Niku Bar & Restaurant in Kingston upon Thames

I'm a big fan of this pub! I enjoy sitting at the bar, sports being on, how it looks and how the managers/ owners kick out non-customers trying to use the toilet. It is a classic pub, I can't comment on the food, never eaten there. Some of the staff behind the bar could be a bit friendlier, but the service is quick enough. The only thing is it closes fairly early which is a shame, but that's life. Please go and have a pint at the bar!

Lack of oxgyen upstairs and hot chocolate is way to sweet

Hostile toilet policy even when having full intent of buying a drink after. Management rude and suspicious. Unwelcoming vibe.

Not been there in over 40 years doing the old rounds lovely pub lots of fond memories good out look over the River

The Antelope is a large, comfortable, classically furnished pub, with a spacious garden. Good meals, eclectic range of music, all on vinyl and is staffed by lovely, friendly people and attracts a broad variety of custom. They sell a wide selection of interesting and ever changing beers, plus beers from Big Smoke's own brewery in Esher. Always a nice experience! This is a comment about Big Smoke, as opposed to the pub: I've keenly supported Big Smoke pubs and beers since they began, but I've not had the same enthusiasm since they ruined one of their best beers- Solaris Pale, a couple of years ago. Without dissecting the flavour profile, it was a wonderful beer, with huge popularity, so surprising they could give up on it, it always featured on my visits to Big Smoke pubs. The replacement for it is a totally different beer style; I couldn't get on with it and felt it was inferior and having chatted with many others, of varying tastes, ages etc, this seems to be the general consensus! I think their reasoning was something to with being quite an expensive and operationally more complicated beer to produce, for what it was and incongruous with the American type pales, they were mostly brewing. Still- Non-sensical, given the massive quantities they were turning over! Ultimately, it's their business model but what really annoyed me was the continued use of the name. Having built up a massive following and they having put a lot of money into the branding and copyright of the name, they didn't want to give it up. However, I think to continue using an established and loved brand, to sell a totally different product is quite dishonest and misleading to customers! Sorry for the rant but that's why I'm not as into Big Smoke as I once was!