The Cap in Hand (JD Wetherspoon), Hook, Surbiton

Unusual for a JDW as this is not a pub conversion but a change in ownership from the former Southborough Arms. Since then a large and airy conservatory has been added to the front which has opened up the pub a lot but also affords a spectacular vista of the passing A3 and its sliproad. As a 'spoons however it is pretty decent. They had 5 festival ales on plus a couple of non-mainstream guests as well as a couple of festival ciders. The barmaid was friendly, efficient and clued up about the beer selection, altogether rather pleasing. The pub is an elongated room with the newer conservatory to the front and a rear return area to the left of the bar, containing wood panelling, bookcases, the usual JDW potted local histories and an old photo of the building as was. The right side has a few booth seats. The Cap is a bit smaller and significantly more pubby than many JDW's, and better for it. An unusual location away from transport links and any town centre too for this chain, but it works well, possibly because of this.

The Cap in Hand is a Wetherspoons on the roundabout above that A3 that connects it with the A243. There is parking which is monitored and the maximum stay is three hours with a restriction that one cannot return for three hours after leaving. There are also some picnic tables out the front, but the location is hardly ideal for a relaxing beer in the fresh air. Inside the pub is quite long with a conservatory on the front that was being used mainly by diners that were eating the usual cheap Spoons food that is served until 20:00. There are two banks of six hand pumps on the bar and these were drawing a few guests and the usual stalwarts found in the JDW chain. There is also a standard draught selection and the Guinness was on good form when I finally got served. To say the service was slow would be an understatement and the queue at the bar was excessive when compared to how many people were actually in the pub. The opening times of this pub are from 9am until midnight everyday. I thought this place to be an unexceptional Spoons and I’d pop in for a pint if passing, but I wouldn’t go out of my way.

When I lived in the area this was a fairly unsavoury pub called the Southborough Arms (it was not the Ace of Spades as previously mentioned – that was the large building next to the petrol station opposite) and anyone remembering it as such could be forgiven for expecting its conversion to a Wetherspoons may not have been the best idea. As it happens (although I should initially point out that my 2 or 3 visits have all been during the daytime before the zombies and vampires arise from the local estates) it is a refreshing example of what a bit of extra effort can do to give a place that bit of extra appeal. Situated on the busy Hook roundabout on the A3 in a residential area with not much else around bar a few local shops, it isn’t the most obvious setting for a Wetherspoons. The long and narrow interior is nicely laid out with a few screened off areas at one end, a sofa lounge that leads off to the left of the lengthy bar and a conservatory frontage that gives the place a bright and airy feel. The local display snippets were perhaps of more interest to locals than having any great wide audience. Outside are afew benches if uoui can tolerate the traffic and there is also a long, steep and narrow car park which will test a few peoples driving skills. I have always found an interesting selection of ales here with at least 4 guests regularly available across the 12 pumps and a healthy LocAle participation. My most recent visit found beers from Reigate (Surrey Pilgrim) and Dorking (Dry Hop Gold) as well as guests from Rosters (G.C.B.) in Yorkshire and the more familiar but very good Jennings Cocker Hoop. A folder on a desk near the bar lists all the local breweries and their products and there is also an Ale Suggestions book. A Brewery visit to Dorking Brewery was also being advertised. This is a much better ‘Spoons than I would have expected and if I still lived in the area, I would be quite happy having it on my doorstep.

Randomness Guide to London - Cap In Hand entry

Randomness Guide to London - Cap In Hand entry