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10th Anniversary Pub Crawl in Birmingham with london calling
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Friday, 28th May 2021
With picture contributions to 3687 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (4 more images)
Detail Pages
North Star, Chessington
Hook
Postal town: Chessington
KT9 1EQ
Reviews of North Star (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Graham Coombs left this review about The North Star
Perhaps because this pub is tight on the road it seems surprisingly large when you get inside, with areas off to either side and behind which were clearly once separate bars and extensions. It has typical Ember Inn decor but is a bit more pubby and less dining than most, with apparently a good local following. There is a patio to the rear. The beer range was rather restricted post-Covid, with just London Pride and the house Black Sheep Twilighter on pump at time of visit but condition was good. Food was quite adequate and service friendly so would be quite happy to return.
On 28th May 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2398 recommendations about 2343 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The North Star
A large roadside Ember Inns pub with an impressive 10 handpumps on the bar though not all were in use on my visit, beers on were Pride, Tongham TEA, Fullers/Yeastie Boys Double Summer, Titanic Plum Porter, Brakespear Bitter and the house beer Ember Bitter, tight sparklers were in place on all beers.Not really my kind of place.
On 1st August 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1430 recommendations about 1415 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The North Star
I suppose I will always hold a certain degree of affection for the North Star as it was the venue for my embryonic drinking and, having been born and brought up on what was once called the Hooklands estate, it was my first ever local. It has always had a reputation for reasonably civilized drinking even when it was swamped by us teenage youngsters in the 70’s but we were always kept in place by the staff who we fully respected.
Originally built in the 1840’s the North Star would have stood out for miles being situated on brow of a hill overlooking what was at the time commons land and the pub itself was the main meeting place in the area. These days it doesn’t really have any of its historic charm but has been refurbished into a fairly modern style pub that is probably aimed more towards pulling in family diners than appeal to a general drinkers market. At the rear is a decent sized patio garden with several covered benches.
The carpeted interior has been knocked through to a largish single room albeit various extensions and add ons do give it a bit of a rambling feel and there are several separated drinking areas. The décor is quite breezy and light with an almost African/Polynesian theme by way of various statuettes and trinkets. In the centre of the pub, part of an old wall remnant has been cleverly converted into a wine display cabinet. There was a flat screen TV but on the whole it is more of a chatting pub than a sports/games kind of place. In what must be a first on my pub travels, they have a cash machine that doesn’t charge for withdrawals.
The pub is part of the Ember Inns chain and it must be said that both the food and drinks during my recent visit were very good quality, value for money and served up by extremely welcoming staff. Of the 8 hand pumps, there were 5 mainly ubiquitous ales (Youngs Ordinary, Youngs Special, Doom Bar, Adnams and the slightly more redeeming guest pool ale Brains Milkwood). Prices are exteremely reasonable with the most expensive ale (Milkwood) a mere £2.70, a bargain by Surrey standards. The food is from a typical chain pub grub menu but there were sufficient choices to suit my needs and the food was far better than I had expected for the price.
Whilst the pub certainly isn’t how I remembered and I am not a fan of modernized interiors, I would have no qualms about popping in for a meal or a few drinks although the sentimental value of the place probably means that the pub is always going to have more of an appeal to me than most and the pub is probably still the pick of the pubs in the immediate vicinity.
On 14th April 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1238 recommendations about 1232 pubs]
View more reviews of North Star (6)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- The North Star official pages, including menu and beer details - www.emberinns.co.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - North Star entry
- Facebook - The North Star at Hook
- CAMRA WhatPub :: North Star - whatpub.com
Chessington South, 1.29 miles, 24 min walk (show)
Tolworth, 1.52 miles, 29 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 20p per pint - last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes - Until 9 p.m. - last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : No last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 08 February 2021 by ROB Camra
