The Poyntz Arms, East Molesey

A light and airy single room with the bar fairly centrally located. The bar front is stained woodwork whereas the general colour scheme consists of pale green, light brown and cream. A modern feel, seating at high tables and sofas but with the occasional standard sized variety, all tables had a single daffodil in a vase and a tea light candle. A row of candles burned over the mantle to the fireplace. A number of large potted ferns distributed around completes the picture. The rear area has a pool table and I counted four TV screens around the pub, two of which were on showing the cricket. There is a rear garden/patio area with notices asking patrons the keep the volume and the language down. Shepherd Neame ales, two banks of three pumps offering on each Masterbrew, Spitfire and Early Bird. Service was quick and friendly. As it says below, this is not a traditional pub now, but somehow the makeover works and doesn't result in the feel of a bar rather than a pub.

This is a Shepherd Neame house, with Spitfire, Masterbrew and Dragonfire on during my visit. Having earlier enjoyed a drop of Dragonfire in the Cardinal Wolsey I went for it in here as well and enjoyed it just as much. This place has clearly been “modernised” at some stage; it’s now bare-boarded with some banquettes, sofas, and normal tables and chairs. The wood-panelled lower half of the walls are painted a sort of pastel light grey/duck egg green. The bar area slides round to the left of the bar counter, leading to another room at the rear containing a pool table and the obligatory large TV screen. The main bar area was decked out with flags of St George (reasonable it being St George’s Day) and the barmaid was wearing a red and white tall hat, just like those green and white ones we saw everywhere on St Patrick’s Day. In fact I had a déjà vu moment when an Irishman came in and wished everyone a happy St Patrick’s Day. And who said irony has no place in the pub?! Despite its less than traditional appearance, this place still has the feel of a real pub to me, and I would be delighted to pay a return visit.