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Detail Pages
The Albert, Kingston Upon Thames
Norbiton
Postal town: Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 7PX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris Amies left this review about The Albert
Large Youngs pub up the hill out of Kingston - is accessible from the main entrance on Kingston Hill but comprises a warren of small linked spaces. It would at one time have had several bars - it was a traditional local within recent memory, but was ripped out and gentrified a few years ago as is current Youngs style. Beers were the usual Youngs range plus at the time of visit Twickenham Fine Ales Grandstand - this was £5.05 (it isn't just the hill that's steep) and I felt it was a bit stale though not undrinkable. Facilities include free wifi, dog water bowls for those canine friends who may have just walked either up the hill or in nearby Richmond Park, baby changing facilities. There is a secluded outside courtyard and a cosy downstairs seating area off it.
On 30th March 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Albert
Imposing Youngs pub in suburbia atop a hill overlooking a junction. Has been subject to a forcible refurb by the company but, as far as we could see, rather well. Internally it’s a hodge-podge of separate knocked-through areas on different levels. An upmarket feel (or perhaps better described as below – ‘grand and ostentatious’) with feature fireplace, ceiling mouldings, arched and bay windows, statement light fittings and a nice carved wood blue bar front. Also noted was a downstairs room and access to a semi-secret patio. We took ourselves to the easy chairs in front of the old fireplace, catching sight of the wood busts of Victoria and Albert. Six pumps at the bar, 2x Youngs Bitter, Youngs Special and a guest in Pumphouse Pale (good nick). Annoyingly the other two guests - Wimbledon Common and Sambrook Wandle – were not available. Being a refitted Youngs pub, prices were inevitably on the steeper side. Overall I quite liked it here despite its upmarket pretensions. 6.5 - would have been a 7 if one of the other guests was on.
On 4th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5089 recommendations about 5072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Albert
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.
On 24th November 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Albert Arms
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.
On 26th February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]