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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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The Cricketers, Dorking
Dorking
RH4 2JU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Cricketers
Another Fuller's pub in Dorking, but unlike the other 2 I visited yesterday, this one managed to surpass all of my expectations.
Closed on a Monday and with a slightly later 3pm opening on a Tuesday, this is clearly a popular locals' pub, as numerous people wandered in, some with their dogs, who were known to the friendly barmaid and the landlady.
The interior is very cosy and has much to keep you occupied whilst you sup your pint. A TV was showing World Cup football in one corner, but it wasn't dominating proceedings. Underneath it were several board games. There was also a dartboard to the rear. A large number of pumpclips were on the ceiling, indicating that non-Fullers beers make appearances and also the odd real cider. There was also a small sign listing the winners in the pub's onion growing competition!
Fuller's London Pride & ESB & Dark Star Hophead are the regular beers. A guest beer was Dark Star American Pale Ale.
This was my second favourite pub in Dorking and is well worth a visit, even if you're not into Fuller's beers.
On 7th December 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Cricketers
Attractive Fuller's pub, with a remodelled interior now forming a compact 'J'. Nowadays, you enter through a door with etched 'Private Bar' glazing in the covered side alley rather than using the double front doors which are closed off. Busy, and thus a bit cramped, but the early-evening atmosphere was good. Impressive gantry above the bar counter, with a good range clips of clips indicating a guest beer policy although the four handpumps were dispensing Chiswick, Pride, ESB and the seasonal Jack Frost (£3.85) when I called in.
On 14th December 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Cricketers
Reassuringly traditional Fullers boozer with a bit of character. A single L-shaped bar with bare brick walls and carpeted floor, heavy leaded window panes with mottled glass. As mentioned below it’s smaller inside than the outside suggests - an inverse Tardis. Cricket themed items as expected, including an impressive large etched mirror. No football on here, just music from the indie/alt canon (though occasional sport is shown). Board games and unusable dart board (bike in the way) though a sign said darts can be gleaned from behind the bar for a £5 deposit. Two-tier raised and decked walled garden is basic but does the job. Four Fullers ales; Seafarers (fairly good), ESB, Pride and Wild River. Bar gantry has banister-style slats displaying a large number of clips from casks past. Nice place, GBG listed and worth dropping in even if my ale wasn’t quite as top-drawer as I’d hoped (I was the only customer though…). It’s the most appealing Fullers outlet in a town of three by a distance.
On 30th October 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Cricketers
Half way up South Street, little more than a stone’s throw from The Queens Head, is The Cricketers.
It’s smaller inside than you might reasonably expect from the rather substantial looking building you see from the outside. The L shaped bar features much exposed brickwork throughout, leaded frosted windows and a high ceiling. It is accessed through a door with etched glass denoting “Private Bar”, indicating that it was formerly a multi room pub. Just inside the door, there’s a large impressive mirror depicting a cricketer and, continuing the theme, there’s two framed autographed cricket bats near the TV in the far corner of the bar. It’s a comfortable, carpeted interior with mainly traditional seating.
At the back of the pub is an attractive split level walled garden where beer festivals are occasionally held and the spindled bar gantry displays a fine collection of pump clips showing beers that have been served.
It’s a Fullers tenancy which has been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular in recent years. On my visit, Hobgoblin was supplementing the usual Fullers range.
Probably one of the better pubs in Dorking, but, unless it was a sunny day and there was a beer festival on, I doubt that I’d make any real effort to revisit
On 22nd November 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about The Cricketers
I liked the unusual feel of this pub, it certainly felt it was kept in condition from many moons ago. Plus its a Fullers pub so thats a bonus.
On 20th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Cricketers
Popped in after walking in the Surrey Hills. Surprised to find it so quiet on a Bank Holiday afternoon, but we found it welcoming and the Fullers beers of good quality. Beer mats and pump clips from other breweries abound, so it's clear that they can go off-tie from time to time.
We didn't play any of the board games stacked to one side; just drank up and planned our next move.
On 11th January 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Cricketers
I liked this pub immediately on entering, it has that feel of a real local, yet welcoming to all. My initial impressions were then further enhanced when I realised I'd stumbled unaware on a beer festival with 14 beers on in the rear garden up a flight of stairs. By the time I realised this I'd already bought myself a pint of ESB, but it mean't that my Dorking crawl was curtailed and I stayed for a couple more of Castle Rock "Kiss Me Kate" and Dorking Brewery Red India Ale.
The pub itself is a single L-shaped room which still retains the original Private and Public Bar doors although nowadays there is seating across the Public Bar door. Exposed brick walls, leaded windows, the cricket theme maintained throughout with photos, drawings and a large etched mirror of a batsman mid-stroke. There are stacks of beermats and pump clips over the bar from previous festivals. Mostly traditional seating at benches and standard chairs but there are a couple of high tables. A window cill holds a library of paperbacks, there are a selection of board games on the TV shelf and there is a useable dartboard.
A chalkboard had a list of sandwich and toastie options and this is the first pub I've been in that serves cream teas.
Fullers beers, Pride, Chiswick and ESB plus festival brew Taylors Landlord were on the bar.
Comfortable, clean and tidy, the landlord was friendly and welcoming, first rate.
On 1st May 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Cricketers
Single L-Shaped bar with an outside drinking area up a steep flight of stairs,take care on the way down if you have had a pint too many!!, full range of Fuller's beers in very good condition. NOTE: This pub does not open until 4pm Sunday to Thursday.
On 22nd April 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]