Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
Proof positive that you should never judge a book by its cover. The olde cream exterior and translucent windows suggest the kind of pub you're better off walking past. Nothing could be further from the truth. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The bar staff are unfailingly lovely and helpful, while the regulars all banter back and forth like the oldest of friends (which they possibly are).
This is a terrific space for drinking. Sporting gimcracks and Irish keepsakes (the owner Con Riordan is from Limerick) pepper, but don't overwhelm, the pub. The cosy front bar holds around five tables, and encourages inter-group conversation. The rear area is larger, and more gregarious, especially when the sport is showing. The draw for those not lucky enough to live nearby is the ale. The choice and husbandry of the tipples is so good that the BHT has won awards from CAMRA, while the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood recently declared it the best in London.
