Stag & Hounds — Restaurant in England

A local of Farnham Common for decades, the new management have succeeded to underperform and fail to sympathise with locals since taking charge.

Christmas Eve 2024 - the manager selectively charges paid entry to specific individuals yet in the same breath forces the considerable number of individuals drinking within the smoking area (as is norm for Christmas Eve) inside the cramped bar area against their wishes (claiming noise complaints, despite the years of evidence contrary to this). When confronted, the manager either responds with a barrage of expletives or forces those (many) discontent out of the pub and hides behind the bouncers like a coward. The bouncers, who you can only feel sorry for at this point, being caught in the crossfire, are entirely sympathetic to the locals but justly want to return to their families for Christmas Eve without issue. The management, despite the just criticism, then decide to double cross the bouncers, falsely informing them that the establishment is licensed to remain open until 0400hrs if only customers would only go inside (and not sing Christmas carols outside…). Unfortunately as this information is passed on and as convincing as the bouncers could try to be, the locals, who know full well the licensing hours of their local pub, see through the deceit and are further enraged by the unnecessary oppression forced upon them.

It is a shame the local pub has fallen into such low esteem. It has genuinely been a fantastic drinking and eating establishment in the past however until the current management change their attitude and respect locals (without trying to make a quick buck), it will fail to draw the required...

We come here every year for Christmas Eve, as does the whole village, and we have done so for years. We really want the new owners of this pub to do better next year so that the tradition isn’t ruined. Usually we have a big countdown to midnight, tons of Christmas songs played inside, and the place is beyond packed. Last night they tried to charge us £5 entry (??!! To the village pub??!!) and hence it was less than half as busy as it usually is. They lost a lot of business by making this decision. Each person who actually paid £5 entry (it’s impossible to enforce so most people just snuck in without paying) does not offset the 50% of people who went to foresters/emperor instead and bought several drinks there. The music inside was terrible, not festive at all; there was consequently a bad vibe inside and most people wanted to sit outside but this was limited as bouncers were trying to stop people going outside. I felt really sorry for the bouncers, having to enforce such silly rules like “you can only sit outside if you’re smoking a cigarette”, on Christmas Eve. Really disappointed as this pub has changed hands a few times but Christmas Eve is always one of the best nights of the year - not this year. Fingers...

As a resident local for over 25 years the new manager charged everyone £5 to enter on Christmas Eve 2024 (without any DJ or financial investment in the night) - He proceeded to selectively charge individuals to enter & prevented customers from sitting outside. When confronted about the questionably poor service he mouthed off & got aggressive with local, loyal, customers. The bouncers agreed with the entire outside venue & confessed they’d never work there again. The staff were lovely but the manager needs to take a long hard look at himself. Farnham...