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Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Tuesday, 31st October 2023
With picture contributions to 5157 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (5 more images)
Detail Pages
The Horse & Groom, SW19
SW19
SW19 1DE
Served areas
Reviews of The Horse & Groom (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Horse & Groom
This is a 19th century pub at the very least, originally the Bricklayers Arms up to 1882, when it was given the current name, presumably to avoid confusion with the other Horse & Groom – now Garden Shed – at the end of the street (?); as Graham mentions, it was the Dark House – from 1984 to ’94 – Horse & Groom again until 1997, then the Kilkenny Tavern, back to the Horse & Groom again from 2021 and run by Craft Union since May 2023, they presumably responsible for covering over the lovely green and brown glazed tiles with smoky blue paint.
The main room is carpeted, the right-hand side bare boarded, the colour scheme a restrained combo of brown paint to the dado, then white or blue. The bar back is modern with white shiny tiles, furniture is traditional and several TVs were showing the golf in silence; there are some mixed prints. Furniture is traditional to the main, then tall and modern to the right-hand side, where there’s also a games machine and selection of bored games.
Like Graham, I too spotted the unfulfilled promise of offerings from the Wimbledon Brewery painted onto a wall, though two pumps tantalised with the promise of Landlord or Ghost Ship, but the clips were reversed at the time of my Saturday 10.00pm visit, so perhaps it was too late for cask to reemerge. I made do with a good Guinness, £5.05 a pint, served by flustered barmaid who’d had to put up with all the ‘What shots do you have?’ shenanigans conjured up by a suspiciously young gaggle of women; in fairness, their website does peddle WKD Vibe things, two for £5 if you’re tempted.
This place is surprisingly sedate and restrained by CU standards, especially for a Saturday night and certainly better than the Nelsons Arms next door; with cask on, this place would have nudged average, but if I were in the area again, I’d swing by the Sultan.
On 22nd May 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2017 recommendations about 1983 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Horse & Groom
Handily located next door to South Wimbledon tube station and once a Grotney pub called the Dark House, according to the sign on the end. Anyway, it has had a smart facelift, with bright colours and lots of space giving an airy effect, while the half dozen sports screens dotted about identify its customer base. Two handpumps offered TT Landlord and Tribute, although sadly nothing from the nearby Wimbledon Brewery despite the painted inscription on the wall. A garden is signed at the rear.
On 31st October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3353 recommendations about 3290 pubs]
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- Official site of The Horse & Groom - www.craftunionpubs.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Horse & Groom - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Jukebox : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes - In theory. - last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Real Cider : No last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 20 May 2024 by Tris C
