Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 15 and Version 14 of Greyhound Hotel, SM5 3PE

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category='Accommodation Available,Beer Gardens,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Free Wireless,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2007,Good Beer Guide 2008,Good Beer Guide 2009,Pubs,Real Ale,Young's'
category='Accommodation Available,Beer Gardens,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Free Wireless,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2007,Good Beer Guide 2008,Pubs,Real Ale,Young's'

Young's pub/hotel in Carshalton, in the Good Beer Guide.

Kake, Bob, Robbie, and Martin visited on a Thursday evening in February 2008. Beers available were Young's Special, Young's Ordinary, and Bombardier. Kake arrived early and took advantage of the free wireless while enjoying a very generously-sized pot of tea (£1.70 for a pot large enough for 3-4 cups).

On our previous visit in mid-2006, we noted the food as being very good. Unfortunately while the steak has retained its quality, the rest of the menu may be best avoided. Kake's grilled blackened salmon with chilli noodles (£8.75) was so bad she didn't bother finishing it - the salmon was overcooked and had clearly been sitting under a heat lamp rather than cooked fresh, the noodles were basically just mixed with sweet chilli sauce from a bottle, and we were taking bets on how many days ago the accompanying rather grey-looking green beans had originally been cooked. We were also unimpressed by the charcuterie plate (£11) we shared as a starter; although the portion looked generous to begin with, it was quickly revealed that the pile of meat in the centre was actually a couple of slices of parma ham carefully arranged on top of a mound of undressed leaf salad; and the plate was padded out with a large quantity of (decent enough) bread photo.

Service was friendly, but it was clear that they were understaffed. The sole waitress was rushed off her feet - though she stayed calm and friendly throughout, this is probably the reason why she failed to ask why the salmon dish was being sent back only half-eaten.

Other points of note: we found it slightly too warm for comfort - perhaps an overreaction to the slightly chilly weather outside, perhaps a side-effect of its double identity as a hotel. Also, the piped music during the afternoon was extremely cheesy, and not even quiet enough to be easily ignored.

Free wireless internet is provided via The Cloud - ask at reception for a 24-hour username and password. It works fine, good signal and bandwidth, and is available to pub customers as well as hotel guests.

Food is served noon-10pm Mon-Sat; Sunday roast is served noon-9pm on Sundays.

See also:

Food times taken from menu in pub, February 2008. Opening times taken from the 2007 Good Beer Guide. Last visited by Kake, Bob, Robbie, and Martin, 21 February 2008. Food prices and free wireless confirmed on that visit.

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