The Ram, Kingston Riverside, Kingston Upon Thames

Long thin Greene King pub but nary one of their beers to be seen. Obviously quite an old pub but modernised, the counter is to the left when you enter. Six pumps with four in use, one from Wimbledon, two from Sambrooke and Hogsback TEA. The wider front section leads back to a narrower seating area decorated with photos of rams and beyond is a beer garden next to the river.

Official site of The Ram - www.theramkingston.com

Official site of The Ram - www.theramkingston.com

This long, narrow Greene King pub can be approached either from the High Street or from the riverside path that runs along the bottom of its beer garden. The front of the pub is quite a pleasant spot, with bare floorboards, lots of dark wood and a real mixture of seating, which creates a rather warm and cosy environment, especially in the evening when it is aided by muted lighting. The bar counter is sited in this area on the left hand wall. As you move further towards the rear, the seating appears a little more formal, with plenty of banquette and padded bench seating and what I would suggest is gastro-style decor. Old photos of Kingston line the walls and music was playing softly over the speakers. Despite feeling more like the dining part of the pub, I sat myself down here and soon found the area full with people enjoying a quick drink or two. A long and similarly narrow garden runs all the way down to the riverside path and whilst providing a decent spot for a drink in the summer months, it can get incredibly busy at times, making it all but impossible to get a seat. There were plenty of handpulls lined up along the bar, but most of them seemed to be out of action, leaving a choice of Greene King London Glory or Rooster's Yankee. A Greene King IPA clip was turned as were three others, although there was a cider called Sun Dance on one of the remaining pumps. I tried the Yankee and found it to be in good shape, which made it a shame that there was nothing else of interest on. It's not the most exciting pub you'll ever venture into, but there is something about this place that I can't help but like. This is probably my favourite Kingston town centre/riverside pub.