The Greyhound Hotel, Carshalton

Imposing Youngs pub and hotel, overlooking the ponds, comprising two rather different adjoining buildings. The accommodation seems to be located in the older bay-windowed structure which also houses several dining rooms, with the partly opened-out 'L'-shaped bar in the newer, grander section. Refurbished in the usual upmarket style inside. Also has a large patio area to one side, plus another few tables at the front (if you want to watch the traffic...). Real ale is available from two banks of three handpumps: Ordinary, Special and Wimbledon Tower (£4.60) as a guest.

Being a Young's pub it had a predictable ale selection on, with Bitter, Special; Bombardier available as well as what must be a seasonal called Festive or something like that, plus the excellent Winter Warmer. There are three banks of pumps - one bank of three facing you as you enter, and two or three more round to both the right and left of the bar counter. The front three had on the Bombardier, Bitter, and Special, so clearly one needs to look round the sides to see everything that's available. There was also a draught cider available - Addlestone's I think. There's a large dining room at the back with all tables laid for diners, but I didn't bother to go in there to look at a menu. However there was what I took to be a bar menu on the table at which I sat, with sandwiches around £6 - £7 (£1.50 extra for chips), and most main courses at £10.95 with the most expensive being the 21-day aged sirloin steak, etc, etc, at £16.95. As well as the large dining area, there's a lounge-like area on the left which is comfortably furnished with sofas, banquettes, and good quality tables. This room is divided from the main bar area by a see-through fireplace that is all that is now left of the wall that would once have completely separated the two rooms. This fireplace is now clearly only for show as where the fire should be there's now a couple of ancient stone steps.This struck me as unusual enough to be interesting. The main bar stretches round to the right of the bar counter, leading on to an area on the right with a few normal tables and chairs and is effectively the hotel reception area. There was a TV on (but muted) showing some football, and some some laid back background music was being played. This is still a marvellous old characterful pub. I've been in this pub when it's been very busy and then it's not so comfortable, but my mid-afternoon visit was very relaxing. It looks out over the road to Carshalton Pond and it must have been an idyllic spot in which to while away the time before the road got so busy. It helps if you are OK with Young's ales. The Winter Warmer was the pick of the bunch in my view.

This is a large rambling place partially opposite one of the Carshalton Ponds. Part pub, part AA*** hotel, there is a distinct corporate feel despite parts of the building being of age. It looks to be a building of two parts from outside, the likely original weatherboarded building with a large Georgian looking lump bunged on the side. The main entrance has a bit of mosaic floor with the inlaid greyhound and a grandfather clock, unfortunately The Swan Lounge was out of bounds as it was holding a private function. The main bar area is wood floored-the older areas are flagged-the long U-shaped bar taking up much of the space, there is a formal restaurant behind plus a side room which seems to double up as the hotel lobby. Seating is rather mixed, there are a fair few sofas, and plenty of TVs, all were showing the rugby on Saturday afternoon. Decor included quite nice framed Vanity Fair prints of sportsmen, cricketers, tennis players, oarsmen etc and an unusual feature was a small set of old stone steps positioned in a now unused fireplace. Food is served all day in the restaurant and bar, the beers are from Wells/Youngs but only a limited selection, Bitter, Special and Bombardier. It is a busy place, they could and should offer more than that. Outdoor seating off the car park with the better option being by the main entrance where there are views of the ponds.

The interior is quite vast,it would take a good while to fully investigate all that was on offer,and I was in during a pub crawl.Diners and drinkers are both easily accomodated,yet for me the rather distinctive smell of various fish dishes did not sit well with supping ale.As already mentioned the ale range is underwhelming,being sourced from Charles Wells mega brewery,and my Youngs Ordinary was just that.Not high on my list for a revisit despite the interesting features.

The Greyhound is a large, sprawling pub and hotel opposite Carshalton Ponds. Dating back to 1700 and rebuilt around 1840, the pub used to be the venue where racehorses were inspected prior to racing at nearby Banstead Downs. The main bar is a large room with an elongated U shaped bar counter. It doesn’t have a very traditional feel, perhaps because it is the newer part of the building, and there were a number of sofas and comfy chairs, but most people were sat at the bar or standing. There were TV screens on showing boxing and a band was playing hits from the 70’s to an appreciative crowd. There are a series of rooms towards the back of the pub which are set aside for dining and on our Saturday evening visit there wasn’t a single table free, which was perhaps a little surprising given the expensive menu. The Swan Bar, on the left hand side of the pub is by far the most pleasant space to enjoy a drink. You enter the room past a mosaic floor with the image of a greyhound in it, which was apparently only discovered in 1969 and is thought to be over 200 years old. The room has some lovely wood panelling and is furnished with banquette and standard seating and has a small servery on the right hand wall. There is plenty to distract the eye, including several grandfather clocks, tankards hanging from the beams and views across to the ponds. There is also a newspaper clipping from the London Journal dated 1723 which apparently contains the first documented mention of the pub. There’s not much to get excited about in terms of the ale, with just three to choose from – Young’s Ordinary and Special and Wells Bombardier – although to be fair there was also the full Young’s bottled range available too. I thought the Special was a bit past its best, but enjoyed my pint of Ordinary. This pub merits a visit just to enjoy a pint in the pleasant Swan Bar but I’m not sure there is enough to justify return visits given the strength of the other pubs in the vicinity.

The Greyhound is a large Young’s pub and 21 room hotel opposite a big pond and within walking distance of Carshalton Railway Station. To the left of the entrance is a small bar that was being used for a private gathering during my visit on a recent Saturday afternoon. Behind this bar is an area that was being used by diners and the cheapest main on the specials board rocked in at £12.50. The main bar area is located to the right of the pub where smaller food portions are available for £5 from the bar menu. This area is L shaped and there are two plasma screens that were showing Six Nations rugby via BBC, although I also spotted advertisements for Sky Sports. There was only one other customer, but it still took me a couple of minutes to get served as the lone barman was faffing around. Whilst I was waiting I did manage to note that Peroni was available alongside a standard draught range and the three hand pumps were drawing Bombardier, Ordinary and Special. Live music is advertised for every Friday night and there is a late license until midnight during the week and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. There are a couple of outside seating areas and to the right there is a large car park. This is a pleasant enough place, but I doubt that I will return as to get to here I had to walk past the nearby Racehorse and Hope which are both superior boozers.