The Leg of Mutton & Cauliflower, Ashtead

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FancyaPint?'s review...
FAP Rating 1 - Click for an explanation of our ratings
"The Leg" as it's known has been on this site since at least 1667 and has doubled as a court-house, jail and post office among other things. There's rumours of numerous ghosts within its walls and no-one quite knows where that unusual name came from. Some say that jockeys from the nearby Derby would dismount and race each other to the pub - the winner getting a leg of mutton, the runner-up getting a cauliflower. Who knows? Anyway, today, the pub is far less interesting and is a shadow of its former self, even in recent years. Gone are the Friday and Saturday nights when it was 4 deep at the bar, and staffed by entertaining antipodeans and French mademoiselles. Our last visit was on a Saturday afternoon. About ten punters were in the pub watching the footy on the telly but no bar staff were to be seen. We waited in disbelief before deciding to take our custom to the pub over the road. This is a sad and worryingly more common lapse in the quality of the service that we've experienced here. It used to be much more welcoming. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know if it improves. For now though, they should think themselves lucky that we know they can do better as that's te reason they still get 1 pint.
Review: 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Reviewed by 01 Oct 2011    Helpful? yes/no
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22 Jan 2010
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It pains me to say this but this pub was infinitely better when it was run by Bass in the 1990s. Since then, it's slipped from owner to owner who have left various marks on the place. As the reviewer rightly says, the pub's reputation fluctuates between good and rubbish with a concerning regularity. Right now, it's plumbing new depths. I can't vouch for its daytime goings on, but Friday nights are nothing like they used to be. The pub used to be packed with all sorts of people, young and old. There used to be a good juke box, a decent selection of beers and friendly staff (mostly antipodeans). Now, at night, this place is dark, largely empty and clique-central. It seems to want to be a late night music venue more than a pub. Bring back the old landlords who concentrated on getting punters through the door with good food & drink, a jukebox, dartboard and all manner of other things that people actually want from a pub, and not pandering to his own tastes and those of a handful of bachannals that spend every night of the week there. Hopefully "The Leg" will once again rise to greatness but not without a hell of a lot of work.
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Contact details

48 The Street, Ashtead, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1AZ

01372 277200

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How to find the The Leg of Mutton & Cauliflower pub

From Ashtead Station head into Ashtead up Woodfield Lane crossing Barnett Wood Lane after a couple of hundred yards. Just keep following Woodfield Lane as it bears slightly to the right and another 800 yards or will bring you to The Street where the Brewery Inn will be on the right hand corner and the Leg smack opposite on the other side of the road.

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History
01 Oct 11 Updated by fray_bentos