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The Star, Leatherhead

Kingston Road
Malden Rushett
Postal town: Leatherhead
KT22 0DP
Phone: 01372842416

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


paulof horsham left this review about The Star

"Please wait to be seated" the notice read as I entered. I ignored that of course (and there was nobody to greet me anyway) and headed for the bar where I noted Hogs Back TEA and Dorking Pilcrow Pale on 2 of the 3 handpumps, as well as 4 stools, while every table in view was laid out for dining. In fairness, that'll be where they're getting their midday business. There's something like 5 different lagers on offer.

I opted for the Dorking and it was in great condition. It was also £5.55 and just under a pint.

The large car park delivers almost all their customers, but I escaped on the 465. I'm guessing it's a bit more drinker-friendly at other times and the ale offering is interesting if restricted, so it's OK if you're not eating, but probably better overall if you are.

On 19th October 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 447 recommendations about 419 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Star

A quite unusual modern feel to this old pub with a sort of shabby chic effect, but the general atmosphere and the food seemed to be drawing in the punters. Indeed I have never seen so many 30-somethings with children in buggies! As in the previous review, the Dorking Pilcrow Pale was extremely pleasant. One note: not only was there no Wifi evident but no mobile phone coverage either, which made contacting friends a little tricky but could be useful if trying to escape. Handy for M25 though.

On 13th November 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Star

The beer choice seems to have improved since previous reviewers' visits. When I visited on Monday they had on three fairly local beers - Hogsback TEA, Dorking Brewery Pilcrow Pale (£4.30 a pint), and Reunion Beardtongue. I have to say that a couple of pints of the Dorking Pale went down in no time on a hot and sunny July day. This is a food led pub, but which had quite a few recognisable pub grub dishes - baguettes were £7 - £8; burgers + chips were £10.95 upwards; and steak and kidney pudding was £12.95.

Inside there are several interconnected drinking and dining areas, with royal blue much in evidence. Most of the seating was laid for diners, with just a few seats in the bar area with no napkins or cutlery on them. There's a lot of seating at the front of the building, but this was a little too near to the busy main road for my liking, but there's a more secluded garden at the back behind the pub that was a bit nicer.

Food is the major player here, in what I guess is a destination pub for those wanting a decent pub meal. There's a large car park which must surely be essential to this pub's viability and which had quite a lot of cars in it by the time we left the pub after 2.00 PM on a Monday afternoon. And the pub itself must have had over 50 customers in it as well. It is a bit out of the way though, with the only public transport being the half-hourly 465 bus towards either Dorking or Kingston. But it's certainly worth the effort of visiting, as long as you're not expecting a traditional unspoilt locals' pub.

On 18th July 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Star

Refurbished, food-led pub located in a rural area just on the London side of the Surrey county boundary. Seemingly much extended over the years, with a small bar / seating area by the entrance, a side room to the left and a much larger seating / dining area on the right-hand side. Just Doom Bar and Adnams Lighthouse available from the four handpumps.

On 10th May 2015 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Star

This is a roadside, mainly food led pub with four interconnected areas. The bar is in one of the middle areas facing the main entrance from the sizeable car park, both side rooms seem to be exclusively for dining, the smaller one to the left was full with a private function in attendance, the much larger one up a couple of steps to the far right has a "Please Wait to be Seated" sign. The menus looked fairly ordinary if extensive, mostly typical pub fare rather than gastro despite the battleship grey colour scheme. Mains ranged from £9.50-£13.95 with steaks or a full rack of ribs being a few quid more.
The bar and the area off it are bare boarded with the dining areas being carpeted. Lower walls are wainscotted, one area has an exposed rafter roof, decor includes old maps, local scenes, pictures of the pub and a display of cigarette cards. Music was playing quietly and I didn't spot a TV. Sadly the wood burning stove was out of action, it would have enhanced the place on a chilly day.
Still the same two beers on, Doom Bar and Palmers, (£1.85) a half.
I can't really blame the pub for the food emphasis, it's the sort of place you almost have to drive to so it would never survive on drinks and snacks; drinkers are adequately catered for in any case however be prepared for the inevitable slow service at certain times as most are ordering food and paying with plastic.
Outdoor seating is available on a raised deck, set back from the road at the front.

On 7th January 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Blue left this review about The Star

Large, four-roomed pub on the main road from Leatherhead to Chessington, with a large car park in front and a strong ‘gastro grey’ theme to it both outside and in. The bar is to the rear middle, the area to the front occupied by comfy chairs, the next fairly empty, and the rooms to either end set for dining. Drinks on offer included the fruits of two banks of four ale pumps, each doubled up with Doombar and, surprisingly for the area, a well kept Palmers Dorset Gold. The food menu had mains priced around £9-12, and revealed it to be a Barons Pub Co establishment, thus you can fork out £10 for a loyalty card which gets you a whopping 33% off the price of your food orders, provided you book your table in advance for a time when you probably don’t want to eat anyway.

Live music on the third Friday of each month was advertised, and a beer festival on 21-23 September, with 35 beers and ciders to choose from, to coincide with its main annual charity bike ride and raffle events (a mountain bike and other prizes were hanging from the pub ceiling).

All in all this struck me as a well run establishment, with friendly and efficient service from a team of almost homogenously blonde young staff, well kept albeit limited ale range, targeted mainly at couples and families wanting a nice meal together somewhere without any character to distract them. It’s not my cup of tea really, but it seems to do its thing well. I wouldn’t mind dropping in again for a pint sometime if I was passing, but wouldn’t really go out of my way to do so.

On 15th September 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]