Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
You can't miss the Greyhound. (Well, you can if you never visit Carshalton, but that would be your loss.) It dominates the south side of the ponds, and virtually calls out to be visited. It has done since the early 18th century, when its presence is first recorded. As a plaque outside relates, this was once an important sporting pub, where horses would be inspected ahead of racing on Banstead Downs.

The current part-weatherboarded building is early Victorian and presents a series of rooms tastefully decked out for lounging or dining. The Grade II-listed building is run by the Young's chain, and offers the usual tipples and decent gastropub fare you can always expect in its branches. The difference here is that the pub is more of an adjunct to the larger hotel that hovers over it. The clientele are as likely to be guests as locals.

The Greyhound comes with a sizeable beer garden, including a number of horseshoe-shaped pods and wooden booths that can be used even in the rain.


