Sextons, Thames Ditton

Substantial, traditional-looking pub which appears to be an example of 'brewers Tudor' but which was actually built as a golf-course clubhouse. Thoroughly refurbished inside, with the partially opened out 'L'-shape interior having been furnished with semi-mod furniture and light wooden panelling. Busy rear beer garden on a sunny afternoon. Three of eight handpumps operational, with Butcombe Bitter (£3.75), Betty Stogs and Rev James on offer when I called by.

Opposite the golf course & close to Esher train station(Sandown racecourse). Up to 6 real ales. The pub has a large garden at the back, a pool table & a dartboard.Meals served.

Many years ago this was an excellent and highly popular tenanted house. As of last night, the eight hand pumps in two banks were sporting Hobgoblin (@£3.40), Doombar, London Pride, Young's Bitter, and Ringwood Fortyniner clips, although the Fortyniner evidently wasn't on as my Hobgoblin rather surprisingly came out of that pump. This was a Friday night on which there was a small assortment of customers at the bar, some youngsters playing pool, and some more in the garden. As I was looking round taking things in, the barman thrust a copy of the Sun towards me in a friendly way. A customer who came in a little while later and asked for a newspaper managed to get a Telegraph, apparently on the basis that someone else was reading the Sun at the time. I have always really liked this pub,but throughout the years it has felt like it has lost its way, without a solid customer base, by default serving those who do venture in but without any of the successive managers knowing how to recapture the attractive, buzzing establishment it used to be. I will still drop in for a pint from time to time when in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so.