use for those people with diabetes.
The waiters are really polite and always helpful to me, also The Rubbing House is very wheelchair friendly and the only complaint I could really really say, which you could be a bit critical is the disabled parking bays isn't clearly sign posted because I have seen vehicles and people pull in them and clearly isn't disabled.
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consistantly good food at a decent price, probably not a pub for your beer drinkers, but as a family restuarant it beats a lot of the other local venues.
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Went for a Sunday Lunch (midday) with my baby daughter and 91 year old grandmother. Were told on arrival by an extremely rude waitress that we couldn't enter the premises with a pushchair.
I left the pushchair behind and returned. We were told that there was a half hour wait .....but we would have to stand outside with the baby!!!
My poor grandmother can't stand up for 5 minutes let alone half hour, plus it was October. We left along in company with another outraged family and a lady in a wheelchair that could not be accomodated. OUTRAGEOUS. We went to the DERBY ARMS instead and had a lovely meal with great service.
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Sits in a prime location with glorious views over The Downs and racecourse. Pleasant well appointed garden to the front but the pub interior is rather modern and soulless. It seems to be more geared for dining and probably rakes it in on pleasant Sunday afternoons, Mothers Day etc not to mention race meetings. London Pride and Flowers IPA (who brews this now?)with other handpumps unused. Sparklers on the handpumps.
I'm sure it ticks the boxes for the target clientele but location excepted, its not my kind of place.
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Paid first visit here today for lunch. Beer choice of Fullers London Pride and Flowers IPA (neither tried due to medication!),two or three unused handpumps and the usual suspects on the lager fonts. Excellent food, reasonably priced, friendly and attentive staff, quick service. Mixture of clientele from dear old ladies out for a spot of lunch to businessmen. Got very busy very quickly in the restaurant. Will visit again to try the beers and sit outside in the Summer
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I'm very pleased to hear that runninghampster considers pub toilets "generaly not a place to go for a fun night out."!
Visited for a birthday party last night - only two real ales on. Had several pints of London Pride which seemed in decent condition, and the food was very acceptable. I imagine the draw of the place is its proximity to the Racecourse, but as it was dark, couldn't really comment on this. Atmosphere was spoilt to a large extent by groups of young women (girls?)who couldn't take their alcohol, and spent the time screeching and cackling etc.
Not really a pub I'd choose to go back to.
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Have gone in there with friends for a girls night out and it was more like going on a saga holiday! Loads of old blokes in suits, the only young people were the bar staff.Toilets are a bit cold and generaly not a place to go for a fun night out.
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Thought this was a beer website! Last 5 reviewers don't mention beer. I need to know if it is worth visiting for a decent pint!
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Have visited this pub many times, I would say that it's more a resturant than pub.
Very nice location, staff are pleasant, food good though Sunday lunch a bit disappointing, very clean, service is good even when busy.
looking forward to sitting out in the garden on the next rare sunny day
Rating=8
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This is not a bad pub with a very strange mix of customers, as you go in there is always a table full of ageing men knocking back champagne with attractive women young enough to be their daughters!! nice views from the window and the garden is quite large with plenty of seats. Food is not bad and it is always busy in the resturant area.
anonymous - 6 Jun 2007 01:06 |
Went on Sunday lunchtime with some friends and it was a big disappointment. Long wait for below average food. Vegetarian meal contained meat (if they can�t do it why put it on the menu?). Meals all arrived at different times. Hot food had to be sent back as it was tepid. Adolescent serving staff not interested in the customers. Bad experience as they obviously value turnover above quality.
Sure the view over the downs is good but the pub is seriously overrated. Avoid it unless you like a long wait for average tepid food and poor service.
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This place really is not a Pub but a restaurant.The food is however good ,and the place is always full of happy eaters.However if you want a quiet place to go after a walk with the dog this is not the place; in fact its not really suitable as a drinking venue ,as they seem a little awkward with customers who stand at the bar to drink .
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Just had dinner at the Rubbing House and had a great time, the food was excellent
Dont know what the last visitor to this site meant The manageress could not be more helpful
All the staff were super and created a real party atmosphere ... we shall be returning soon.......... ps the toilets were great
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manageress is right misery if your not an upper class snob who drives a merc then your not worthy of being in her pub.
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Prefer to eat outside so great when the weather's fine, though can get a little windy at times. Good food but would like to see a larger selection of real ales.
Bar staff friendly, waiting staff socially inept, and am still waiting for Landlord to smile or say hello - but hey, you can't have everything!
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What a great place. Good atmosphere, even on a Monday evening, great food and good service. What more could you ask for.
For me, more of a place to eat, but there were plently of people just enjoying a drink with a lovely view of Epsom Downs racecourse.
As noted in a previous post, toilets are cold!
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A good pub, more an dining pub, although there is a seperate area for drinkers. Always had a good meal. Lovely location on Epsom racecourse.
alski - 27 Mar 2006 16:39 |
Visited this pub on a sunny saturday afternoon. Lots of outside tables and nice location. Food was really nice. Great place to go if the weather is good and plenty of room for kids to run around outside.
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Visited this pub with a friend recently for a pint on a sunday early evening and felt like the management were constantly peering at us as we were not locals ! Maybe we should dress like the others in there,but they looked like they were dining in a hotel in Park Lane or the Ritz !
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Nice modern pub with friendly staff. I'm not used to being greeted with a smile and a cheery hello when walking into Pubs ! My Paranoia quickly left me and I
settled down to a nice beer surrounded by a nice atmoshphere.
I'm sure I saw Ranalph Finnes in the toilets, using them as a kind of acclimatisation chamber for his next visit to the North Pole. Still least the floor was 'wee wee' free !! All in all I'd go back and wouldn't hesitate in recommending this pub to others.
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Once you've found the way in, this pub is quite a find. Clean, very friendly and helpful staff, and not overly expensive. Surprisingly busy for such an out of the way location, definitely one of the better Epsom pubs.
However, if you are expecting a traditional dark old country pub with log fires and old men with beards up at the bar drinking real ale, you will be disappointed. And the toilets were very cold.
Parkhillian - 19 Nov 2004 09:55 |
havent eaten here but the pub is really nice..they have done a good job changing it..derby arms watch out
anonymous - 1 Oct 2004 18:24 |
Food better than the Derby Arms, really wheelchair friendly and staff were very helpful to wheelchair users.ie allocating suitable table for wheelchair access.
It is very good in the summer for sitting watching night racing at Epsom, especially this year when status quo played their.
Paul Jones - 7 Sep 2004 20:02 |
newly reovated very nice alot more welcoming then before the food is excellent managment team are great a friendly a gorgous view of epsom downs sits just off the track
!!!!
julie - 18 Jul 2004 22:32 |
More of a restaurant than a pub, but the staff are really friendly. You can see virtually the whole of Epsom race track from the beer garden, so I bet it gets packed on race days.
Briony - 19 Apr 2004 11:08 |
