Restaurant Review The Kings Head, Shepperton There have been big changes at the Kings Head in Shepperton and it is well worth a visit. Situated right by St Nicholas church on the old square, the pub is steeped in history. The building dates back to the 16th century when it was a coach house. It was established as a pub in the early 18th c. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor stayed there while filming at Shepperton Studios. It is very much a part of the local community and that is how new tenants Sam and Martyn want it to continue.
Mr C and I were invited along to see the changes for ourselves and to sample the new menu which had only been launched the week before our visit. What a transformation. Gone are the dark beams and décor. Instead it is light and airy, the chandeliers throwing a soft opulent light. Seating is either new or has been reupholstered. Fabrics were from local firm John Miller. We opened the door to the pub to a roaring log fire with comfy sofa’s around it. What a lovely place to while away the hours with a pint, some tasty bar snacks (£12 for 3) or sandwich and a newspaper, (available in the bar). It was an important football evening when we went and there were a lot of locals enjoying the matches on 3 screens in the bar area. The restaurant at the back is a much quieter affair. Comfy seating around a newly discovered fire place makes for a more laid back dining experience. If you want to tuck yourself away, there is also the snug area which is very popular. Each area is comfortable, well decorated and fresh. The toilets have been completely redone. Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts
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I made reference to the beams earlier. Fear not, they remain and are a stunning feature now that they have been restored to the original wood and simply varnished. They are reputed to be beams from a ship. Who knows, but they look great. And so to the food. This is after all a restaurant review. In one word...Delicious! Martyn and Sam had all sorts of ideas of what they wanted from the pub when they took over, but they were smart enough to listen to the locals and find out what THEY wanted. Their clientele are loyal, so the idea had to be to make the pub better for this audience as well as attracting people from further afield. So the idea of gastro pub was dismissed. Instead the Kings Head offers a small but perfectly formed menu of home made, essentially British classics. Prices are reasonable; from £5.45 for the starter and £9.95 for mains. They also do Sunday roasts from £11.95. To start, I chose the wild mushrooms on toast. Sautéed in creamy tarragon sauce, served on rustic bread with rocket and parmesan shavings. It was a generous portion, freshly prepared and piping hot and was delicious.
Mr C chose the chicken liver pate. It was served with caramelised onion chutney, toast and a dressed salad. Everything was fresh and good. Other starters include baked camembert, spicy prawns and crab and crayfish with lemon mayonnaise. That seems a good range to choose from. There is a young chef in the kitchen. Jack Brewer has been sous chefing for a number of quality eateries and he got the top job at the Kings Head. There is a good choice of main courses, including
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