The Beehive, Egham

A backstreet pub that has been tarted up a bit, which feels a bit like a local that, errr, has been tarted up a bit. Slightly strange decor and trendy lighting doesn't make it anything else. It includes a side outdoor area that has been canopied over and equipped with lights and bunting, which seemed to be popular with the local students. Now a Fuller's pub, so Pride and Hophead on draught, with the latter admittedly in very good condition. Food only seems to be available at certain times now and on a Thursday evening was being provided by a pop-up pizza shed in the car park.

Seemed very busy early Sat eve but I think the bar layout is not necessarily the best to take advantage of its space. Who cares, when the Summer Lightning is so tasty? Barman took the time to tell me about forthcoming ales as we were leaving but I was far to gone to be able to relate them to you here. Just have to go back & find out another time.

My recent Sunday afternoon visit to this tucked-away little L-shaped pub found a pleasant atmosphere and friendly service – not busy, but steady trade with a mix of diners and drinkers. Decor was cream above the dado rail and green below, with a wooden floor, and a comfortable feel to it. A dartboard adorned the wall to the rear. Three out of six hand pulls were populated with Prise, Gales HSB and Fullers Chiswick, and a good pint of the last of these cost me £3.50. Food is served all day, with mains being around the £6.50-8.00 bracket. Nothing struck me as spectacular about this pub but it was a very relaxed little place and I’d happily come here again.

Has had more owners than the Littlest Hobo over the last couple of years. The newly-refurbed whitewash-and-chocolate incarnation is quite nice though maybe a little too clinical for me. The beer range is good and varied (Pride and HSB are regulars, if served a little cold) but there are still very few customers. The Beehive failed to capitalise on its student popularity when Dave was away from the Happy Man and the Monkeys Forehead was dreadful a few years back. Now both of the aforementioned are back in fashion, this place is losing out big time. It was pretty quiet last Saturday night, only half-a-dozen other people in and if they don't pick up the student vote soon, I fear this place will be shut and sold off for housing, which would be a crying shame. With only two ales on, it doesn't have any real USP - it needs one quick. 21 January 2007 Currently boasts Pride and Gales HSB (which was in superb condition yesterday). New landlord seemed like a good bloke, nice and friendly. However I fear that time is up for the Beehive now the Happy Man and The Monkey's are in full throttle, as both are nearer the students and this place is not an obvious destination, being slightly out of the way. 23 August 2005 Tucked away but well worth finding – beer is good and there are a couple of beer fests a year. Nice atmosphere, but occasionally plays host to a couple of punters you'd wish had gone somewhere else, but they're normally in a very small minority. Food was decent on last tasting in April.

The Beehive page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk

The Beehive page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk