The Colonies, SW1

The Pineapple until 1974 when the current name arrived, revolving around an African colonial theme, according to CAMRA; someone’s playing with fire here, given the current climate. It has a fairly modern interior with a raised rear. Modern boarded with dark panelling and a white ceiling. Furniture is either tall and chunky – like some of the customers – along with studded oxblood banquets; muzak played in the background. Ales presented amounted to Tribute, GK IPA and Landlord at £2.90 and good. This place is ok, but like the other pubs round here, not great.

Official site of The Colonies - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of The Colonies - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Now owned by Greene King, the Colonies is a bit tucked away on Wilfred Street. Still a fairly open plan traditional pub interior the key selling point for this one over the multitude of other options in the nearby area is the pleasant courtyard garden that stretches from the back of the pub all the way to a back entrance on Castle Lane. Insanely busy with the afterwork crowd when I popped in last week and three GK brews and a cider meant I didn’t linger long personally. But it was attracting a crowd that were and good on it for that.

Unspectacular pub with five hand pumps, three of which were in use but no ale of any strength. Service was slow, to say the least. Would not return.

A Taylor Walker pub previously called The Pineapple and well described below. Four ales on during this visit, we had Stonehenge which was in OK condition, slightly past its best. OK to drop in or include in a crawl, but maybe not somewhere to spend the whole evening being irrigated.