The Eagle Ale House, SW11

This place dates from at least the late 19th century and on approach to this backstreet venue, the visitor is confronted with a multitude of aluminium casks stacked up out front in the patio. The bare boarded interior with a few rugs is just the kind of pub I like, with a good atmosphere up to a point. The colour scheme is a pleasing almost all-over burgundy with a coffered ceiling, white partitions with the gap between picture rail and ceiling filled with pump clips. There are a few knickknacks about the place, such as bottles and eclectic prints. Furniture is mismatched and traditional, two small TVs showed the rugby alongside an irritating IMAX projector screen, sound off with a decent soundtrack on the stereo. Customers were locals of course and mixed in age, but the abiding memory will forever be the landlord, effing away at customers for having removed stools from the bar, before knuckling down to a sarcastic description to a potential customer of available lagers; I’ve never experienced such extraordinary behaviour; the Norman Balon de nos jour? The ale lineup amounted to a reversed clip, then Windsor & Eton LD20, Surrey Hills Sheer Drop, Redemption Fellowship and Downton New Forest, £2.50 a half and dull, served by a charming barmaid. This is a fine pub, but the ale selection could be more adventurous, though the sports overload and customer service are a disincentive to undertaking the schlep required to get here, but it’s the best option in the area.

Official site of The Eagle Ale House - eaglealehouse.wordpress.com

Official site of The Eagle Ale House - eaglealehouse.wordpress.com

Good looking mid terrace ale house,just off the upmarket Northcote Road,its all wood panelled walls with a dark wooden floor and traditional furniture with the bar to the left side and a substantial beer garden out the back.It has a lived in feel,the flatscreen was showing the Six Nations rugby and the pub was busy. On one side of the bar are a series of keg taps with the beer and cider descriptions on the wall while the six handpumps on the longer side were drawing Surrey Hills Ranmore and Shere Drop (NBSS 4),along with Brew York Viking DNA,Stone Go to IPA and a real cider. A pub not to be missed when in the area,it's well used by local folk and lively,yet traditional and comfortable.

First return here for some 3 or 4 years,I shouldn't leave it so long next time,the Eagle remains an extremely good "proper boozer" totally unspoilt by the march of time and fashion yet manages to appeal to customers of all ages and alcohol preference,ale drinkers are well catered for across the 8 handpumps and most beer styles were covered in the ever changing selection. Well worth the hike or bus ride up the Northcote Road.Will return soon.

nb. doesn't open until 15:00 Mon-Thurs. I don't see mention of this in previous reviews, and hadn't noticed myself until yesterday - is this a new policy? It would be helpful if pubs keeping unusual hours would indicate opening times at the door. Frustrating, but rating unchanged. 5 June 2009 My previous couple of visits offered a choice of ‘only' four ales, but yesterday had a good selection across 7 of the 8 pumps: Surrey Hills Shere Drop & Ranmore, Tribute, Doombar, Westerham William Wilberforce Freedom Ale, Downton Honey Blonde, Ringwood Best, tried both of the Surrey Hills & in fine fettle, £2.90. Pub has a welcoming woody feel, some banquette seating around front area, proper wooden tables/chairs, & it's one of the few places that manage to properly incorporate sofas – 2 leather ones and a wingback chair giving the lounge area to right of bar a nice feel, arranged around the fireplace. To the rear some good wall decoration as noted by others, but I'm surprised no-one mentioned my favourite – the front page of the Sydney Herald after we won the rugby world cup, an ‘apology' from the Aussie nation for all the sledging they handed out down the years, & recognising the performance of an outstanding English team, then finishing with the smallprint ‘ye Pommie Bastards, …oops that just slipped out!'. I checked it would be ok to take my little dog in (it was) and, when re-entering, noticed the sign on the door, ‘all owners must be kept on a lead'…

Really friendly locals pub with a good selection of real ales.Usually visit when fests are on and gets really busy but a large covered garden helps.Probably the best kept beer in the area

Tucked away on a side street off the main drag, this is one of those ‘hidden gem’ pubs that you don’t expect to exit in such a location. The interior, though opened out, is quite traditional in feel with a nice touch being the Chesterfields in front of the real fire. Décor of note are the many books and empty champagne bottles lined up in a built-in wall arch. There were a couple of TVs that were turned off. Dog friendly. The star here is the beer; five available on my visit (Harveys Best, Loddon Hoppit, Meantime Pale Ale, Isle of Purbeck Fossil Fuel and Flowers IPA) and the ones we sampled were in good order. In addition, there is also a good range of single malts and a slightly better wine list than the average pub. It’s a bit of a schlep to get here but worth it.

Popped in here late on a sunday afternoon after pints in The Falcon and The Draft House (where there are interesting beers at eye watering prices). Northcote Road is a rather pretentious area so this was a superb find - a Proper Pub with carpets, tables and a rectangular bar. Twickenham Sundancer, Westerham William Wilberforce and Andwell Gold Muddler were among the offerings and in good form. Somehow we ended up staying here for 4 hours - always a sign of a good pub. A GBG regular and no surprise - should definitely be sought out.