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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Bulls Head, Dorking
Dorking
RH4 2DY
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bulls Head
Sold by Fullers and now privately owned, this pub has been smartened up a bit with dark wood panelling round the walls and blue/grey paintwork elsewhere. The former Fullers handpumps are still emblazoned with "Brewed beside the Thames", but I rather doubt that applies to TT Landlord, Otter Ale or Hobgoblin Gold,which seemed to be in fair order. The L-shaped bar is very smart and tidy, if a bit lacking in atmosphere, and includes a pool table which seems a bit out of place.
On 21st August 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bulls Head
Really quite a small interior with two wings either side of a central bar.Lots of good wood panelling,there is a pool table to the right but it wouldn't take many punters to fill up the inside.Pleasant decorations and light muzak but just London Pride and Hophead (not great,NBSS 2.5).Didn't open until 2pm on my Thursday visit,which is an odd time to open.If I had missed it out ,I wouldn't have been full of regret,it's all a bit so-so.
On 14th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bulls Head
My final pub in Dorking was the third Fuller's pub of my visit. This one was probably the most disappointing of the three. It has a central location, but doesn't open until 3pm on weekdays, which surprises me a little considering its prime location.
The L-shaped room is wood-panelled but fairly bland and uninspiring. So is the beer range of Pride & Hophead. The London Pride was in a good condition though.
On 7th December 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Bulls Head
A single roomed basic pub, L shaped inside, wood floor and paneling on the walls so a fairly traditional look, on the downside the TV was on at full volume competing with the Eminem on the jukebox also at full volume with the result that you couldn't hear either properly should you indeed want to, I didn't. The young barmaid was in conversation with a couple of punters over the bar, she too was shouting at full volume. Also disappointing was the beer selection, the only choice from five handpumps was London Pride and Seafareres. So it was no suprise I couldn't warm to this pub, it could and should, be so much better.
On 21st July 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bulls Head
A fairly straightforward Fullers boozer. Staple shaped with a pool table to the left and some nice squared wood wall panelling. Two different rugby matches showing on three screens so we know it likes its sport. To the right is a dart board. Plenty of pumps but only two ales on; ESB and a cold and oddly sweetcorn tasting Pride. Incredibly sticky tables gives a clue as to the cleanliness levels. Not one I’d bother with next time - with three Fullers pubs within 5 minutes of each other this one doesn’t do anything to stand out.
On 30th October 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Bulls Head
At the top end of South Street is The Bulls Head, a 17th century brick tiled building. A former Gales pub, it’s now one of three Fullers pubs within close proximity to each other.
It’s a single L shaped bare boarded bar, but with much wood panelling helping to give a reasonably traditional feel to the place. Furniture is mainly traditional tables and chairs, but with a couple of sofas in one corner. There’s flowers in vases on the tables and what seems to be a rather half hearted attempt to get some food trade, but, on my Saturday lunchtime visit, there weren’t any takers.
Some photographs and prints on the walls would suggest that the landlord is a Chelsea supporter, which didn’t help me warm to the pub, although, in fairness, it’s reasonably restrained and not OTT in any way.
A big screen was showing the Arsenal v Spurs North London derby, with no sound, as it was a foreign TV channel, which contributed to an unusually subdued atmosphere amongst those locals watching.
There’s 5 pumps, but only Pride and Chiswick were on with, notably, for a former Gales house, no Gales branded beers on. The Chiswick - £ 2.95p – wasn’t up to much and it quickly became apparent that there wasn’t much beer trade.
A fairly average pub, at best – but I seem to recall it was rather better when it was a Gales pub
On 30th November 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bulls Head
Nice-looking Fullers pub, with a partially tile-hung facade and mostly traditional traditional furniture and decor in the 'L'-shaped bar (apart from a small side area which has some distinctly modern sofas). Disappointed to find that only two of the five handpumps were operational, offering a very unimaginative choice of Chiswick and Pride (£3.50). There were also uncleared glasses on several tables, and the bar staff were not particularly attentive. Perhaps I caught it on a bad day, but you feel that this could be rather better than it surrently seems to be...
On 19th January 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about The Bulls Head
Used to be a Gales ownd pub but now Fullers branded pub since the take over of the Gales Brewery by them. Pleasant pub in the start of the one way system in centre of town.
On 18th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]