Hand in Hand, Wimbledon Village (Rating 9.0) SW19 4RQ
This is a sprawling cottage pub with lots of nooks and crannies and a good array of out-door tables as well as standing areas inside and out. Until recently, it had four handpumps and served Courage Director’s (4.8% ABV) as well as the range of Young’s ales and Proper Job. In November 2023, it held a five day mini beer festival with a lot of guest ales. I first discovered Southwark Brewery’s very fine Routemaster at the festival. Since then, it has an ongoing broader range of ales. It is very homely and has a country pub feel about it. It serves its beers well. You could really think you were in the Countryside, not SW19. They currently serve Shere Drop. I have been visiting this pub often over 11 years and have almost always chosen a pint of Director’s. Now I’m challenged by choice but I’m not complaining. Recently, I had Adnams Evening Gleams (4.2% ABV).
More recently, I had Director’s and used my new thermometer. It registered 18.1 Celsius which rates as excellent in my thinking. I have been to nine pubs in walking distance from Wimbledon station and/or South Wimbledon station and in my view, The Hand in Hand and The Trafalgar are the outstanding ones. Their best beers are Director’s and Shere Drop.
The Red Lion, Ealing (Rating 8.2) W5 5RA
My first visit here is memorable. I enjoyed my pint of London Pride but I noticed on the bar a jar of home-made Pork Scratchings. I took a photo and sent it to my son because he and I both like good scratchings with good beer. The scratchings here are the best. The beer is also served well and the interior of the pub is very pleasant. I have been again with friends. The Red lion and The Rose & Crown are the best in Ealing.
Skehans, Nunhead (Rating 7.8) SE14 5TW
It is quite an old building on a corner, in a South London residential area. The interior is basic. It hosts live music often and attracts quite a young crowd. There was an inviting buzz when I was there. The atmosphere was friendly. There were three hand pumps – two Brockley ales and Doom Bar. I had Brockley Pale Ale (4.1% ABV) and it was good, though served slightly cold.
The Fox, Palmer’s Green (Rating 7.0) N13 4JD
A pub with history dating back to 1870, when it operated its own horse-drawn bus service to Central London. The pub has been recently refurbished, its bar is compact, its toilets notably luxurious and offers plenty of seating space. There are only two handpumps and only one was in operation, but I enjoyed a good pint of London Pride (4.1% ABV). There is apparently a house rule that men cannot wear hats indoors (I was taught that myself as a child). I witnessed a barman point this out to a visitor on arrival. The 30 something guy in search of a pint was surprised but complied and took his pint and hat in hand to a table.
The Golden Heart, Aldgate East (Rating 7.6) E1 6LZ
The pub was within spitting distance of the Trumans brewery when the brewery was in its heyday. Today it reminisces on the brewery and is well connected with London’s art world. There were three pumps but only two in operation and I enjoyed a pint of Landlord (4.1% ABV). The clientele were a world apart from those that frequent the Pride of Spitalfields, just a couple of roads away. The vibe was a hundred years more modern than the Pride.
Pint of the Week – Fuller’s ESB (5.5% ABV) Lamb & Flag WC2E 9EB 14.8 Celsius