August 2025 by Will
Take a local independent bar full of character and patronage, strip it of all it's quirks and redecorate it with generic minimalist artwork and gray paint. Woddys PT. 2 ladies and gentlemen.
August 2025 by tasha
I wish I could give the new woodys more than one star but sadly I can't. The once loved and quirky atmosphere has been replaced by a soul-less corporate bar that feels like you're walking into any other corporate chain. On top of the lack of originally and 'safe space' vibes the new woodys referb only serves cocktails out of bottles!! we all miss the old woodys and I think the way that management has responded to these negative reviews is very telling of the new buissness model - please listen to your patrons before its too late!!
August 2025 by Frida L
Gosh I miss the old Woody's. After the new owner(s) took over, this once beloved hangout spot lost all its charm and personality. Now it just feels soulless and corporate.
August 2025 by o haynes
Lovely spot by the river. The friendly service is beyond anything else I've seen in London. Tasty pints and food what's not to llike
August 2025 by Sean W
Woody?s hasn?t quite done it for me since the refurb. There does seem to be a bit of a campaign which is unfortunate, but my views are my own.
It?s still fine for a drink by the river, although there is a quite a bit less seating outside now. If you want a drink outside but don?t get a seat you have to get a drink in plastic so the reduced capacity is pretty disappointing. Who wants to pay nearby £7 for a pint in plastic. Being inside is no fun in the summer.
The Windsor and Eton beers are ok but nothing to write home about. I do miss the likes of Budvar being on tap and the inside has lost its character a bit. They did seem to do cocktails too, although there was no menu that I could see which means the price and range is unknown. Maybe I just missed it. Seems an obvious thing to advertise widely if you serve cocktails and you shouldn?t have to hunt a menu down.
Service was quite slow and a bit cold and the beers cost more than they were worth versus other places nearby.
They?d do well to reinstate the extra seating outside and consider some other beers rather than their own. The food seemed expensive for what it was and overcomplicating food which means a lot of allergens. If your food is good simple and effective ingredients will do the job. You don?t always have to follow a trend!
I won?t regularly visit I?m afraid as a result of these issues.
August 2025 by Slaney Cullen
You guys must have done absolutely no research when you refurbed/rebranded, Its astonishing how much you fumbled this.
I understand that you wanted to change it or whatever, but did you talk to nobody in the community? Did you talk to the old owner or the bar staff? Did you speak to any regulars? You just came in and covered everything in millennial green paint.
The lighting is awful, at least point those spotlights at tables, beer taps, artwork - anything but directly down please. And look at using warmer CCT lamps, the cool white light and green paint is a genuinely awful combo.
August 2025 by Georgie Bridge
I went to the new Woody's for the first time and was verry disappointed, the cocktails are no longer good, the harsh bright lights make it feel like a hospital, no atmosphere tiny little tables with big chairs somehow makes it feel like there is less space in there now , I?m not against a refresh but it I think this must now be the most lifeless pub in Kingston.
Walked by a few times since, it used to attract such a diverse vibrant crowd, now seems to be mostly middle-aged men. This is no longer Woody's they should have just changed the name!
August 2025 by Little Dude
Used to be my favorite place in Kingston but not anymore. No soul, no vibe. It's sad to see that yet another company doesn't care about the locals.
Yet again, we've been robbed. What a shame.
August 2025 by Natalia
Woody?s used to be such a cute spot with so much charm and personality and now it?s soulless
August 2025 by Emerald Liu
Used to be a really big fan of Woodys but I am really disappointed with the new changes- completely lost its charm and community spirit. Won?t be coming back anymore
August 2025 by Caroline Haywood
What a great discovery. Lovely little bar looking over the river. Food choice not extensive but fabulous choice of home made bread sandwiches and great choice of craft beers from the Windsor and Eton Brewery. Will most definitely be visiting again soon.
August 2025 by Taylor Jay
WOW! What a change to Woody?s. Although people have said it used to be full of ?character? it used to be fairly tacky. I am so pleased with how Woody?s has turned out and it is possibly the best thing that has happened to Woody?s. It now has a touch of class and is no longer a grunge student dumping ground. A lot of the other reviews have said that it is a corporate venue that is nothing new to Kingston?I have to disagree, yes a corporate venue but very unique to Kingston. It brings an independent business into a new area - growing their business, bringing a new dynamic to a new area and what a better location than the river?! So many opportunities all year round. May I also add - what a bloody amazing choice to bring Primo Banjo into their venue, delicious food and great service!
There is no support for independent business? anymore, just a lot of students that are unhappy with their cheap local being taken over by another independent business with big aspirations! All the best to the future of Woody?s!
August 2025 by Sam Connelly
Used to be one of the best little spots in Kingston with a great look and vibe. It's been recently redecorated though and has been turned into a soulless, dull and monochrome husk. Now resembles a depressing hotel bar. Huge shame.
August 2025 by Ben 10
Getting friends to blatantly write a review is so immature and unprofessional.
Woodys was a comfort place and a second home for a lot of people and to call it a ?grunge student dumping ground? and ?cheap local? (your prices are cheaper), Implying that it had no class (when you?re leaving comments like this), shows you have no interest in getting involved in the Kingston Community.
There is no need to come for the old pub everyone loved. You could?ve just mentioned the positives of the new Woodys without being rude about a pub that no longer exists. This just makes is so obvious you have asked someone to write this review.
For a company who clearly aren?t happy with people stating their opinions you sure are happy to share yours on a place you never visited.
There is a reason your reviews are so negative and the actions you?re taking to combat them aren?t helping
August 2025 by Yong Sinclair
Beware the pigeon in Woody?s clothing, it barely coos and doesn?t hum like it used to. Theres no soul at Woody?s any more.
I?m not sure which demographic/crowd this place is trying to draw in, as I can?t really imagine who this would appeal to now, young or old.
My parents went here on my recommendation and told me it was awful- I thought it a bit harsh but assumed it wasn?t their kind of place. That was before I went back there myself later that week and discovered the same. No atmosphere at all, you could hear a pin drop. I almost turned around at the door because I thought I?d walked into the wrong place because it was so quiet.
At least it was stocked up with loo roll for once, but probably because there?s no one there!
The beer was pricey but fine, nothing to write home about and I couldn?t see any frozen margaritas on offer anymore. I stayed for a pint with a friend and we left.
It?s lost its quirky decor and fun, social vibes. No excuse for a soulless bar in this beautiful prime location. Unfortunately, Woody?s has joined the ?don?t bother? list for me.
Replies on the other low rated reviews from the owner about taking it over and needing to make the business viable is a bit of a straw man with a fresh coat of paint; the former Woody?s was always packed and you might have struggled to find a table.
My advice to the owner, in this increasingly uptight and grey world we live in, relax the atmosphere and make it comfortable and inviting.
