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Picture source: Paul Bullen

The Outrigger was situated on Waterside. This pub closed in the 1990s.

I used to drink in this pub after my Saturday job in Bentalls with several mates who also worked in that department store. Excellent beer and very accommodating landlord and landlady. Usually had cheese rolls left over from lunchtime which were cheap which was good for us young people. Regulars included Reg Varney and others from the series “on the buses” and there were some hand drawn portraits of them in the bar. Lively pub and very fond memories.

Charles Clark (July 2016)

Remember Roy Stringer ,what a character ,my Dad ,Nobby Clark,had a boat on the river (sanfeebe)and we spent many a time in his pub,me in back hallway. He had a boat too ,Makhala if memory serves me. I was about ten/eleven and used to wash his mini moke and American car on Sunday's. He had a pair of Alsatian's ,Noble &Nero. The skipper of Turk's river boats Empress of India/New Windsor Castle used to frequent this establishment and crunch up an swallow pint glasses as a party trick!! Remember seeing Doug Mclure American actor in there,1975 ish ,think he was filming journey to centre of earth

Russ Clark (August 2017)

I was a barmaid in the Outrigger in the early 1980s. I was a student at Kingston art college topping up my grant with Friday and Saturday night work at the pub. It was an old school pub with dark tables, shipping memorabilia, and customers who knew exactly how they liked their beer- I learned how to pull a pint without any fizz. I was also young and very naïve! The landlord had a damaged hand he was very self conscious about, but he was also very friendly. Every night there was a ‘lock in’ for friends and locals. I was asked to help out for extra cash, but at the end of my shift the assistant manager would quietly give me my money (about £15) and make sure I left before the now very inebriated owner noticed. This went on for weeks. I left at the end of a term, and didn’t go back. Looking back I’m grateful to that rather unfriendly assistant manager for making sure I wasn’t put in a situation with a randy landlord I wouldn’t have known how to handle. Heaven knows where all those people are now.

Phillippa Grantham (February 2019)

I worked there mid 1970s. Roy was landlord and had a partner called Sally. Apparently Roy was at one time a stunt man and this is how he injured his hand, I remember once Danny la rue coming to the pub to see Roy. Roy also took part in swan upping. Roy was well liked and knew a lot of film and tv stars.

Mandy Smith (July 2019)

When Roy Stringer owned it his partner was Sally Biggs, her dad was Biggs the Butcher in West Molesey. She was in my class at school & I think her best friend was Michelle who we called Micky. She had a horse too that bit her side once. If memory serves she was one of the youngest landladies at the time. Went there a couple of times but tbh The Fishes was my regular haunt in Richmond Road

Sheila Lanham (August 2020)

My father in law, Eddie Whitworth, used to work on Turks boats and was always in the Outrigger. He was definitely up for lock ins, I remember him talking about Roy Stringer on Sundays when I went round my then girlfriend Elaine Whitworths for Sunday lunch prepared as usual by Elsie Whitworth (nee Spicer). I do believe they got up to some real life capers on the Swan upping jaunts

Adrian De Baeza (August 2022)

I grew up at the Outrigger from 1942 until about 1953. My great aunt held the licence, and my parents helped run it, although my father also worked on the steam tugs on the Thames. The boat he worked on tied up at the wharf opposite the pub; it was called the Pamela Alice (my name is Pamela). All the regulars were my "uncles". We lived on the upper two floors. My aunt's name was Sarah Green. As I recall, our main contact in relation to the licence was Percy Lovely.

Pamela Pilbury, nee Green (January 2023)

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Name Dates Comments Ken Hughes 1960s Landlord i think was harry mead . cant think of his wifes name but her sisters name was peggy . iworked as barman David Strange 1972-1976 It was a favourite after hours pub for us Bentallians and on a good Friday our whistles would have previously been dampened at the Two Brewers. As well as the charms of the pub itself I remember, fondly, the charms conferred by the very large and very dark cinder carpark where John Lewis now stands, how boring. Steve Adams 1971/72 and 1981/82 Customer both periods, leader of the pack and pastie first time and second time around used to nip in from Bentalls car park, where I worked and down Carlsberg Special Brews for morning tea break..Roy used to sing "lil ol special brew drinker.." made famous by Dean Martin..I had a drink problem by this time....

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Picture source: Paul Bullen