Worlds End, Hampton

This is a good sized local's boozer, just a short walk from Hampton station and very handy for the local football club, as I discovered when visiting shortly before one of their matches. You enter into a carpeted main bar area with the servery directly opposite the entrance. The bar has a panelled counter, painted in a fancy shade with the matching bar back boasting a smart, etched glass pub mirror and decorative top piece. Long banquettes run along the front wall under attractive windows with frosted semi-circular upper panes, supported by plenty of low stools, whilst high stools and chairs offer a few additional seating options at either end of the room. To the left of the bar is a dark space with limited seating and a door out to the pleasant looking patio garden. Meanwhile, over to the right, there's a bare boarded area, mainly occupied by a pool table, although also boasting a dartboard, juke box and, apropos of nothing, a Singer sewing machine. Doors here take you out to an AstroTurf covered outdoor space. TV screens were showing live football with the commentary audible if you happened to be sat near enough to the screens. The walls have a lincrusta covering, painted in white, with a fair few local photos on display, inc plenty of the neighbouring football team through the ages. There were two cask ales on the go, in the shape of Listers Autumn Ale (£5.50 a pint) and Greene King Gangly Ghoul. A friendly, no nonsense, old school landlord served up a good pint of the Autumn Ale, which I enjoyed from a stool at one end of the bar, where I could watch the comings and goings of a good pre-match crowd. I hadn't initially planned on visiting this pub, but I'd been so letdown by the nearby Railway Bell, that I decided to give it a go and found it to be the better of the two. I liked the comfy seating, convivial atmosphere, friendly staff and decent beer, and whilst it isn't a destination pub by any stretch of the imagination, it's nevertheless a solid bet if you want a quick pint whilst in Hampton. Date of visit - 14th October 2023

This pub doesn't seem to have changed appreciably since the previous reviewer's visit nearly seven years ago. The pool table and dartboard are still in what might be described as the sports area on the right, and the garden to the left and rear of the pub is still a very positive feature, including the covered area presumably used by smokers during inclement weather. They seem to have several events on a regular basis - I saw karaoke nights, poker, and live music advertised, as well as free wi-fi. It still has a friendly atmosphere. It was actually quite lively early afternoon on a Wednesday, with a whole bunch of workers in playing pool and having a jolly time. And good luck to them I say. Furnishings were mainy normal tables and chairs, with just a single tall table with tall stools on the right near the pool table. It was mostly carpeted as well, which always helps to reduce noise levels. The real ales on were Greene King Scrum Down; and the Hogsback pair of HBB and England's Glory. A fourth pump had a GK Abbot clip reversed. When asked if they did tea (not the Hogsback version!), the landlady said "no, but I'll make you one anyway" - and she took the trouble to make it just the way Mrs R likes it. She was impressed by that. My England's Glory was in good nick as well. This is a down to earth unpretentious pub with no airs or graces. All good virtues in my book. I would be happy to vist this one again.

Not quite at the edge of the world but handily situated half way between the station and the football ground, the Worlds End has had a bit of a rowdy reputation in the past and did come across as a bit laddish on my visit albeit not in a particularly threatening or menacing way. The barmaid was particularly welcoming even though it was quite busy at the time. The carpeted interior has a fairly standard layout with a central bar, pool area to the right and general pub décor, no thrills or spills but the feel of a solid basic boozer. The most noticeable features are the multiple TV screens (I counted at least 8) that feed the locals with a diet of sport. The customer base may be a bit questionable to some but the beers are certainly worth a visit alone with 3 ales and a reasonable enough selection that included Brains Steaming Wages, Wadworth Henrys IPA and the slightly more mundane Greene King Abbott. To the rear is a decked section with some cover and a large attractive beer garden. On the whole there are several good points about this down to earth boozer but it probably needs to tone down the attractions to the indifferent customer base and gain a better reputation to make it worthy of more than a passing pint to anyone beyond the locals.

Friendly local - good beer - friendly staff and regulars - super garden - pop in when you get a chance