BITE user comments - surrey_sailor
Comments by surrey_sailor
Took my elderly mother here for lunch several times before the latest refurb and it was ok.
Called in last week as it has a good garden. Did not notice any difference from 3 year ago, except the price. Quiet outragious. Bar is very downbeat and I would not drink there,Ggarden or resturant only nice areas.
Oh, and bar staff offhand and not friendly.
Wont go there again. Better places in Epsom - almost anywhere else, in fact.
9 May 2014 23:09
Never been in the Rifleman before as it always looked rather downbeat. I noticed the other day that it had been smartened up so went for lunch with missus.
Tasteful refurb,not overdone. Friendly and helpful landlord. Good choice of real ale, well kept and served.
Food was burgers and wraps, lots of choice of fillings etc Very tasty and well presented.
Nice garden and patio back.
Al lround a good pub, particularly for a town pub.
Ian
9 May 2014 22:56
Bishop Out Of Residence, Kingston Upon Thames
Went there on a sunny afternoon, late lunch time. Not impressed. Had a glass of overpriced Addlestones served in plastic container, with nasty sharp edge - very unpleasant to drink from. Only bitter was various forms of Youngs.
They were not busy but tables not cleared of dirty plates etc. Surly bar staff.
It is a pleasant location by the river, but you can hardly see the river from the small terrace due the fence.
11 Jul 2013 07:50
Nags Head On The Thames, Abingdon
Has a lot going for it - good location, nearly decorated, foodand beer ok, and not too pricey.
However the whole evening was spoilt by two things. First, we got there early as it was Friday night and put our order in before 7 o/c. It took at 50 mins for our main courses (3 fish and chips and one chicken) to arrive. Would not have been so bad had we been told when we ordered.
Second, we had arrived by boats and moored on the semi-derelict mooring at the bottom of the garden, which said for it was for customers. At 9.30, the manager ordered us to leave. We said that we had already eaten but he said that "company policy" was no overnight mooring. So we had to set off and look for another mooring.
I wont use the place again. I am told the pub just downstream is friendlier and generally better.
8 Jun 2013 22:48
Have been using this pub and restraurant for many years and until recently have rated it as very good. However, it has good down in recent months. The two for £10 meals are pretty meagre and not good.
Yesterday, we asked the barman to turn the music down. It was early afternoon and very few customers in. He was very obliging but the manageress told him to turn it up again although she knew we had asked otherwise.
Plus points are beer ok, although not cheap and staff alwyas friendly.
Overall, a good pub but on the slide.
7 May 2013 22:52
Went here in Jan and had carvery meal - very good and excellent value for money. My pint was a bit off but changed without question and Golden Arrow was excellent.
Returned on Sat. We were too late for carvery but menu meals were excellent. Again, Golden Arrow was top notch. We sat in the bar area and I thought it might get a bit noisy as it quiter busy, but the locals were friendly and not too noisy.
Will deffo return.
7 May 2013 22:42
We pop in here very few weeks, and each time there is an improvement to the infrastructure. The lounge bar has been redecorated. Gone are the fixed bench seats. A new floor and informal dining tables make a good atmosphere. Sunday roast now served.
The locals are friendly, and always say hello to strangers. What a nice change. That just about sums up the whole feel of the place.
5 Dec 2010 20:14
Generally a very pleasant pub, which makes the silly mistakes all the more obvious.
After a few lunchtime visits I have found the satff very friendly and effecient, beer is well keep and good range, general decor and surrounding, inc beer garden, is fine.
The bad bits. All Fullers bitters - no guests beers that I have seen. Food was ok, but not really any better that Spoon's (which is cheaper) although nicely presented. Food stops 1500 - 1700hrs, would nice to have been asked if we wanted puds before chef went off. Credit card for tab taken and put in clear plastic box just over the counter for all to see. Car parking v limited unless you use the pay and display public car park.
Overall, good but let down by details. I hope that they can get these right. I will probably return for a drink although not to eat.
13 Oct 2010 23:34
Expensive, unfriendly staff, tatty decor, beer v badly served.
Pint of Spitfire and small Peroni was 8 quid. The Spitfire was so cold as to be tasteless and also v gassy - like drinking keg beer.
No way would I have had a second pint, nor will I bother going back.
18 Sep 2010 22:23
I have use the Woodman 2 or 3 times a month for the past 5 years,during th day and in the evening, and have never encountered anything but pleasant and helpful staff.
Range of beers is probably more than average, and kept well. I have had the occasional "end of barrel" opint but always changed willingly and without fuss.
Food and drinks are good value.
My only complaint is that sometimes the food is a bit slow in arriving.
If anyone has doubts about this pub, just look at the trade it does throughout the day and evening.
18 Sep 2010 22:15
The Duke Of Wellington, East Horsley
Indifferent beer, indifferent service, top prices. No reason to return - and I wont.
Called in here about 14:00hrs. There was one customer being served, not a large order, but it took nearly ten minutes to be served. The staff was a new barmaid who seemed not to have been given any intruction. The manager studiously ignore us as he made two phone calls and then left.
The Directors was very poor. I really should have sent it back. It was drinkable but only just.
And all this cost �7.90 for Directors and small (childs) glass of draught lemonade.
14 Jul 2010 17:21
We have lived close to the Coopers for 30 years and before Nathan and Sonia only visited a couple of time, but now it's our local. Good to see them getting the place sorted. Beer is good selection, well served. Simple but well prepared food now on offer. Locals are friendly. Garden sorted.
I would like them to get the real cider back on, but otherwise, no criticism. As others have said, not a place to impress your in-laws, but great local to have a pint.
12 Apr 2010 00:17
The Blue Ball, Walton On The Hill
Went there on Sat afternoon. It was v quite but it was ladies final at Wimbledon. Mercifully, no muzak.
There are bar and restraurant menus, and you can eat in either or the pleasant decked outside area. Food was deffo a cut above average: mix of interesing and old favourites, choice of salad or fresh veg, choice of spuds etc. Not expensive - mains about �10. Service was good. Good house wine at �13.
Choice of beer not huge but well kept. Place has been refurbished but is still like a pub. We will deffo return. Just wish it did a decent cider.
6 Jul 2009 13:49
Called in lunch but did not stay. The bar looks like a school canteen. The two blokes on the table right by the side of us were almost shouting. The food may be good, but it is expensive and for those prices I can get excellent meal in nicer surroundings.
The tables were dirty although the staff were standing around doing nothing. One elderly couple had to clear there own table - at these prices? The table next to us was dirty when we arived and still dirty when we left.
Spitfire was fine but it should at �3.40 a pint. The small glass of red wine was �5.75.
Like the advert says "Is this a gastro pub? Wel, they certainly have gastronomical prices".
12 Feb 2009 22:13
Called in lunch but did not stay. The bar loks like a school canteen. The two blokes on the table right by the side of us were almost shouting. The food may be good, but it is expensive and for those prices I can get excellent meal in nicer surroundings.
The tables were dirty although the staff were standing around doing nothing. One elderly couple had to clear there own table - at these prices? The table next to us was dirty when we arived and still dirty when we left.
Spitfire was fine but it should at �3.40 a pint. The small glass of red wine was �5.75.
Like the advert says "Is this a gastro pub? Wel, they certainly have gastronomical prices".
12 Feb 2009 22:11
Called in lunch but did not stay. The bar loks like a school canteen. The two blokes on the table right by the side of us were almost shouting. The food may be good, but it is expensive and for those prices I can get excellent meal in nicer surroundings.
The tables were dirty although the staff were standing around doing nothing. One elderly couple had to clear there own table - at these prices? The table next to us was dirty when we arived and still dirty when we left.
Spitfire was fine but it should at �3.40 a pint. The small glass of red wine was �5.75.
Like the advert says "Is this a gastro pub? Wel, they certainly have gastronomical prices".
12 Feb 2009 22:11
We were on the Grand Union canal a few weeks ago and stopped overnight nearby. The Fox is down a no-through road, a little way off the main road, and not quite canalside but only about 50 metres away. Another 50 metres away is the surprisingly rural walk alongside the Brent River.
We arrived about 1700hrs and visited on and off until about 2200 (there is not much to do on the canal in Jan). The pub staff and customers were very friendly and seem to welcome children (in afternoon) and dogs. The single bar is L shaped with big screen tv in the corner of the L, but it is easy to get away from it in a cosy corner at the end of the long arm of the L.
The Taylors' Landlord was fine. A pint of Tring's Jack o Legs was decidely end-of-barrel but was changed instantly and without question.
The food was excellent and obviously chef cooked. Carbonarra, cheesy cottage pie and burger, all perfectly cooked and well presented and server. Good value too.
I thought this was a real find - local pub feel yet friendly, good beer and food but not expensive, good location. What more could you want?
3 Feb 2009 21:40
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The Jolly Coopers, Epsom
Reopened last weekend. Popped in the a lunchtime drink during the week.
Lots of wrks done. Outside smartened up, old saloon and snug now bar and public is now dinning room, which is a bit formal and severe for my taste. Pleasant paved area at back.
Small lunch menu, but did not try food. Other diners seemed satisfied. About 6 bitters, 3 of which were Fullers. Lots of Fullers brand around.
All looking promising but called in for Sunday evening pint to find everything locked at that 2030hrs. So went to Cricketers. Would have gone to Weatherspoons in the first place if we had known.
Think I will wait a few weeks before another visit. Maybe things will settle down.
Ian
31 May 2015 23:02