Across the Commons
Pubs in Barnes, Roehampton, Putney, Wimbledon Village & Raynes Park
PUBS IN SW13 and SW14(PART) BARNES
This printout of the online version of Across the Commons has been updated by information reported up to January 2010. To buy the printed version of any of our local guides go to the CAMRA on-line shop at http://shop.camra.org.uk/
Eventually we will have all the pubs in our area available on-line via the very useful www.whatpub.org website. We intend this to be the most up-to-date pubs listing available for South West London pubs.
For now we now have UPDATED on-line versions of the three earliest publications available on this website. Either use the Pubs drop down menu at the top of any page for direct links to the on-line pubs lists or click the links below for a list of the pubs in the relevant postcode area:
If you spot any errors or omissions in our listings please contact our Pubs Officer, Geoff Strawbridge geoff.strawbridge@camraswl.org.uk, with the details.
TRANSPORT
Stations: Barnes, Barnes Bridge (NR)
Access is easy by bus or National Rail. Use the TfL Journey Planner to find your way.
ABOUT THE AREA
Between Fulham and Mortlake the Thames makes a great loop enclosing a pimple of land which forms a sort of inverted western equivalent of the Isle of Dogs, and on which lies Barnes.
Many people just see it as a place which the boat race crews annually fight their way past, others just notice the former reservoirs, now the Wetlands Centre by the river, but in the south west corner there lies one of London’s most attractive ‘villages’, with its duckpond, church, green spaces, riverside walk and a nice range of pubs.
In the south east corner the Common and Barn Elms Park together provide a large open space and lend a very rural aspect to Barnes station. For the road-borne, Hammersmith suspension bridge is the only way across the river between Chiswick and Putney Bridges, but pedestrians and cyclists can also cross via Barnes Railway Bridge.
In the south west corner of our Barnes area, the Halfway House belongs to an enclave of the neighbouring SW14 postal district stretching from East Sheen.
PUBS
Pubs are listed in alphabetical order.
Facilities are coded under each real ale pub entry:
NR/LU/TL - Rail, tube or tram station within 1/2 mile:
AC - Accommodation
CP - Own car park:
DF - Disabled access + WC
FA - Children welcome:
GD - Garden or outdoor drinking area
SN - Snacks (sandwiches, pies etc):
ML - Lunchtime meals
ME - Evening meals:
RS - Restaurant
FR - Function room:
PB - Separate public bar
PG - Traditional pub games:
QP - Quiet pub
RI - Regional Inventory:
LocAle - CAMRA LocAle Accredited
BRIDGE
204 Castelnau
SW13 9DW
Tel: 020-8563 9811
12-12 (12-11.30 Sun)
S&N Pub Enterprises (Calendar Leisure)
Adnams Broadside; Greene King Ruddles Best Bitter; Wells Bombardier
Formerly the Bridge Tavern (originally Bridge Hotel), this pub’s name was shortened by the current owners in 2002 to suggest more than just an old-style tavern, offering as it does an excellent range of food all day, including weekend brunch and a children’s menu. But not all customers dine, many going for the comprehensive wine list and cocktails as well as the well kept beers. On entering you can progress from the bar to the lounge and then the dining room. The garden beyond has a large decked area and is very popular in summer months.
LU(Hammersmith)
DF FA SN ML ME
BROWN DOG
28 Cross Street
SW13 OAP
Tel: 020-8392 2200; Website: www.thebrowndog.co.uk
12-11, 12-10.30 Sun
Free (Cinnamon Bars London Ltd)
Adnams Bitter; Fuller’s London Pride
A December 2006 conversion of a former Victorian local, called for many years the Rose of Denmark, this is now operating under its new name as a bar and dining room. Licensee is keen to promote real ale. A guest beer is envisaged, and a small scale spring beer festival. On entering by the ‘front’ door you are in the bar area, whilst the dining room off to the right has also a side door still marked ‘The Rose Bar’, reflecting its most recent name when in use purely as a pub. The dining room is in use 12-3 and 7-10 weekdays, all day Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday. There is a rear concreted garden area that will presumably be brought into use in due course. Until recently, simply the Rose and previously, briefly, a speciality fish restaurant called Gouramy’s.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
FA GD ML ME
BULL’S HEAD
373 Lonsdale Road
SW13 9PY
Tel: 020-8876 5241; Website: www.thebullshead.com
12-11 every day
Young
Young’s Bitter, Special, Seasonal Beers
This imposing riverside pub dating from 1845, now protected from high tides by a concrete wall across the road, towers over the adjacent corner building that used to be the Watermans Arms. For many years a jazz venue of world renown, it still attracts ‘names’ to what is now called the Yamaha Jazz Room at the back (admission fee payable). Meals served throughout the day; evening menu is popular Thai food from the adjoining Stable ‘bistro’.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
ML ME
CASTELNAU
1 Lonsdale Road
SW13 9ER
Tel: 020-8748 4486; Website: www.laubergecastelnau.co.uk
10-11.30 Sun-Thu, 10-12 Fri & Sat
Massive
Caledonian Deuchars IPA; Fuller’s London Pride
The Boileau Hotel, built in 1842, has undergone several transformations and changes of name in recent years and now, in its latest guise as the Castelnau, incorporates l’Auberge, a high quality French restaurant. The pub area is large and open-plan with mixed seating. To the left on entering from the pillared Lonsdale Road entrance is the sports TV area, but that does not intrude on the rest of the pub. Steps lead down to the very attractive garden, once designated the best in London by Time Out. Restaurant (non-smoking) and a bar menu are available lunchtimes and evenings daily, with a brunch menu to 4pm at weekends. There is a jazz band on Sunday afternoons. The ales apparently do not sell well in summer and may not then be available. Formerly Porterhouse Brewing Co, Browns, Garden House and Boileau Arms, a Harvester pub in the early 1990s, it was previously the Old Rangoon for a few years.
LU(Hammersmith)
CP DF FA GD SN ML ME RS
COACH & HORSES
27 Barnes High Street
SW13 9LW
Tel: 020-8876 2695
11-12, 12-12 Sun
Young
Wells Bombardier, Young’s Bitter, Special, Seasonal Beers - RAiB: Kew Gold, Special London Ale
This former coaching inn, first mentioned in local records in 1776 and one of only 28 pubs initially owned by Young & Bainbridge in 1831, is now a single-bar pub retaining dark wood panelling and leaded stained-glass windows. If the pub looks small, the award-winning garden certainly does not, entered under a grapevine arch and having a selection of seating areas, a well-equipped children’s play area and even room for playing petanque. The function room at the back was once a skittle alley. Summer weekend barbecues are very popular; at other times meals and snacks are always available in the pub, and you can play a selection of board games.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
GD SN ML ME QP
IDLE HOUR
62-63 Railway Side
SW13 0PQ
Tel: 020-8878 5555
6-11 Mon-Wed, 6-12 Thu, 5-1am Fri & Sat, 12-4 and 7-11 Sun
Enterprise
Adnams Bitter
To turn a Victorian community pub in a passageway in the back streets into a modern gastropub would seem to be ambitious, but that is what has been done since 2001 to the former Manor Arms. The eclectic organic evening menu is supplemented by Sunday lunchtime roasts and occasional spit-roasts in the large walled garden. There is music on Saturday evenings. It can be reached from the station (south side) by a pathway running parallel to the railway.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
GD ME
RED LION
2 Castelnau
SW13 9RU
Tel: 020-8748 2984
11-11, 12-10.30 Sun
Fuller
Fuller’s Discovery, London Pride, ESB, Seasonal Beers
Originally an hotel and a free house until 1978, this landmark Georgian pub standing at the entrance to the Wetland Centre has been opened out in recent years although the rear room still has a more exclusive feel. Off that is a decked outdoor patio area and the large garden. Excellent food is always available from a varied, modern menu, and children are welcome in the daytime.
CP DF FA SN ML ME
SUN INN
7 Church Road
SW13 9HE
Tel: 020-8876 5256
12-11 Mon-Wed, 12-12 Thu, Fri and Sun, 11-12 Sat
Mitchells & Butlers
Adnams Broadside; Greene King IPA; Young’s Bitter; Westons Organic Vintage Cider
Overlooking Barnes Pond, this pub was originally a Georgian ‘coffee house’ but has sold beer since around 1776. In 1989 it won a CAMRA award for refurbishment but all the bric-a-brac and curiosities have now gone, apart from the miniature elephant that serves as a bar stool, leaving the interior somewhat at odds with the antiquity of the Grade II listed building. However it is still welcoming, with some attractive lighting effects. Food is available until late, except 4-5 weekdays.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
CP DF FA GD SN ML ME
TREE HOUSE
73 White Hart Lane
SW13 0PW
Punch
No real ale
Formerly Edinburgh Castle
WHITE HART (YE)
The Terrace
SW13 0NR
Tel: 020-8876 5177
11-12 (12-12 Sun)
Young
Wells Bombardier, Young’s Bitter, Special, Seasonal Beers
The White Hart has been a riverside landmark since built in 1899, replacing a pub that had stood since 1662. Almost on the Boat Race finishing line and opposite boathouses it has always attracted waterborne and towpath custom, although no longer having its own steamboat pier. It is an imposing four-storey building with riverside verandahs and even tables on the towpath, and a first floor ballroom accessed, as are the toilets, by steps in a corner turret. It won the Young’s ‘Wine Pub of the Year’ award in 1998/9, the food menu is comprehensive and popular and children 14 and over are welcome.
NR(Barnes Bridge)
GD SN ML ME QP
This guide is published by the South West London Branch of CAMRA and copyright and all other rights are reserved to the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd (2007-2009). No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means - electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd.
