please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Was asked to move from a table because 'people will be eating in a minute' Bit harsh as there was no one in the place and my wife is clearly pregnant. 3 quid for a pint and they place more emphasis on the diners ? Hardly a pub more a shitty restaurant.
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I recently returned to the Wimbledon area and was delighted to note that the Fox and Grapes is still the best kept secret in London. Perfectly kept beers, the food looks and smells fantastic, the staff are friendly and efficient and the manager (Jason) just goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome... Still a strong rugby following and a bunch of regulars that I remember from way back. More great times to come I think :)
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I like this pub, well kept beer, nice choice excluding the usual Youngs, Bombardier etc so common in these parts. Hogsback TEA, Doom Bar and others. Food is fine and am told is even better recently, the best thing though is Jason the landlord and his staff - so often this is the make or break of a place and they certainly make it!
Seant - 16 Apr 2008 23:02 |
Used to be a regular here just over a year ago but stopped coming for various reasons. Returned recently, and was pleasantly surprised. I had a fantastic meal and was happy to see a good selection of real ales available. The friendliness of the staff and relaxed atmosphere really sold it for me. Have since returned a number of times, the latest being during the 6nations - an unbelievable atmosphere!!
I find some of the previous comments rather bizarre considering the great experience I have had at this pub recently.
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Really superb location on the Common, but not a very nice pub, really. Hard to put your finnger on why, but this place could be so much better.
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I'd had an average meal at the fox & grapes before but thought that I would give it another try. Went with a group. The meal took over an hour to come & when it did most of it was stone cold. My food was uncooked. I sent it back & got a small portion of fish & chips. There were mutterings from the staff about the chef. They knocked 20% off the bill and gave us free puds and coffees which were cold. Never again!
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Its nicely situated on the edge of The Common, 2 rooms split by a central bar, but very food oriented and as others have said, pricey too. I didn't partake but seeing £12.95 for a burger on the menu I wasn't tempted to either.
The beer range is refreshing in this Youngs dominated area, a couple of mainstreams in Directors and GK IPA, but TT Landlord, Sharp's Doombar and Welton's Old Cocky available on my visit.
Sports prints on the walls all a bit SW19, ie Tennis and "rugger". The lounge bar layout is full of symmetrically placed square tables, sadly to me making the impression of a dining room rather than a relaxing bar.
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Lovely pub - some great beers which are well looked after, and lovely surroundings.
The food... Hmmm... Now it's delicious. Really nice, well presented. Don't get me wrong - this was good food. Clearly someone knows their stuff in the kitchen.
But there's a but. It's small portions and expensive ones at that. My main course cost about £12 and was fishcakes. And for that you get... two fishcakes in a stack with spinach inbetween and hollondaise sauce.
And that's it! No salad. No potatoes or chips. Just two fishcakes. For £12.
C'mon! You're having a laugh here! This is not a gormet restaurant - it's a pub tucked right in the corner of Wimbledon Village, right on the opposite side of the common. To get to it you have to walk along muddy paths or drive. The Dog and Fox right in the heart of the village charges about the same prices for bigger portions. The Hand in Hand does far bigger portions at less of a price and their food is excellent too.
Yes it's a lovely pub for a pint, but sorry, I'll be doing my eating elsewhere. And unless you're a city banker or work in insurance and have money to burn, I'd suggest everyone does overwise.
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I visited the Fox and Grapes for the first time a few days ago with some friends and cannot praise it highly enough. The beers were excellent and the staff were both friendly and professional. It seems the perfect place to finish a walk across Wimbledon Common.
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A real Tolkienesque gem allowing the drinker to escape the wonders of modern london life. Cosy and heartwarming, this pub offers a superb range of real ales, often from Cornish breweries. The manager and his staff make it, as they are friendly, chatty and polite, despite being busy. A happy corner in what can seem miserable south london. Well done.
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I was really impressed with this pub! the curry was so delicious! clean pub and we had leather chairs so comfy! good service and infuture will take all our overseas guests there. We have tried the hand in hand and crooked b but their food is too shocking for words and the service does not exist! this is the only pub in wimbledon common I would eat at again well done management!
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Drink there, but don't eat there. The beer is marvellous, and a great variety of it too, but the food was dreadful for a lot of reasons - overcooked, overpriced and took 2 hours to get to the main course. When we complained, we were told we were being "unreasonable". I won't be going back.
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What a great pub!! Came here for the first time after walking on the common. I was greeted by friendly staff and was impressed by the selection of fine Ales. I look forward to coming back again.
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Bit harsh me thinks Miles, I was in there too on New Years day and it was packed out with a great atmosphere, the staff were under pressure so I dont begrudge a few glasses on the bar. The Harveys was tasty and unusual to find round here, earlier that week they had Landlord, Twickenham Ale, Weltons, Directors and Harveys! If they can keep a selection like that available without running so low in the future I am happy to pay £3 a pint rather than go to a cheaper bland Youngs refurb hell pub. The layout is much better than before, they have lost the long tables and food was good.
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Went here yesterday.What a dump! If you like standing at a bar full of used glasses that are never cleared away with only one beer on (Harvey's)at £3 a fucking pint then this is the place for you. Needless to say I stayed for one then beat a hasty retreat.
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This used to be one of my very favourite pubs, but I think that it lost a lot of its character when they got rid of the armchairs next to the fireplace and introduced long pine tables and benches. Made it look more like an Octoberfest venue than a pub. But the Hogsback TEA was very good, and it is a welcome watering hole after a long walk over the common.
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Lovely pub in a lovely location on Wimbledon Common. It looks small from the outside but on the inside there are 2 areas. One is a high ceilinged hall-like room and the other is a lower ceilinged snugger non-smoking room. They had Harveys, Landlord, Some courage stuff and a couple of less familiar ales on. Something from Twickenham I think. One of the handpumps is a cricket bat, in case anyone likes that kind of thing. The barman seemed to be quite into his ale so that must be a good sign. Only been to drink the once though.
Note to widescreen, don't bother there are no tvs here fool!!!
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After a day tramping across the common it was nice to come into a nice warm pub and be greeted by friendly staff and a nice selection of ales; shame that 2 of the ones I tried were either at the bottom of the barrel or needed the pipes changing.
I must admit it was weird as the main bar is a fairly large spacey room and there were only a couple of others in there. It just felt a bit weird. Maybe because from the outside I was expecting a pokey front bar and massive beer garden.
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Great pub, Tim Taylors was on good form during my last visit (I am there about once a week). The food is as always excellent. I would recommend the F&G above all other pubs in Wimbledon Village.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2006 21:49 |
This a top rank pub. Although not a regular (I don't live close enough), I've gone here on a regular basis over the last 4 years. It has to be considered as a partner to the common, not as an idealised country pub. The atmosphere is friendly with a diverse clientele, (locals with their dogs, young families, couples,etc.) all drop in for food and drink after an relaxing walk on the common.
The food is always very good and ventures well beyond the tradition pub cuisine. The beer (I don't drink lager) was only OK, I was expecting it to be better kept given that the pub is always busy.
All in all a good experience.
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There is nothing necessarily wrong with this pub, but somehow I left disappointed. Mainly because, not being a local, when you see the location on the map, you think it's going to be one of those rambling, open, country-type pubs with a lovely view accross the common. But as far as I could see, there wasn't even a beer garden.
The pub itself is nice enough, and although I didn't eat there, the food did look and smell delicious. The staff were friendly, it was clean and tidy, the atmosphere was nice enough. It just wasn't what I'd expected.
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Best pub on wimbledon common. I have fond memories of coming here on hot summer evenings and enjoying the beers. The hand in hand is also a good pub but my judgement is clouded by my rose tinted spectacles!
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I love this place, so cozy and charming-one MAJOR downside is the total lack of consideration to non meat eaters on menu. Only 1 meal out of 11 is suitable for veggies and is the totally predictable and uninspiring- wait for it.. yup you guessed it- mushroom risotto with parmesan shavings! How often is this the only dish aimed at veggies.
When will restaurants (as most pubs now cater marvellously for veggies) realise that over 10% of Brits are full time strict veggies with around 250,000 per week going on trial /semi permanent non meat diets. To offer only 1 dish from a selection of 12 suitable for veggies is an insult and really ruined my perspective of this place.
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I do not agree with the last posting. The food has never been better and the locals at the bar all disappear in the early evening. Sunday roasts are tremendous.For friendly service this is still the most welcoming pub in Wimbledon
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the clientel who frequent this pub make it very difficult to enjoy a one time stop as it is a locals pub and they are very guarded against new custom. the young aussie couple who took over after the long kiwi manager did little to improve the place and sucked up too much to the drunks at the bar. ony go here if you want your money to feel unappreciated and your presence overlooked.
anonymous - 31 Jan 2006 08:11 |
Great pub - very dog friendly, our 13 wk old chocolate lab has been accepted with open arms, and the occasional sip of beer. Food is excellent. As someone else noted - if you can't afford it... sod off.
Great menu from a good chef, beer is average pub beer - nothing special, wines are pretty good, and the locals are pretty friendly. It's at the back of the common, so you're best to walk.
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Great pub this one and a Chav free zone. Also if you are a dog lover this is the pub for you.
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I believe that chavball is "A game played on a rectangular field with net goals at either end in which two teams of 11 players each try to drive a ball into the other's goal by kicking, heading, or using any part of the body except the arms and hands. The goalie is the only player who may touch or move the ball with the arms or hands" as opposed to the preferred rugger "A game played by two teams of 15 players each on a rectangular field 110 yards long with goal lines and goal posts at either end, the object being to run with an oval ball across the opponent's goal line or kick it through the upper portion of the goal posts, with forward passing and time-outs not permitted.", or "form of football played with an oval ball"
Jolly good pub which sells great beer (although their recent addition of T.E.A. is not as nice as the 6X it replaced). I do, however, enjoy a pint of 1664 on a hot summer's afternoon.
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Whats chavball Neil,you stuck-up ponce.And you don't even drink proper beer
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Great Hogs Back TEA on tap and lovely food but yes the toxic toilet smell is a big problem!
anonymous - 19 Nov 2004 17:29 |
Disgusting smell in the back bar , we mentioned it to the landlord 4 weeks ago and last night revisited to find it is still a problem and worse !
The smell is now quite toxic and other people were talking about it and like us moved to another pub after 1 drink.
This is a serious comment and should not be taken as pointless !
G Atter - 4 Oct 2004 17:40 |
4 yuppies!
Bob - 4 Oct 2004 15:20 |
Great atmosphere with strong ties to the local neighborhood. Extensive wine sellection and good food.
Dan - 4 Oct 2004 08:57 |
Fantastic for sitting out on the windowsills in summer drinking very well kept Kronenbourg. Great big screen inside for watching the rugger (occasionally they put on chavball when there are England internationals too but under duress). Food is excellent if slightly expensive but then if you can't afford it then what are you doing in Wimbledon? Slightly odd toilet smell in the lower bar which is probably due to the fact it's non smoking.
Neil - 24 Sep 2004 14:22 |
Brilliant food- yes pricy but worth it. The burger is amazing! good wine list, i enjoy comeing there everytime
Nic - 8 Sep 2004 15:58 |
Proper looking pub with cosy atmosphere. Choice of ales from which I chose Bombardier but wasn't impressed - it should have been a good change from all those pints of Youngs elsewhere. Menu looked expensive but then there still quite a few people eating.
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I used to enjoy a quality ale in here a few years ago.
I’m a bit disconcerted that there are a few complaints about it as the atmosphere in here and the food used to be spiffing.
It’s a real shame that this has happened to this pub as it was amazing.
Mark - 16 Jul 2004 15:23 |
Very pleasant traditional pub; friendly staff, good ale and wine list, although choice of lager is rather disappointing.
Food is also very good, the menu is limited but lovely, especially recommend the steak with onion marmalade. The open fire is also top.
Daniel - 12 Feb 2004 17:44 |
Used to be an ace boozer. Wimbledon's FA Cup Winning team (including Vinnie Jones,John Fashanu, and Dennis Wise for those who don't know) famously "had a few" in here the night before the Final in 1988. Unfortunately it's now rubbish, with imported moody staff and to-be-ignored overpriced food. Now populated solely, it seems, by bitter middle-aged dog-walkers. Bah humbug.
Alex - 6 Jan 2004 12:34 |
Best pub in the WORLD ! Miss it a a lot.
One of the crazy norwegians...
Ketil Vindenes - 9 Dec 2003 12:05 |
This used to be a great pub, but now the food is overpriced for what it is, the toilets are filthy and the staff uninterested.
Real shame.
Ju - 7 Nov 2003 14:07 |
Fantastic pub. Food is a bit more expensive than the average pub food, but worth every penny. I recommend the Sunday roast. But get there early. Excellent touch with the grandstand during the rubgy world cup
Sean - 5 Nov 2003 09:50 |
Great food, great atmosphere.
Excellent wine selection and nice to find someone that actually appreciates it.
Mel - 11 Sep 2003 17:43 |
Its a great pub ... Kiwi chef too which means you can pick up a feed of NZ green lipped mussels! Cosey atmosphere - great for a pint after a stroll on the common!
Jude - 8 May 2003 16:04 |
Old man's pub
FoxyChick - 17 Apr 2003 19:33 |
Used to be our favourite haunt for years but under new management it became pricier for less, not-as-nice food; staff could care less; management seemed interested in attracting a crowd that we weren't interested in being part of. Sad turn of events, never been back.
A Local - 28 Feb 2003 08:21 |
Rather expensive - £11 quid for a burger & chips - Be Warned!
LEE NEWTON - 21 Feb 2003 16:56 |
Excellent pub, the less people who know about it the better - please remove it from your list!
Scooby - 10 Feb 2003 12:37 |
The best venison and red currant pie I ever ate.
The only one too. So fresh it must've been road kill from Richmond Park.
Oliver Hogg - 16 Jan 2003 14:19 |
Excellent pub, real country atmosphere - highly recommended.
Anna McDermott - 10 Jun 2002 12:20 |
A bit scary, one of those pubs where everyone inside knows everyone else and you're a complete outisder. Rather stuck in the middle of no-where - no public transport nearby.
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