The Famous Green Man, Epsom

When I visited on Wednesday afternoon they had on four ales – Young’s Bitter and Bombardier from the ranks of the usual suspects, plus a couple of Stonehenge ales in Pigswill and Danish Dynamite (£3.50 a pint). This pub comprises three distinct drinking/dining areas, surrounding a central horseshoe bar. On the right is what is signed on the door as the Sherwood Bar, and is more akin to a public bar. To the left of this is a slightly nicer, but very small room that effectively acts a corrider between the other, and is directly in front of the bar counter. This room has just three tables, plus banquettes and some small stools, and is decorated with prints of old London and noteworthy individuals (I assume noteworthy as I didn’t recognise any of them) from centuries past. This in turn leads in turn to what is signed as the Saloon Bar, and is now used by the pub as a Spanish restaurant. There were flatscreen TVs on the walls in the non-restaurant rooms showing sport (but muted) and a pop music radio station was being played in the “public” bar. I didn’t examine the Spanish restaurant menu in detail, and I didn’t see any sign of menus or food being available in the other two bars. The presence of a couple of Stonehenge ales is a definite plus, and apparently an improvement on what has been available in the past. Nonetheless, otherwise this pub is not really worth going out of your way to visit – unless you want some Spanish tapas of course. But it is an OK pub, if nothing very special.

A large village (well suburban really) pub, quite busy early evening. Looks to be 30's/pre-war built like many pubs in the outer suburbs. Three seperate areas plus a dining area to the rear, although tables in the left side room were set with menus and condiments too. Carpeted throughout, and with generally traditional style seating. Extensive food menu of regular dishes plus some ambitiously priced specials. Five ales on handpump, Taylor's Landlord, Youngs Bitter, CW Bombardier, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, and Adnam's Bitter. To me, if you are going to serve five there should be a bit more effort to get a more interesting guest or two in? The beer tried was in fairness top notch. A rather nice cast iron and tiled fireplace in the left bar was somewhat unusually hidden from view by a table, shame but it suggests it is never used. The pub forecourt has a few standard bench tables. Not bad, a bit large for my taste, but certainly serving a decent pint.