The Mill
Family-friendly pub with a conservatory, regular events calendar and deals on a variety of meals.
About
Just what London needed - another riverside pub with aspirations above its station. The Mill in Kingston has all the telltale signs: riverfront location, quiz nights, and a happy hour that seems designed to lure in students faster than a fox in a henhouse. I approached with the weary resignation of someone who's seen far too many mediocre watering holes masquerading as destination venues.
But damn it all if The Mill hasn't wormed its way into my cynical heart like a persistent earworm you initially hate but end up humming in the shower. Let's start with that happy hour - £3 drinks on weekdays. In London. In 2024. I had to check my calendar to ensure I hadn't stumbled through a temporal vortex back to 2008.
The riverside setting could easily be an excuse to coast on views alone, but The Mill in London's Kingston manages to be more than just a pretty face. The expansive windows frame the Thames like an ever-changing artwork, though I suspect the real masterpiece might be their pricing strategy. Students get pints for £2.50, which in today's economy feels like finding a Picasso at a car boot sale.
Speaking of bargains that shouldn't work but somehow do - their quiz nights have developed something of a cult following. Every Tuesday, an enthusiastic chap named Alex hosts what might be the least pretentious pub quiz in Greater London. Unlike the typically painful experience of watching a wannabe comedian butcher current events questions, this quiz actually manages to be... entertaining. I'm as shocked as you are.
Now, let's address the elephant in the room - the food menu. It's limited, occasionally unavailable, and comes without cutlery by default (because apparently, we're all savages now). But here's the thing: they're not trying to be The Savoy Grill, and thank heaven for that. The pub grub they do serve is exactly what you want after your third pint - unpretentious, satisfying, and priced for mere mortals.
The space itself is a pleasant surprise, with plenty of nooks for whatever social situation you've found yourself in - whether it's a first date you're hoping to escape from or a group celebration you're actually enjoying. The layout suggests someone actually thought about how humans interact in public spaces, rather than just cramming in as many tables as physically possible.
Live music features regularly, though mercifully not at the ear-splitting volumes that seem to be standard issue in most London pubs these days. The acoustics actually allow for that increasingly rare phenomenon: conversation. Remember those? When people used their mouths for something other than shouting drink orders?
The staff, led by what appears to be a small army of competent bartenders (including the apparently legendary Julia, who has amassed her own fan club), manage to maintain efficiency even during peak hours. They've mastered that elusive balance between being attentive and leaving you alone - a skill rarer than a reasonable rent in Zone 1.
Yes, the toilets occasionally resemble a modern art installation titled "Thames Water's Revenge," and sometimes the first three things you order from the menu are unavailable. But The Mill in London has achieved something remarkable - it's become a genuine local institution without trying too hard to be one.
For location context, you'll find it in Kingston, perfectly positioned for both students and professionals, river-watchers and quiz enthusiasts, happy hour hunters and those simply seeking a decent pint in civilized surroundings. The free parking is a bonus that feels almost too good to be true in London, like finding a unicorn grazing in Richmond Park.
Go on then - book a table. Join the Tuesday quiz. Order something from whatever's actually available on the menu that day. The Mill London has earned its stripes the old-fashioned way: by being consistently good at the things that actually matter in a pub. Just don't tell them I sent you - I have a reputation as a cynic to maintain.
Contact Information
Address
58-62 High St, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1HN, UK
London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
Phone
+44 20 8547 2301Website
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