Latchmere, Battersea

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user reviews of the Latchmere, Battersea

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

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
e1122334455 - 13 Oct 2008 14:12
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

mazlaws - 13 Oct 2008 12:04
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!
Mr.Raffles - 16 Sep 2008 20:59
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.
Mhum - 11 Sep 2008 10:13
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.
eddiesgal - 26 Jun 2008 14:39
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.
wombat - 18 Feb 2008 00:32
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
letmein - 31 Dec 2007 12:46
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.
Quinno - 4 Sep 2007 23:19
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
lamp - 4 Sep 2007 22:39
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
wombat - 13 May 2007 22:23
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.
BLOTTO - 29 Aug 2006 13:01
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.
Quinno - 11 Apr 2006 21:26
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.
Muzthing - 12 Dec 2005 11:38
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
BLOTTO - 31 May 2005 18:43
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.
roxy - 2 Mar 2005 12:16
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
andrew1961 - 15 Sep 2004 23:02
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.
andrew1961 - 25 Jan 2004 13:05
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

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