The Brewery Inn, Ashtead

This is currently an Ember Inns pub, with some of the trademark Ember touches, such as the shelving between drinking areas containing various jars, vases and the like. The pub rambles about a bit, with the main bar area in front of the bar counter as you enter from the main road, more tables and chairs round to the right of the bar counter, and a raised area meandering around at the back and to the left of the bar. Furnishings are mainly normal tables and chairs, but with some armchairs about the place for those who like to lounge about a bit. There were menus on all the tables, and the food looked to be the usual reasonably priced pub grub that you see in this chain’s pubs. I had a chat with the guv’nor who told me that the pub was circa 300 years old, and I have to say that it does have the look of a very old pub, including the low ceilings that country pubs (as this would have been in years past) invariably have. He also mentioned that this had once been a brewery, presumably hence the name, with the obligatory tunnels for beer delivery. Apparently this is one of the 330 pubs that have been purchased by Stonegate (who are from the same financial stable as Pizza Express and others) from Mitchell & Butler, and it will be interesting to see what changes they make, as they are a completely unknown quantity as far as I am concerned. My own view is that not much is needed to be done to this pub, but they will undoubtedly want to put their “stamp” on it. I felt comfortable in this pub, and would be happy to pay a return visit.

The Brewery Inn official pages, including menu and beer details - www.emberinns.co.uk

The Brewery Inn official pages, including menu and beer details - www.emberinns.co.uk