The Duke's Head
I promised a slightly biased point of view of London pubs (at least to start with). They tell you to write about what you know, and I've spent the better part of 5 years living in SW London, and currently call Putney, along the Thames, home, so i've decided to start with my little local pub. A gorgeous old building that sits right on the River Thames, and also the starting point of the boat race (warning: if you are like me and go to Putney to escape the crowds of London, it does feel like the entirety of London descends upon Putney and the Duke's Head on that one day per year).
The beer. They've got a good selection of beer on tap - an equally good selection of old English cask ales and bitters as they do local (and some not so local) craft brews. They've got Cyder with a "y" and a nice range of bottles, ranging from lime-friendly bottles like Corona and Sol to some larger international favourites like Brooklyn Lager.
The ambience. So the setup of the pub is unique. You can actually get 3 very different atmospheres in this single building. If you are coming in from the riverside, you'll see a little patio outside with tables and chairs, and a door into the bottom bar - the Rowing Club. Down here, you have the basics for what you could expect of a pub with some outdoor tables and standing room right along the riverfront. You've got all the basics, including some strong gin and tonics or an aperol... but it's plastic cups if you are going to be standing outside along the river. The first floor is split in half - the side facing the river is the restaurant, where you'll catch lots of families, dates, and small parties. And then on the same floor but "streetside" is the pub. It's been recently repainted and the furniture re-upholstered, so it makes for a great indoor spot when it's too cold to stand by the river. In the wintertime, it turns into a very nice and cozy pub, with a pub quiz on Monday nights.
The food. One thing to note: if you want to sit by the big windows overlooking the Thames views on the 1st floor, you need to actually be having dinner. The nice thing is, you (mostly) don't need reservations, but if you want to guarantee a window view, especially in the summer, then you will want to reserve a table. The roast is also particularly busy in the summer, so it is probably wise to book ahead, but if you didn't get a chance to, don't worry - there's a pretty good chance you can sneak in for a meal if there's 2-4 of you. Bangers & Mash is done really well, and the burger is an excellent pub burger, and your preference for rare, medium, or well done meat is honoured, which is always hit or miss in a pub! They serve food in the pub as well, but if you are going to eat, why not use it as an opportunity to sit in the restaurant?!
In the afternoons on a warm weekend, you'll find all types of people - from some wanderers from Fulham and Chelsea who cross down to the southside for some riverside views, to the locals who live around the area, cyclists who are stopping in for a beverage on their way home along Lower Richmond Road or dog walkers pausing to take in the views with a beer and their pets. In the evening, the live music draws a livelier crowd downstairs, but upstairs will remain a chilled out pub, so you can get a bit of both.
Some extras. You can rent out the private room upstairs for events. If you've got some canine companions, they offer water bowls for your dog and love having dogs around!
And the wrap up. In summary, this is one of my favourite spots in SW London - both inside and out. It's a special place along the river, with a low-key vibe, where you can go dressed up before you go out for an evening, on a first date, or just for a drink to catch up with a friend. And it's a good spot for food too.
Avg price for a pint: £5
