North Star, Chessington

Four good ales, all well kept. Cheesy chips too. The place doubles up as being the local post office as well as the pub, so if funds are running short you don't have to go far to top up the cash. They also do a decent cup of coffee, and usually have pickled eggs (but not today). And they stay open all day on a Saturday – something not many places do in the area. Whilst there's sport on the TV, the sound is off, so it's unobtrusive. I can't help but feel the place suffers from not having a beer garden, but that's just me being picky.

I have since been in this pub a number of further occasions, and the food has always been good – by pubco standards (it’s an Ember Inn), and there have always been a couple of interesting ales on, not taken from the ranks of the usual suspects. The following is from Dec 08: I was in there with a very large party for our Christmas lunch. Food was not good – tough steak, undercooked veg, meals arriving with longish intervals between them, etc. I don't blame the staff – they did their best and remained pretty cheerful throughout, but I just don't think they are really geared up to handling large parties. Ales on were Young's Special, Adnam's Bitter and London Pride. I had a couple of pints of special, which was just about OK. A friend had said that the food has always been pretty good in the past, so I shall give it another try after Christmas, and when I am not going mob-handed. Otherwise this is an unremarkable pub, but comfortable enough for a pint or two, but in my view not worth going out of your way to visit.

The North Star official pages, including menu and beer details - www.emberinns.co.uk

The North Star official pages, including menu and beer details - www.emberinns.co.uk