The Albert, Kingston Upon Thames

The Albert is a large imposing building on the edge of Kingston opposite the hospital. The interior is a series of open interconnected areas on different levels, and is clearly designed to appear grand and ostentatious,and it succeeds. The bar is to the front, half of this area facing the main road has tables set for dining, the remainder has mixed seating with a lower area to one side. This section is bare boarded with large rugs, but moving through to the rear there is a carpeted area, down a couple of steps, which has a splendid vaulted ceiling, painted red from which hang two large globe chandeliers. There is a dark wood feature fireplace in here plus a rather grand old clock on a shelf over the opening through to the bar. Beyond to the rear and rear side are a couple of smaller more intimate areas, and a door leads to a flight of stairs down to The Courtyard Bar (not visited). Seating in the rear area comprises the full set of types, Chesterfield sofas and armchairs, high tables with stools, gaudily patterned banquettes and small stools/pouffes around a low table. There are ruched blinds at the windows, candles and clipboard menus on the tables, and the general decor consists of a variety of prints in frames. It's a Young's house, there are two banks of pumps which do not repeat so it is worth wandering around to check what's on; Ordinary Bitter, Special, Winter Warmer, Bombardier and St Austell Tribute yesterday. At £3.70, the Tribute is at the upper end but the quality was very good indeed. Food wise, most mains are in the £10-11 bracket with steaks and the lamb shank coming in at around £15. There is a TV, switched off at the time in favour of low key background music, newspapers are available, as are a few board games. There was a quiz night advertised for last night with a few tables reserved for this. Further outdoor seating on a side terrace. A pub for a heavy session with a crowd of mates this is not, it is fairly upmarket and intentionally so, but I found the place to be fine for a quiet pint and possibly worthy of consideration for a bite to eat too.

The Albert page at the Youngs site - www.youngs.co.uk

Official site of the Albert, contains menus and drinks list - www.thealbertkingston.co.uk

Official site of the Albert, contains menus and drinks list - www.thealbertkingston.co.uk

The Albert page at the Youngs site - www.youngs.co.uk

Randomness Guide to London - Albert entry

Randomness Guide to London - Albert entry

This is a Young’s house, with the usual ales on, but also including St Austell Tribute, which I have seen in several Young’s pubs recently. The exterior is painted black at the ground floor level, and white or cream above that. The pub sign with just “The Albert Pub and Dining” on it (as seen in John’s photograph) seems a bit unimaginative, until you get inside and see how the pub evidently sees itself. This is a large rambling pub with several connected drinking areas. The staff all wear black; the room to the right contains only tables set for diners; and the rest of the rooms contain all manner of furniture – high stools/ tables; normal tables and chairs, banquettes; armchairs and sofas; and even a coffee table with stools. One room is painted in a light colour that I would best describe as duck egg green. The usual sort of prints adorn the walls. There was some piped music, but I didn’t see any one armed bandits or games machines, and certainly no chance of a dartboard in here. I would summarise this pub as having been madeover to look fairly upmarket and sumptuous, and it has to be said it achieves that aim to a large degree. For me the best thing was the life-sized carved wooden busts of Victoria and Albert displayed in an alcove between two of the bars. This is the sort of pub to which you could take your mother. It’s very respectable and comfortable, in a sort of hotel lounge way, but I prefer the more humble down to earth pub. But it’s probably someone’s ideal pub – you pays your money and takes your choice.