The Plough, West Byfleet

A very traditional; English pub serving a good selection of cask ales albeit they were rather expensive. No mobile phones allowed in here which we thought was a novel and good idea. The staff were very helpful. It you go to the left as you enter that part of the pub is very basic with uncomfortable seating but rest of pub including the conservatory was fine.

This pub doesn’t look anything special from the outside, but inside it’s a very different story, being full of character. The main part of the pub as you enter has a small and intimate feel about it. There are a handful of normal tables and chairs on the right, with a very small bar counter on the left. There were five handpumps on this counter, three dishing out Hogsback Spring Ale, Hopback Entire Stout, and Doom Bar (I think). The other two pumps were unclipped, although while I was there the guv’nor pulled one of them through, but I didn’t see what the new ale was. Before you get to the bar counter, an archway to the left brings you to another small room with a continuation of the bar counter, with three handpumps dispensing Mansfield Cask Ale and Banks’ Mild, with the third pump unclipped. It’s not immediately apparent that these extra pumps are around the corner, so visitors should make the effort to have a good look round before ordering. The room on the left has a very attractive exposed brickwork fireplace, and a couple of large solid scrubbed tables, plus a few smaller varnished ones. I feel that sometimes these scrubbed tables can actually detract from a pub’s ambience, but I reckon that they work here. There are all manner of odds and ends around the place – masses of bric a brac on the walls including plates, copper cooking utensils, scythes, boomerangs – milk churns, an ancient cash register behind the bar, etc, etc. There’s even what looks like an enormous decorative beam, or perhaps a ship’s spar, fixed above the fireplace. The right hand bar area extends at the back to a conservatory area, presumably providing much needed additional seating. The dedication to ale choice is further demonstrated by pump clips displayed all over the place. I’m not surprised that this pub has featured in the GBG. This pub is most certainly worth a visit if you’re anywhere nearby.