Randomness Guide to London Menu

Pub in New Malden, just across the road from New Malden Station.

Previously known as the Railway, it was refurbished in mid-2008 and now offers real ale and French (and British) food. It's divided into a couple of sections. The bar area at the front has mostly small, low armchairs and a few high tables/chairs. There's just one normal table with upright chairs, seating eight. Further back are a dining area and a garden.

Kake, bob, and Richard visited on a Monday evening in August 2009. Real ales available were Doom Bar (~£3.50/pint), Deuchars IPA, Young's Bitter, and Bombardier. Service was friendly, and empty glasses were cleared very promptly.

The lighting in the bar area was very dim, to the point where it would have been hard to read a book. Music was playing, but not very loudly. Although it was after 9pm, there were several children shouting and scampering about, probably part of a family party in the back dining area, so it seems the place is family-friendly.

We did find the seating arrangements to be a little suboptimal, particularly as the normal table was occupied when we arrived. We tried the armchairs, but the taller members of our party found them a bit uncomfortable, and we also felt the way they were arranged around the tables wasn't really conducive to conversation unless we sat up and leaned forward, which rather negates the point of an armchair.

The food part of the operation appears to be a L'Auberge operation (either now or previously part of the Massive Pubs group) rather than the work of a completely independent chef.

Accessibility: Ramp to get in. Level access to seating area, bar, ladies' and gents' toilets, and accessible toilet. May also be step-free to the garden. The pub has its own car park. DisabledGo entry

See also:

• Beer In The Evening comments
• Qype comments
• Village Voice forum thread (local website)