please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Latchmere looks as if it has had a refurb in the 5 plus years since I last visited.
The left hand side of the bar area is a standard gastropub type conversion, of the sort you'd expect in this part of London.
However the right hand side of the bar area felt more like a pub, and a few people were watching the Chelsea friendly on TV.
Reasonable mix of clientele, some eating some not.
Only had one pint, the Landlord was in reasonably good order, friends had Sambrooks and said the same.
Looked a standard gastropub by numbers from the outside, but reasonably impressed.
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The pub gets a reasonable amount of trade from people going to and from the theatre upstairs.
It seemsto be trying to do a distressed Victorian appearance, but comes across as simply distressed. Food and drnk uninspiring and overpriced. Men's toilets simply unspeakable.
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Been here very recently to the threatre, the pub has been made most welcoming and the new manager has made a real effort to turn the pub into a welcoming place. There chef who has made the effort of putting up specials has improved the quality of food, (the curry was delightful) would recommend this pub and have done so, Keep up the good work
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I think its got better, food looks nice, staff are ok, and theres some legends having a few!!
dazey - 27 Aug 2011 15:55 |
This was once a great institution; so as I was in the area I went with friends for old times' sake. As I turned to my companions to say "what we having?" I realised they had already reversed out of the door.
The clue is in the cloyingly dreadful menu.
It's not what it was.
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I love the layout and decor of this pub. Great for group outings due to the space. And extremely chilled atmosphere.
But it has to be said the staff do need a good talking to. It would be a shame for such a great pub to be tainted by a few part timers.
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Visited last Friday great singer, great atmosphere, had a really enjoyable evening, nice to be back well done,
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depressing and terrible! totally chav !!!!
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Agree with all the comments to date. This pub is not worth going to. The food is horrible and it not what is stated on the menu. The manager, she is terrible and needs replacing. The bar staff are rude, like the manager.
I visited this pub a year ago and it was really good but after visiting to date, I would never go back and would never recommend. STAY AWAY.
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What has happened???? This pub used to be one of the best in south london let alone battersea. The food is now just run of the mill microwave rubbish. What happened to the chef with his fresh ingredients and top menu. As for the bar, well!!!! It seems to be run by an incompetent manager who doesn't know her arse from her elbow. She needs help and quickly. the atmosphere for the big sporting days is now ruined by a group of loud mouthed, drunk hockey players who take over the pub with their unsocialable behaviour and all their bags causing a health and safety nuisance. This just to be a fantastic place to visit, but now its a total shambles, a disaster and take my advice and stay clear at all costs.
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I have been drinking in this pub for the last year and I have to say it has really gone down. Where can I start, when I first went it was a really good pub, that is why I continued going. Firstly the food is awful and would tell anyone not to eat there. The staff, well all I can say is 'how did they get the job', they are in another world and can't be bothered with the customers. The manager, yet again 'how did she become a manager, she is useless and needs a manager to guide her. They seem they are so desperate at the moment to get customers in the door, they have hired pool tables etc etc, they don't care about customers at all.
Anyone who wants to go to a really good pub, don't go there. All I can say is they need to get good managment in there to make it good or this will be another pub that will go downhill.
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I've been to a lot of shows at Theatre503 upstairs. One of London's best small theatres, producing some great new work. Upstairs good.
But downstairs? It's gone dire. Two years ago, the chain's management decided to decree a menu from its corporate headquarters, rather than let the chef decide. Basically, the food is microwave reheat slop out of a tub (never ever order the 'risotto'), where once upon a time the chef was doing bloody fantastic things with good ingredients. It's a real shame and an example of how the idiots running things in London have led us into recession through sheer taking trade for granted. Also, it's run by an angry moron who seems to resent the theatre going punters who generally want to spend money on food and drink before and after the show! Don't worry, mate, I won't spend my money if you don't want it.
Don't let this put you off the theatre, though. There's some nice places to eat up the street and across the road.
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shocking. went in for a play at the theatre up stairs. was advised the food was good but wish had seen the warnings on here before. we waited 45 mins for food that when it turned up looked like a dogs dinner. i tried to complain but no one would give me the time of day. I was told by a member of staff that they were to busy to deal with it because of the football. An absolutelty shocking experience and my advice would be to stay away. If I could give a minus score i would.
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All I can say is the staff are terrible and the service is awful. I wish I read the reviews before I went. Stay away.
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It aint that bad, granted the food does have the look of a deserter about it, and the staff are a bit slow but as a local I have no problems atall getting served and I can go in any day of the week and meet someone I know. I remember when I could say the same about the fox and hounds, the old clock house, the cambridge and the old rising sun. So the Latchmere is a good bar for me. Two tips if you go in ask the bar staff for a drink and dont eat the food.
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I agree with all the reviews to date. Seems to be run by barstaff who have no clue and well if there is management running this, where??? Better pub across the road. Avoid at all cost.
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I wish I had read these comments before visiting. Went to see a mate who was in a short play on Saturday afternoon. The rugby was on but it wasn't mobbed. After 10 minutes queuing at the bar the barmaid, who bless her hadn't a clue, glanced at me and then served someone else ... he had just walked to the bar, myself and the two guys either side looked at each other in disbelief. I walked out and across the road and bought a bottle of water.
Have to say that the ten minutes watching operations behind the bar was hilarious. As well as forementioned barmaid there was a barman who had all the time in the world and wandered slowly back and forth with no sense of urgency.
However, my favourite was the completely confused looking studenty lad who seemed to be in charge of taking food from the kitchen to the punters. He had to ask someone behind the bar everytime where to take the food and I did watch him spend at least 2 minutes stanidng with a plate of chips looking utterley bewildered - eventually a woman waved at him said 'i think those are for us - but they're part of a bigger order' his response 'this is all that's ready' - she didn't smile.
Avoid this place at all costs - shame because a nice looking place from outside.
celt7 - 24 Nov 2008 15:51 |
reasonable wine at a fair price but not a very clean establishment. We ordered food which came out mouldy (or should that say hairy) - it was a pork and garlic sausage (part of a platter) that resembled luncheon meat before it became obvious it was actually hairy. definitely wont be going back. There is a very nice pub just over the road called the duke of cambridge which was lovely, good food and ambience and would recommend
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3 of us came here for food and drinks on Saturday. Despite waiting at a virtually empty bar we went unacknowledged for 5 or 6 minutes by the bar-staff who didn't smile, or speak to us except to tell us the price (please/thank you anyone?). We asked to order food around 3pm; there was some initial confusion as to what food, if any, was being served (although the signage advertises food served 12-9pm on the weekend). Their 'signature' burger was unavailable, so a meat meze platter was ordered. When said platter arrived (food plonked on the table, not so much as a word) it appeared to be a piece of chicken in a bun, so was sent back, and we asked to cancel the platter order. It turned up anyway, and was several slices of the most rancid cured sausage (greasy white sheen on every piece) I have ever seen, seemingly hacked off with something as blunt as a pair of safety scissors, and not only that, but one slice was covered in black, furry mould.
We returned it to the bar, got no apology, then decided to leave, but had to clear up our tab, I was refused a request to speak to the manager (busy in the kitchen apparently - cultivating listeria I presume), and told I had to pay for food that we had already eaten, I refused, we paid for our drinks and left.
To cap it all off the place was full of people who thought that occupying the thoroughfare from the pub to the toilets with their sports bags and toddlers was a considerate way to behave.
Avoid at all costs
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Paid a visit to this pub last Saturday. What a vast disappointment. The service was painfully slow. When we eventually did get served, the miserable bar maid got our order wrong - how anybody can mishear "Two bottles of Bulmers Please" baffles me. Which brings me to the draught ales. The majority of the pumps were empty> You must know the scenario - a half pint glass paced precariously over the pump. Well this was practically an entire bar of half pint glasses.
The barmaid constantly swore as she worked, the barman was ignorant in the extreme. The TVs were tuned into some back of beyond footie game - and even though they had no sound, a gaggle of brain dead chav types were STILL gawping at the screen as though their very existence depended on never missing a second of football if its on a TV near them.
So a very disappointing zero score - and a pub I have no intension of ever returning to!
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Went to this pub last night as it was the only place in Battersea showing the Croatia v England game.
From my opening sentence you would hazard a guess that this would mean the place was packed, it was. It's just a shame the manager didn't have the same foresight. I have never seen a pub so busy since drinking at my Students Union it was at least five deep at the bar.
Which would beg the question, why only have three people serving? The area behind the bar could have coped with at least 8-9 bar staff and to be fair, they would have paid for themselves if I had managed to buy a round.
I left at half time and won't be going back. Shambolic.
Also bizarrely it has no atmosphere despite having screens everywhere.
Good opportunity missed.
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The best thing about the Latchmere is Eddie the quiz master, who mastermind's Thursday's pub quiz.
The worst thing is a certain member of bar staff who is consistently rude and unhelpful (just the one woman). Whatever you do, don't dare ask for the rest of the bottle when ordering 2 glasses of wine - you'll be met with short shrift - despite this offer clearly being stated on their menu.
Read your trading standards and remove the item from your menu - or deal with this one particular unpleasant staff member who ruins this regular's experience.
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fantastic pub for the rugby and what a great atmosphere on a saturday night. had few cracking pints of guinness and lovely sharing platter during the game. if you haven't been to the rugby at the latchmere then get down there, i know i won't miss a game.
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huge projector screen and tv's all around mean its a great place for sport.beer is the standard fare reasonably priced for the area
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had awesome time during world cup final. what an atmosphere. so busy you couldn't move. took a while getting a drink but understandable cos it was so busy.
a top pub for rugby. will be back even show club rugby. not many pubs do that. keep up the good work folks
anonymous - 23 Oct 2007 23:37 |
Learn how to use punctuation before you post.
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this has to be a second pub around battersea that i really like great food excellent staff and a great atmosphere i also noticed that there was a theatre upstairs so next time i come back ile check it out but overall ile be coming back i really enjoyed the experiance like i did in the asparagus pub but word of advice ile never go to that pub called the merick arms up further falcon road absolutely shambolic
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what a fantastic pub. just watched the FA Cup final here. great food, brilliant service and awesome atmosphere. will definately be back. take my advice and get yourself down the latchmere for a great night.
anonymous - 20 May 2007 23:39 |
just been to the latchmere for the 1st time. went in for the man utd game and we lost but what a great day. had the beef roast and it was fantastic. the roast potatoes were awesome. if you want one make sure you get there early cos i noticed they were sold out when i left. we be back for FA Cup final on sat as they have a bbq as well. thanks
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top pub for rugby. had cracking time during the 6 nations. nice abd busy but still able to get a drink quickly. great beer, great food and an awesome atmosphere. top marks for new managers. keep it up. will definately be back.
anonymous - 22 Mar 2007 16:01 |
new managers have taken over and are slowly turning it into a great boozer. they have made more effort in their opening few weeks then the previous manager. keep up the good work and the latchmere will be the place to be. good luck
anonymous - 18 Feb 2007 22:11 |
nice pub, great for sports and lovely beer garden, prices reasonable compared to other pubs in the area.
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As a pub, this place is completely forgettable - just one ale on when I went and not much atmosphere. The upstairs toilets were pretty nasty.
Does play host to a small theatre however, which is pretty cool, but overall a bit more care and attention is needed in here; especially with so many alternatives nearby.
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Decidedly average with average beer and average prices. Quite nice decor, but for some reason I've never been all that keen on light and airy pubs. Not really much in the way of atmosphere.
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Recently reopened after a refurb...don't know why they bothered...
Free cabaret after the recent Chelsea v Liverpool CL match - 2 customers took exception to each other and the result was an overturned table, smashed glasses and one of the customers getting his head split open.
(I don't know why they don't turn the upstairs theatre into a brothel, make it a Wild West theme pub and be done with it...)
Average (expensive) beer, average food and service - won't be rushing back...
anonymous - 11 Dec 2005 11:47 |
Came here to see a comedy show in July upstairs. The range of ale was poor (just one on tap I seem to remember). The downstairs area was OK, but the upstairs was a lot better and seemed more relaxed. However I'm unsure whether this can be used unless one is attending a show that evening.
anonymous - 14 Aug 2005 16:30 |
great pub, food and environment have improved since new guy took over, great for sports. garden looking great, worth a visit
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I have been going to this pub for three years and have never been acknowledged as being a local by the bar staff. I generally go to watch the football on the big screen. It's a nice enough pub, but quite unfriendly. Upon saying that, I had one evening where four very very scary drunk Chelsea fans decided that my boyfriend and I were their new best friends. One of them (the fattest one) trousers fell down. I kid you not. However these people are not atypical of the usual locals. Slightly snooty, slightly lacking in atmosphere, but probably the best choice in the local area.
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I don't like this pub at all. It's overpriced by about 2 pounds on food itmes and 40 pence on the beer. I was poured a Guinness with a two-inch loaf of bread and had to get another member of staff to correct that little situation for me. It seemed full of South London posers and the feel of a 'make believe' pub and not an 'actual' pub.
Tim - 1 Oct 2004 18:07 |
A decent pub that has improved greatly over the last year or so.
Bar staff are good and the landlord is a huge improvement on the stiff who ran the place a few years back.
All the TV/football games are shown, so if you like a pint and some football this is a good place to visit.
The real ales are limited - and it does get smokey.
But one of the better places in Battersea
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Was a bit annoyed to have the commentary from the Football on during France vs Ireland 6 Nations game, especially as we were sat infront of a large advert for the game, staff have on two occasions been happy to change the channel to watch something else.
Jon - 16 Mar 2004 21:57 |
Upstairs theatre presents comedy on Monday nights which seem popular. Plenty of Sport coverage on TV (if you like that sort of thing). New management has improved the pub greatly compared to this time last year. Staff friendly and service good.
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Quick service and football always on, nothing else to add on this one.
David - 9 Jan 2004 07:54 |
A good general boozer for drinks and sport watching. Popular but you can usually get a seat. Also has patio garden. Downsides are that it can get too smoky and real ales are poor.
Chas - 31 Oct 2003 09:09 |
'THE' football pub in Battersea. Food is reasonably priced, but theirs no decent real ale! Staff can be a bit stroppy at times too.
dan - 14 Oct 2003 14:56 |
A good old fashioned pub, very dark wood inside, but non-threatening - a good venue to watch a big footie game... they also have a theatre upstairs with some excellent stand up comedy for only �5 or something - so the crowd is a good mix - sports fans, theatre fans, and locals... never eaten here, so not sure on the food, but it's not a bad pub at all...
Jacob - 30 Jul 2003 08:47 |
