Everywhere I turn there are these people saying 'new year, new me', 'just a coke please', 'I'm laying off the booze for a while' - aaaggghhh, it's driving me crazy.

So I sought refuse in the one place I hoped would hide me from their judgmental eyes - the corner of the pub.

Having wandered the back streets somewhere between Kingston and Surbiton (I was a little lost) I stumbled across The Duke of Buckingham and a wide grin spread across my face.

I had vowed to go in the first pub I saw whether it was some grungy run-down hole with paint peeling off the walls or a posh wine bar with suits talking about their early morning squash game before their weekend retreat to the south of France.

Thankfully, The Duke of Buckingham was neither of those and just looked like a nice, normal and fairly large traditional pub.

That's the feel you get inside too where only a handful of customers, it was lunchtime, were all deep in friendly conversation about why exactly cats eyes were called cats eyes (or at least I think that's what they were going on about, I drifted off after a while).

£2.40 for a pint of Kronenbourg, not in the proper glass sadly, is pretty good in these modern times too so I was happy with that and the fact I got it served by a barman who had clearly been sampling his own taps a little too often over the years - just how a barman should be.

There's a pool table which was rather useful for providing some noise, with no music or television on the potting of balls was the only other sound apart from the cats eyes conversation.

It was incredibly quiet and I think the blue carpet pattern might cause a few accidents when you've had too much but I like this place.

It wouldn't be great to hold a party but was just perfect for avoiding all those new year do-gooders.

DECOR: *** The painting of the Duke of Buckingham is a nice touch, but don't look at the blue carpet too much.

ATMOSPHERE: ** Very quiet and could do with some music or something to liven it up a tad.

STAFF: **** Big-bellied barmen are the way forward. He was helpful and cheerful.

DRINK: *** Don't be expecting anything too outrageous, it's a good traditional selection.

PRICE: **** You'll find it hard to get a pint of Kronenbourg in many other places for £2.40.

Villiers Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 3BB.