please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very handsome pub with scrubbed wooden tables and nice outside area. The lady behind the bar was very pleasant. I'm not wild about Hopback in general but the Summer Lightning was the best one I'd had anywhere. If it all tasted like that one I'd be a convert. Didn't have time to try any more but must come back here (and the Trafalgar) to try some more.
chick - 16 Aug 2008 15:08 |
Excellent pub with those lovely Hopback ales. Nice garden out the back. ALmost (but not quite) as good as the Trafalgar.
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A great pub with cheap real ale I sometimes visit on a Saturday lunchtime to hear the latest news from the SW CAMRA crowd.If this pub moved to Croydon you would need dynamite to get me out ! The Summer Lightning is formidable ! 10/10
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Excellent well kept ales.
Overall very tidy pub with nice atmosphere.
Two cosy fires going during winter months.
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For gods sake - that (better omit name - the main bar female). Whats her problem?? I go all the way from Catford as regularly as poss. as the beers great and I love the trad'ness/30's exterior etc. Never once upset her: Never spilt my drink, or anyone elses, never sworn, never fallen over, made any derogatory comments about anyone there, stolen anything, broken anything. Just because she misheard me when I (politely) requested a 'half'! Am phoning Hopback about this. ThereS a 60-odd old mental health case who sports Wimbledon FC livery gets there - was making a lot of noise at the time. Real, real nutter! Still, DONT be put off - its a great pub. Downton beers always, out of London prices and 10 mins trot from the Traf(algar Tavern - currently S.W.Londons' Poty (pub o' the year). R.I.P Dougal (since expired dulux dog). Loo's VERY stinky - post tobbacco, horrible! Do get to the Traf also!!!!!! Both on Northern Line.
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Go for the beer - excellent. Somewhat quiet at times, but a decent dartboard.
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A fine pub in the back end of the part of Wimbledon nowhere near... well anything really. The Community Hall across the road perhaps... Anyway, despite dull exterior a great time awaits within with all the Summer Lightning once can drink and a nice buzz from the local mixed crowd. There is no reason to seek out anything else in the vicinity (not that there's much choice - Marquis of Grandby may not be to everyone's tastes).
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You'd count your blessings if this was your local. Living 110miles away, descending on its doors is close to Godsend-ery. An excellent selection of Hopback ales(unlike most the GFB is poured properly), staff perfectly affable contrary to some comments here, and regular appearances from Patch The Dog. Get food served here, and I'd be hovering close to top marks
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Very enjoyable visit last Saturday lunchtime. Summer Lightning in good form. This is a two bar pub, but there's only ever one bar open whenever I go - I think the other opens evenings only.
Pub is in the back streets of South Wimbledon - not the easiest pub to find if you haven't been before.
Very much a local, but I've never felt unwelcome here.
Yes, it's not the friendliest pub going, but this is London remember
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reccomended by a punter in the wenlock. said come here then the trafalgar. beer is very good but only hopback and downton (their little bruvver!). Very cliquey though and the staff arn't the most friendly. I get the impression it lives off its reputation.
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Have ventured to The Sultan on several occasions this October and have been pleasantly surprised by this camra rated backwater. Go on a Wednesday Evening when they have the "Beer Club", which means £1.80 for every Real Ale between 6pm-9pm. They had the full range of the Hop Back beers - including : "GFB", refreshing, "Summer Lighting", excellent and deceptively strong, and "Entire Stout" a classic stong flavoursome Stout that kicks the guiness out of town. Hop Back`s only London pub deserves, perhaps, to be more widely known than it already is - it is hidden in surburban South Wimbledon but is within easy walking distance from both South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood tube stations. The bar staff are prompt and the pub dog stalks his premises like a drink sodden, but much loved, horse. The only thing I never understand about these types of places is why you still get punters who insist on buying the p*ss poor identikit mass produced lagers gnats puke that you can get anywhere : why bother ? get a proper beer, taste something for once..come on ..it won`t hurt you..
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I've not been here for a while but standards remain high. Hopback GFB, Summer lightning and Entire Stout on plus guest Downton Fly Half..... another Wiltshire brew, they must travel together. Certainly a proper pub in what is really a difficult area, well done!
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Tobias has also bee on the receiving end then! You ale lovers - the Sultan & The Traf' are literally 10 minutes walk from each other and same from S. Wimbledon pipe Station (tube then!). Where else out of their native Sailisbury (Reading I believe) will you find a Hopback pub? Hey? The beer is to die for AND Downton from Sailisbury are deliver their stock as well!! AND Wednesday eve is cheap n cheerfull eve (spot the textbook Camra member!). Tell you what, some bloody funny stuff happens here if you look around, in particular some of the clientile. Great!The Old English Shheo dog cross is called Dylan.
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Well, I've been going here for nigh on 15 years. What I like is that you can have a conversation here because there's no loud muzak. If you're on your own on your first visit it might seem cliquey because you can actually hear other people's conversations, so you might feel excluded. Try joining in. The staff and customers are friendly, interesting and happy to chat. Add to that the most consistently good beer and value for money in the area, and, to me at least, it's the perfect local. PS - you can get 4 pt, minipin and polypin takeouts at even better prices. I regularly do!
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Just back from a wonderful night here with friends. GFB and Entire Stout on great form, and pub was unchanged since last visit, save that the beer garden now has floodlight illumination at night with more facilities for smokers.
Still well worth the journey across London to reach!
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Been drinking here for 7 years and the staff are still marose! The beer is always knockout though. On the odd occasion I have had to take a pint back it seemed like the end of the world, i might as well have been ritually flogged! But then again Ive only been a Camra member for 20 years, what would i know?
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Decent beer in a plainish pub; feels like the proper local it is rather than a "CAMRA" pub - worth a visit but the Trafalger is a lot more interesting.
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Thanks for the reassurance AleKing. There was an AGM for something the following morning, and the participants (or perhaps the committee) were ranged along one side of the pub having a pre-meeting session. As there were no other seats along the side I sat alone in the middle of the pub and it felt as if I was under scrutiny. Irrational, I know. Probably not the best pub to go on your own? Must see if I can find a friend!
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Bods, the staff have always said goodbye to me - not that I am charmed or anything. But have you tried saying thanks and bye to them when you leave?
Rex, most people feel the same on their first visit - I did. I think it has more to do with the reputation as a very cliquey place. After a few more visits you realise it isn't The Slaughterd Lamb and you get more comfortable. Then it really starts to emerge as one of the best pubs around.
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I do think this is a lovely pub, although I also have to wonder why it wins so many awards!
Still, the beer is always great, the atmosphere lovely and the garden nice to relax in. I think one thing its lacking is cheery bar staff. That's not to say they're unfriendly, but if they said bye to you on your way out (for example), it would just tip it up in my league tables!
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Made my first visit to this pub the other day. I probably did not see it at its best on a rainy midweek afternoon, but I did not feel particularly comfortable in there for some reason I can't put my finger on. Plus I did not choose well in ordering the Dragon's Breath, which had a peppery aftertaste that I did not take to. I suppose it lived up to its description as Dragon's Breath though. The light coloured tables, plus the doors to the garden being open, gave the pub a very light, airy feel. Enough people have good things to say about this pub to suggest that I should give it another go - but will go for the excellent Summer Lightning the next time.
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What a pleasure it is to find a pub in SW London that serves excellent real ale at sensible prices and that cares about their custom. Furthermore it has not taken advantage of its award winning track record to raise prices.
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Faultless boozer if you don't want food and posh surroundings. Top-notch Hopback Brewery ale, plus a Downton guest. Go out of your way to get there. A locals pub, where you'll feel at home right away.
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Superb night on Saturday. The GFB was on its best form once again, and alongside the Entire Stout, drinkers were treated to Downton Polish Porter. The Downton was so flavoursome for its moderate strength in the region of 4% that we all finished on it! The pub was alive to the buzz of hearty conversations in the lounge bar and, while waiting for my friends to arrive, many local drinkers engaged me in conversation.
I live in North London but the pub feels like a local as I have visited several times each year since 1994. I can see where previous commentators' references to cliquiness come from, but if you make an effort to integrate with staff and locals here - particularly if you make repeat visits, then you will be recognised and afforded warm, welcoming treatment.
If I lived close by, I don't feel that I'd be bored in the least to visit once or twice a week.
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first pub on my crawl of south wimbledon. I like hopback beer and it is well served here. Its all a bit samey though. The staff were friendly and the pub building interesting, but i must agree with comments about cliqueyness (is that a word?. I would recomend it for the beer quality, although not an all evening pub for me - I like more variety.
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It seems to me to be a wee bit cliquey, but the hopback beers are very good. This was the first port of call on my trip to the south wimbledon area... a pleasent enough start.
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The last couple of occasions I have ventured into this excellent pub, there have been some loud groups of lager-drinkers, which did stifle the atmosphere a bit and is somewhat of a slur to the great Hop Back ales on offer.
Each to his own I suppose, but this is still one of the best boozers around and the beer has always been faultless.
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The wife and I moved out of Wimbledon last year and still go back to The Sultan twice a week. The walk from Old Malden (Worcester Park-ish)takes an hour and a half, but then again the exercise undoes a little of the calorific assault of a few excellent beers, and is a pleasant stroll through Motspur Park, Cannon Hill Common and old Merton Park.
Any residents of Wimbledon looking to get a bit more for their money and move just outside should evaluate the increased distance from The Sultan in far more detail than the piffle of traffic/travel and house prices.
So there's no food. So what? There's plenty of John Barras "Little Chef with a few hand pumps" establishments in SW19/20 if you want that kind of thing.
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Last time I checked, it was 9pm.
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Can anyone tell me what time the pub quiz starts and is it every Tuesday? I used to live nearby and am planning on making a return for the pub quiz soon. Sounds like it hasn't changed much in the last 5 years, which is a good thing.
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I enjoyed the three rooaring fires which were very welcome on a miserable December Saturday. I thought the staff and (admittedly mainly male) clientele were very friendly and it was a cosy vibe indeed. The Hop Back ales are all good, no guest ales during my visit and food would have tempted me to stay longer.
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great beer but a cliquey pub.
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Nice pub this if you fancy a change from the usual, plus a decent pint. The summer lightning creeps up on you though. I think Quinno's stalking me!
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I have to praise this place again. Great beer, nice staff. If you like Hop Back Ales this is great. Radio can be on but no tv. £1.75 a pint every wed night. Downside is that there never seems to be a mixed sex crowd, but with beer this good every now and again I'd rather make love to that instead .
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This year's beer festival was rather popular - they sold out (of 28 barrels) by 6pm Saturday! The first day was heaving apparently. Still had a good choice at the bar inside though, but getting there earlier would've been a better plan.
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I can only add to the praise for this fine ale-led pub. The £1.75 pint happy hour (7-9pm I think) on Wednesdays is worth travelling for. The Hopback ales are always very well kept and poured. I ordered a polypin of Summer Lightning for a BBQ last year and was very pleased with that too. The pub has a dartboard and the staff and locals are friendly. I remember having a great game of darts with some members of the ladies team a couple of years back. In short this is a great place for a quiet relaxing pint. There’s no piped music to disturb conversation. Have heard good things about their summer BBQs and mini beer festivals too.
Probably takes about 10 mins to walk from Colliers Wood tube but fairly easy to find.
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Excellent Hop Back Brewery outlet, situated in quite an interesting aesthetic. Clean and cosy inside, sampled the GFB (extremely good), Entire Stout and Hopscotch (both very good). Has a nice unfussy beer garden and a chatty clientele.
Well worth the yomp from Colliers Green tube or Wimbledon mainline. Best take a map though, it's in the back-streets. Watch out for the tinted mirror in bogs, it makes you look like you've been caught in a thermo-nuclear blast.
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This place is all about the ale.
I can’t believe I’ve been living in the vicinity for over a year, yet I never knew this existed until a month ago. Sure, the location is not great (tucked away in a residential are) and some of the patrons are, er, characters to say the least, plus it is smoky and cliquey, but the Hop Back beers are top drawer: GFB; Summer Lightning; Hop Scotch as well as guest ales. As previously mentioned, the £1.75-a-pint happy hour on a Wednesday is especially alluring.
Despite some minor niggles, at least the pub, and the regulars, feel genuine. The bar staff are all very friendly and know how to pull an almost perfect pint. They also have plenty of bottled ales as well as five litre mini-casks of Lightning to take home.
Highly recommended, especially ale lovers, although there are some of the usual ghastly lagers and bottled Magners p1ss should you prefer.
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The Sultan won't please those who want artificially produced lagers, Sky sports, wine-bar decor, glitzy transience, corporate branding, and mass-produced beers.
If, however, your idea of the perfect pub is understated elegant simplicity, superbly served real ales, enough quiet to hold an intelligent conversation with other adults, and a tranquil relaxing place to unwind after a hectic day, this is it.
But don't go there. I'd rather it remained quiet!
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A great pub and the beers are superb. Search it out if you can, it is worth it.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2006 21:50 |
I've been popping in here for a while now and everytime the beer has been spot on. All of them. I always enjoy the hand pulled stout. You don't see that everywhere.
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Their Wednesday 'Beer Club' night (6pm to 9pm) is popular with £1.75p a pint of real ale.
Starting Friday 22nd September is their Beer Festival weekend, which includes a BBQ.
The Summer Lightning remains my favourite beer here, whatever the price, and this pub is one of the few traditional pubs in the area.
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nice beer, good 'locals' pub... (not that i am a local). Will be back for the beer!
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Back to check out the pub now it's nice and sunny. The key thing here is the Hop Back ales which are excellent, sadly that's it. I must be missing something; staff ok, Fosters tasted odd (according to a group sitting near me - not a big issue for me as this is an ale pub), 70's backgroung musak ok and so are the pine tables & chairs in the back bar but how did this pub win best pub in 2004?
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Very nice two-bar pub (the two bars are joined by the gents' loo, odd situation) with Hopback and guest beers. Little outside space with tables for when the bars get too busy. Beer very well kept.
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A further visit confirmed the beer really is very good. Plenty of beardy types and others. I like the pub and the atmosphere. If I had been alive at the time, i'm sure it would remind me of 50s England. Will be back. Hopefully, so will the morris dancers!
The downside was it was a little smoky and you're unlikely to meet your future wife there I would imagine. I don't think it would impress my Doris much anyway, even if she does like Taiphoon.
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Regular visitors to the Sultan will know that there are plenty of regular locals - all very friendly - who frequent the pub. That they drink the real beer is a bonus. The pub is also very popular with real ale drinkers from far and wide and its business thrives as a result. This is an all-too-rare example of a "perfect" pub where the locals and staff are friendly and welcoming and the beer is spot-on. These are all features to be celebrated.
Indeed I CYCLED all the way down from Kentish Town last Friday to visit the pub for a few pints with my friends.
Nice to see the Morris Dancers last Friday too, although I appreciate that style of entertainment is not to everyone's universal taste!
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Nice pint of Summer Lightning, the pub itself is drab and seems to have too many real ale fans rather than a mixed group of locals. Not necessarily a critism but will try the garden when it's warm and sunny./
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I've been meaning to visit this place for ages and finally got around to it last night. Well worth the trip. A backstreet local on a corner, two bars, fitted out in a smart but unfussy fashion, some curiously gigantic furniture that looks like it's been liberated from a pre-war farmhouse kitchen.
Hop Back is just about my favourite brewery and their beers were in superb condition. GFB (3.5%ABV) is the most flavoursome beer of it's strength I've sampled on ages. I also tried the seasonal Spring Zing, which had a citrus flavour, the Entire Stout and the flagship Summer Lightning. Prices ranged from just £2.05 a pint to £2.35 for the 5.0%ABV Summer Lightning.
I really can't fault the place.
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Visited last Friday (28th April). The Entire Stout was actually on just about the best form it has ever been on. Also good was Hopoack "Fools Fortune" about 4.5% which was a light hoppy premium bitter. Keep it up!
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Had my first visit since i moved nearby and was right chuffed about the stout!!
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First class beer last night! GFB and entire stout on top form, alongside a novelty guest from the Downton Brewery. Having not visited the Sultan for some months it was great to see all the "fixtures and fittings" still in place.
The beer prices represent just about the best value for money in this part of London, and the tube fare is more than repaid when buying a couple of rounds for my mates compared with one or two pubs within walking distance from me! Well deserved 10/10 in this review.
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Well kept ales and a friendly landlord make this pub well worth a visit. Saw Neil Morrisey holding court in here one Sunday afternoon. Refereshingly different to some of the chav infested 'bars' of Wimbledon which can be brawltastic on a Friday or Saturday night.
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Superbly kept good value Hop Back ales. Bar staff friendly and Dilon the dog and Migsy the cat make for a great atmosphere. Lighting and table arrangement could do with improvement. BBQs in summer.
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Cracking pub with fantastic ales. Good quiz night on tuesdays - get there early though.
Lovely beer garden for the sun too.
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moved into the area recently , tried marquis of lorne first but the discovered the Sultan. Full of real men with real pints. I love it
Ginga Neil - 6 Oct 2004 14:03 |
Since you ask Harry, not a lot. Though I do look forward to the cheap beer every Wednesday. Also this weekend 25ish guest beers for the annual beer festival. And it's also the only pub in the area you can always get a real-ale pint of stout .
Rodders - 23 Sep 2004 11:03 |
Proper pub, with proper beer and amazing cider. What more are you lot after?
Flash Harry - 23 Sep 2004 09:48 |
yes ok it is a traditional pub and it serves good beer but the atmosphere could do with a litte something
billy mcgoo - 2 Jul 2004 16:50 |
Still fab. Forget bottled beer.
robertjones - 30 May 2004 21:32 |
Love it!
Clean, comfortable and friendly. Ok it's not the most architecturally outstanding building, but it serves excellent beer, well kept, and served by bar-staff who know and care about their beer!
A welcome relief for Londoners who like a really good pint
Pb - 28 May 2004 12:49 |
Great pint of Mild last time I was in
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Regarding the last posting, whilst it's great to see more traditional beers available in the supermaket, you must agree that nothing beats the real, hand-pulled pint that awaits you in the friendly surroundings of this great pub.
I was there on Saturday, and the GFB was on its best form for many months. So was the Entire Stout!
Keep it up guys!
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I used to go there to buy Summer Lightning but now they do it in my Local Safeway. Ha Ha Ha!!!!
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It's cliquey.
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A proper local visited by real ale lovers from far and wide. Great Hopback beers, pine furniture and a really quirky quiz.
Dave - 18 Feb 2004 17:50 |
this is great pub and they have good beer. i rate it highly. very cosy. Eugene from South Africa
Eugene Homewood - 30 Dec 2003 23:25 |
Mmmm...the Enrire, GFB and Summer/Winter Lightning (from the Hopback Brewery) is well worth a look, as is the bottled 'Crop Circle' from the same place. Very nice.
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I visited the Sultan and was quite impressed, it's a bit of a time warp to the sixties! The pegboard above the bar and the very warm open fires do it for me, and i's just the place to go for a nice pint where if you wanna be miserable, be miserable, and if you wanna be happy, be happy whatever mood for a pint you are in you can have it here, if you see what i mean. Very good, be going there again. Phil the barman is brilliant.
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Premier Chat your right! A great place place for beer but your wrong about "we've lost our wombles."
They are alive and kicking and South West London Has not lost it's Wombles.
A total gangsters pub about 10-15 years ago, now a real gem. Go See!!
Bob V - 15 Nov 2003 20:51 |
Aw, come on! I've been getting in a bit earlier for the last two or three weeks.
Nice to hear that the cask breather has been removed from the Entire Stout. A very nice drop of beer.
Orinoco - 20 Oct 2003 12:59 |
A great place for a beer which are all in good nick and if you want a laugh go up to one of the locals and say "I've lost my Wombles", Orinoco will probably reply if its 20:55 on a Wednesday.
Premier Chat - 16 Oct 2003 18:23 |
This pub should be kept secret from the rest of the world - it's that good! Good beers, great atmosphere, traditional pub.
Bob - 1 Oct 2003 15:43 |
A very pleasent unpretentious and quiet pub. Excellent beers: Summer Lightning, GFB etc. well kept.
Howard - 27 Sep 2003 12:12 |
finally paid a visit last week, gobsmacked by the beer (summer lightening) superb pint and well kept. worth a visit, even more so if the barman had his charisma bypass reversed!!
Tom - 17 Sep 2003 15:28 |
A good festival last weekend. We all had a great time despite the rainshowers in the evening. Here's to many more fests in the Sultan, and keep up the good barbeques as well guys!
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There is a Beer Festival here on 5th to 7th Sept 2003. About 20 guest beers, mostly served in the garden. I think a barbeque will be running as well.
Rod - 3 Sep 2003 14:18 |
Great beer and a good place to check out. Its off the track a bit but worth it
Mick - 29 Aug 2003 16:00 |
First class 1950s suburban backstreet boozer re-opened by the Hop Back brewery since May 1994. Welcoming for locals and beer enthusiasts alike, this gem serves up a well kept range of Hop Back beers which include the famous Summer Lighting and the rarer Entire Stout. Well worth seeking out.
Ben. S. King - 3 Aug 2003 15:13 |
Great back street local. I managed to visit it on its opening night several years ago. Owned by Hop Back Brewery from Wiltshire - try the GFB and even better, Summer Lightning.
Simonf - 12 Jun 2003 14:45 |
This is an absolute gem for any part of London. Great ales from the Hopback brewery including the excellent and always available cask condition Entire Stout. Great friendy atmosphere of the old fashioned sort.
Rob Jones - 14 May 2003 20:39 |
A fine pub, but there's a pawn missing from the chess set. Can we have a new one please?
Justin - 28 Apr 2003 16:34 |
Off Haydons Road in Wimbledon, quite location. Bit of a locals pub. Tried the Summer Harvest Ale. Has the same colour as larger but good strong beer 5%. Decor dated, harmless pub, good for a quite one.
Eddie Cleal - 12 Mar 2003 18:52 |
Excellent cosy "gem" of a pub situated behind Merton High Street. Full range of Hopback beers in excellent condition, staff very friendly and welcoming. Occasional beef festivals and barbeques (especially in the summer). Paved beer garden with outdoor lighting. Public bar and lounge bar. Varied, quiet background music. No food except crisps/popadums/nuts etc. Very reasonable prices. Nearest tube station South Wimbledon or Colliers Wood then 7 minute walk from either.
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