Hoop & Toy, South Kensington, SW7

An interesting history hear, best read on CAMRA’s site, but obviously this is a modern rebuild, in the base of a block of flats dating from 1927. However, the interior has a slightly more traditional feel, though what was once probably an inviting fireplace, has been bricked up and tiled. Otherwise, this is yet another by the numbers Greene King pub, with a large number of younger customers, origin unknown, but by day, I’d expect this to be a magnet for tourists, as it’s by South Ken tube, clearly visible on returning from the museum ‘hood, up the road. A predictable ale line-up, with Rocking Rudolph, London Glory, GK IPA, Landlord (unavailable) and Abbot which surprisingly drinkable, at £2.85 a half, price determined by location. This place isn’t really worth the effort; if you want a GK experience, the superior Zetland is round the corner.

Official site of Hoop & Toy - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Official site of Hoop & Toy - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Not a bad little pub with a good traditional feel and a couple of sports TVs. However I was totally hacked off by being overcharged hence the low score. There appears to be a function room in the basement, although it was out of use at time of visit. Draught ales were IPA, Abbot, London's Glory, Yardbird and Wimbledon SW19.

I sauntered up to the Hoop and Toy just before 17:00 on a recent Thursday to find a handful of smokers loitering by the entrance. A beer shelf that runs along the exterior was full of empty and half empty glasses indicating that it had not been cleared for some time. After entering I found a bar that runs along the back wall facing an open plan pub that is split up by supporting columns. The furnishings are all dark wood and range from high tables and chairs in the front window alcoves to standard tables and chairs elsewhere. During my visit there was some background music playing which was just audible over the chatter of a mainly student aged crowd. I did not see any televisions and live sport was not advertised. Upstairs is an advertised dining area that I did not visit and there is also Fagan’s Cellar Bar that I think was due to open just after I left at 17:00. The bar supports four hand pumps that were drawing Fuller’s London Pride, Wychwood’s Hobgoblin Gold, Taylor Walker’s 1730 and Sharp’s Doom Bar. Premium and standard draught products were also available and I found the staff to be polite without being particularly friendly. Pub grub is available from the Taylor Walker menu which is found in all of their pubs. As an indicator of price a main meal of cod and chips is priced at £12.30. I didn’t discover anything about this pub to make me avoid it in future, but conversely I didn’t find anything that made it stand out from the hundreds of other Central London Boozers.