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Picture of The Bishop
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Thursday, 22nd June 2023
With picture contributions to 5083 other pubs
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The Bishop, Kingston Riverside, Kingston Upon Thames

2 Bishops Hall
Kingston Upon Thames
KT1 1PY
Phone: 02085464965
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Reviews of The Bishop (Average Rating: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Graham Coombs left this review about The Bishop

A two-floor modern riverside building which has been heavily refurbished in the typical current posh and upmarket Youngs fashion, with prices to match. Signs advertising fresh oysters and ludicrously expensive steaks are a giveaway as to its target audience, however the riverside tables seem to drag in lesser mortals. Youngs Special and Ordinary, sorry Original, on handpump, along with SW19 as guest.

On 23rd June 2023 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tom Fairburn left this review about Bishop Out Of Residence

"B.O.O.R" - an enlightening review, thanks JB. I can't really add anymore. Apart from, I went here once. Oh, and a friend used to work in the kitchens here. That's about it! There are probably better pubs in Kingston, and most certainly along the riverside. I suppose it's aimed at families, or shoppers lunching between shops. Or folk who like colourful plastic beach buckets! :o( 4/10 TJ

On 5th December 2013 - rating: 4
[User has posted 78 recommendations about 59 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about Bishop Out Of Residence

Occupying a prominent position on Kingston’s riverside is The Bishop out of Residence, a rather ugly looking red brick building that was constructed in 1979. It’s named after the Bishop’s Palace, built here for William de Wykeham and whose coat of arms can still be seen high up on the wall. Notably, the name of the pub was selected at a Youngs AGM when the brewery chairman asked those shareholders in attendance for suggestions.

This is one of these pubs that seem to be different every time I visit, which admittedly is only once every 2-3 years, but one does wonder how much money Youngs have splashed out on this place over the years. I first used this pub when I was doing jury service at Kingston Crown Court yonks ago and it was a comfortable, traditional pub in those days. It’s now got that rather smart contemporary loungey look with a mixture of sofas and more comfortable traditional seating. The relatively small bar counter is at the back of the pub, immediately in front of which is a large round table with candlesticks by a wall with dark flowery retro wallpaper, which very much sets the tone for the place as a whole. The overall colour scheme is quite dark, but a frontage dominated by window glass adds much needed light.

By the bar a dedicated serving counter has a notice inviting us to “wake up and smell the coffee and scrummy cakes”. This, together with early weekend morning openings for brunch, makes it clear that this establishment is looking for a wider customer base than just your average pub goer.

We are invited to “move on up” to the upstairs bar – but not before 6pm in the evenings. This bar has an outside verandah with good river views.

Regular events are held – eg “meet your mates Monday”, where we’re promised a pizza, peroni and entry to the pub quiz for £ 10. This and other events are advertised on a large blackboard under the heading “Parish News”.

On my recent Bank Holiday Monday visit, the good weather had brought out an outdoor BBQ and Pimms Trolley by the outside seating area at the front. Seats are those awful tub seats that really do look more suited for a coffee shop or bar. Laughingly, plastic beach buckets were on the tables and a sandwich board reminded us that “it’s the last day of the beach – so come in and enjoy – the cool bar is open and the Barbie is on… ( etc ) “.

The pub traditionalist will like me, no doubt, find much of this nonsense very jarring and, in particular, I never warm to any place where the toilets are labelled “kings” and “queens”. The likes of Graham Norton, Elton John etc, must find it all very confusing.

The Bombardier - £ 3.50p – wasn’t great and this clearly is not a pub for beer drinkers. In its current incarnation, as described above, you might want to give it a wide birth.

On 10th May 2011 - rating: 3
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]


View more reviews of The Bishop (9)
External web links for The Bishop

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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Kingston, 0.39 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Hampton Wick, 0.44 miles, 8 min walk (show)
Norbiton, 1.18 miles, 22 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Bishop, Kingston Upon Thames
23rd Jun 2023, 09:43
Picture submitted by Graham Coombs approved
 
23rd Jun 2023, 00:41
Review submitted by Graham Coombs

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 22 September 2008 by Will Larter
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 22 September 2008 by Will Larter
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