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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Earl Beatty, Motspur Park, New Malden
New Malden
KT3 6JF
Pub Type
John Barras (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Earl Beatty
The Earl Beatty has had yet another refurbishment, and as well as being branded a Golden Oak Inn rather than John Barras (still Punch of course) this time some fairly dramatic changes have been made. The carpet has gone, to be replaced by modern replacement boarding plus a few flagstones; the dark wood varnish has now been lsrgely replaced by light gastro grey; the retractable panelling that could be used to separate the large main room has gone; both the pool table and the original "Earl Beatty" dartboard have gone; and they still haven't found room to accommodate the portrait of the Earl Beatty that graced the pub for many years.
A lot of the more traditional furnishings have been replaced by tall tables accompanied by backless uphostered benches, and many of the normal chairs are painted a distressed grey. All in all the changes have increased the noise levels by removing the carpets, and robbed the pub of its warmth by introducing a largely colourless decor. Big chunky candles were alight on the tables when I visited. As part of the attempt to introduce a more upmarket ambience to the pub, the menu has been updated. The prices still seem very reasonable with, for example, the steak & ale pie coming in at £7.49, and with sandwiches from £3.49 (cheese & pickle) to £5.49 (rump steak, balsamic onion, chutney, horseraddish). There was also a kids' menu. There are now five handpumps, and on re-opening night two were London Pride clipped, with Hogsback TEA, Otter Amber and Navigation Wise Guy on the others. The 10% CAMRA discount still remains, and my pint of Wise Guy was in excellent condition.
Although I'm not a fan of modern pub makeovers, and I really don't like what they've done to this pub (but accept that that's just my personal subjective opinion) there are one or two pluses. The pub sign now features a silhouette of the eponymous Earl rather than the Captain Cook lookalike that we had before, and I think everyone who knows this pub will agree that the toilets needed some serious attention. They now seem to be in much better shape, and the trend in recent years has resulted in a more varied ale choice, which I reckon is a good thing.
On 14th December 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Earl Beatty
The pub closed for a couple of days a week or so ago for a “revamp”. Nothing drastic has been done to the pub – a few plants have been added here and there and the dartboard has been moved from the old Public Bar to the raised area at the back of the main bar. Unfortunately no home has been found for the portrait of the Earl Beatty, and the pub sign still features a naval officer in 18th Century uniform, instead of the 20th Century Admiral The Earl Beatty. On the plus side a fourth handpump has been added, and when I visited the other day they were dispensing London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Doom Bar, and Otter Amber. The ale side is definitely looking up – if only they could find room for the eponymous Earl’s portrait....
On 31st March 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Earl Beatty
The recent refurbishment is certainly an improvement as it’s been looking fairly run down for several years now. It’s unfortunate that the models in glass cases couldn’t have had a home found for them somewhere as I reckon they would have been an interesting feature. Even more unfortunate is the fact that the refurbishers couldn’t have accommodated in the new decoration the portrait of the eponymous Earl that had been tucked away in the back room for many years. I gather that it’s now housed in the private rooms upstairs, but I really hope that they do have a change of heart and bring it back to the public rooms.
They had on Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale today, which is a hint of a more adventurous, and welcome, ale policy. Pride will feature on one of the other pumps, and the third pump will also feature an ale when they get it fixed. This is now a much better pub, and is certainly worth a visit if you’re in Motspur Park – mind you it is the only pub in Motspur Park.
On 26th September 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Earl Beatty
The Beatty has at long last had a much needed refurbishment. Now part of the John Barras stable with its blue signage, the layout remains pretty much the same although the pool table has been relocated from the public bar area to what was the quieter room at the back. There is now unusually no TV in the main bar area, these being situated on the areas to the side. Folding doors suggest the possibility of separating the pub as required. The dartboard remains in the old public bar but there is now a table in front of it. Mainly carpeted with wood flooring around the bar, new banquette seats and some high tables in the new pool area, decor is local scenes and references to the "Earl". Old wood panelling has been retained. Sadly, the old militaria in the form of model boats, tanks etc donated years ago by a regular seem to have disappeared. Unfortunately not much attention has been given to the gents toilets which were in a terrible state, they smell better but they've been unused for two weeks.
They have installed a new manager who currently seems quite switched on, hopefully it is a pub on the up, three handpumps now, up from two, but only two on today, the regular Pride plus Adnams Southwold Bitter.
The car park is now pay and display, due to commuter abuse as the station is next door. I'm stepping up to a five but will keep an eye on things.
On 21st September 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Earl Beatty
I was very surprised to find a different guest beer in here today, Bateman's GHA. It wasn't in the greatest shape, but I chose it and hopefully a bit of variation is a thing to come. I asked the barman if it was selling well but it seems the biggest problem is in opening the drinker's eyes to choice as most will not touch anything but Pride. Good marks for trying anyway.
On 18th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Earl Beatty
Built in 1938, this is a fairly typical London suburban pub. It’s been pretty well opened up inside, but the Public Bar at the “sharp end” of the pub still retains its separate identity and is still known as the public bar even though you can walk through it to the rest of the pub. The pub has two main features. The first is the portrait of Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Beatty himself, who was First Sea Lord during WW1, in the room at the back that at one time was the only non-smoking area in the pub. Unfortunately part of the portrait is obscured by the settle in front of it, but you can see enough of the Lord of the North Sea, and in particular his RN hat set at his trademark jaunty angle. The other is the “War Room” in the middle of the pub, with its model aircraft suspended from the ceiling and other modelled military scenes in glass cabinets. There is a largish beer garden, with a small children’s area, that is a welcome facility in the summer, as well as for smokers of course.
The pub itself has seen better days, and worse ones, and although it is cleaner than it has been in the past, it would benefit from a little tender loving care and some renovation work in one or two places. In particular, the removal of the thousands of cigarette pubs surrounding the entrances would make it appear more welcoming. As Maldenman has said, they usually have a couple of real ales on – at the moment it is the ubiquitous London Pride, and Courage Directors. The menu is the usual pub grub – nothing wrong with that of course – at fairly competitive prices. The quality is OK as well, as long as you’re not looking for anything fancy. The structure and layout of the pub is quite attractive, but it could be made a lot better with some money being spent on it. It is in a prime location right by Motspur Park train station, and with no other pub within a couple of miles it should be a real money spinner, but I’m not sure that it is good enough to be one at the moment. But it’s good for a pint or two, and is a welcome sight when getting off the train. I for one am glad it’s there, even if it’s not the best pub I’ve ever been in.
On 7th February 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Earl Beatty
I've lived nearby for many years and witnessed several changes but basically this is a cheaply run Pubco place with sadly few redeeming features. They serve a couple of ales, usually Pride and Bombardier, and to be fair they are well kept. The main issue is that the pub is a 30's built suburban facility that no longer meets its original function of a community focal point. Hard to know how best to resurrect it. At least the current manager keeps it clean and tidy, good luck to you.
On 31st January 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]