One afternoon in September I ventured out by train to West Brompton (Overground via Clapham Junction). The plan was to visit a Good Beer Guide pub that I had never been to before. Leaving the station, it happened to be the first pub that I came to, the Lillie Langtry (SW6 1UE). I hadn’t previously visited this pub because it didn’t sell real ale but now it does and it’s in the GBG! It’s a square, three storey building painted cream with sun shades covering the front outdoor drinking area. It was built in 1835 as the Lillie Arms but was renamed in 1979 and is now run by Stonegate. Inside there is a three sided central bar matching the general shape of the bar area. The actual bar looks original, albeit painted pale green, and there is a nice teak-looking bar back with two arched recesses with clear mirrors.
Overall it’s all quite eclectic in style, with a dark wood tiled polished floor but carpeted to the side. There is quite a mixture of seating, ranging from front room settees, high and low benches and basic bar stools. The lower walls are dark brown, the upper a fairly dark green. The ceiling is white, with one half having an embossed design and there is also a skylight. The side wall is covered with shelves, holding plaques with food names and various paintings. There are some unusual chandeliers and a bank of file drawers, which may have been for pills and tablets. There were three ales on, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Twickenham Naked Ladies and the one that I went for, Park Brewery Poet’s Corner. It was £5.20 and it was good. There were several other customers in this pleasant enough pub. Not a bad start.
On leaving, I continued in the same direction along Lillie Road for about five minutes or so to North End Road and what is now called the Goose (SW6 1NL), standing on a very busy junction. Previously it had been named the Goose & Granite, Fulham Tap, Fulham Volunteer and originally the Crown. It is now a Red Cat pub. It’s a three storey sandstone brick building with white stone window surrounds, with the pub level painted dark blue. Inside it is surprisingly large, done out in a very traditional style in a general L shape, with an inner L shaped dark wood bar. This has a mirrored bar back and a large gold framed mirror. The floor is of polished dark wood but with one half carpeted. The seating is mainly dark wood and leather, with high and low chairs and leather benches. There is high wood panelling covering most of the wall and, going to the rear, on the way to the garden, there are some nice cosy booths. Supporting the ceiling are three iron columns with ornate tops. Again, there were several customers. I had the choice of two ales, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Doom Bar. I went for the Landlord but it went off so it had to be the Doom Bar which, at a reasonable £4.10, was actually very good.
Carrying on down Lillie Road I found the Rylston (SW6 7LW), previously called the Norman Arms. This is a rather unusual two storey, flat roofed corner building, painted cream, with sunshades all around. Going inside, there is a three sided island bar. It’s all very contemporary, with dark wood furniture, high and low seating and a dark wood floor with chequered tiles around the bar. The walls are pale grey-green, as is the ceiling. The only beer on was Sambrook’s Pumphouse which, at £4.80, was very good. There weren’t many in but the barperson was quite chatty and I was told that they intend getting another real ale on, so perhaps this is one worth keeping an eye on.
From here I cut through to Dawes Road and to the Mitre (SW6 7DU), an impressive black and white Tudor style building, standing on a corner of a three way junction. I remember coming here nineteen years ago, in 2003, when it was the final pub on a nine pub crawl. I suspect that it was a pint in each one as I made my way from Hammersmith to Fulham. On that day I had the choice of GK IPA, Bass and London Pride, at a whopping £2.80, the most expensive beer of that day. The music was rather predominant and this has not changed. All quite unnecessary I felt. The decor is all quite dark, with lots of green and a varnished wood floor. There is a three sided central bar with pale tiles around it. The ceiling is low and white and, in the front area, it has an embossed pattern. There are also some original leaded windows. There is a kitchen to one side and the pub is obviously aiming at an upmarket clientele. As I approached the bar, I was asked, “London Pride sir?” “Right first go” I replied. How very perceptive of him. It was in fact the only cask ale on and, at £5.20, it was very good. The barman added that it was his father’s favourite ale so I must have fitted into that age bracket. The pub was quite busy.
This was my last visit of the day, so no nine pints this time. I headed to Fulham Broadway for the train home. Once again an interesting afternoon out visiting a couple of new pubs and some that I hadn’t been to for some while.
Clive Taylor