Magic Garden, Battersea Park, SW11

This is a strange and wacky place indeed. Basically a U-shaped pub with no evidence of the bar on entering, it's round the back, facing the conservatory and garden, murals of vines and creepers over the walls and ceiling, painted birds and butterflies on the ceiling, unusual mixed furniture, several portraits of Jimi Hendrix, roses entwined above and around the bar, a totally mixed bag of lighting, a piano and organ sited next to each other and one corner has a raised area carpeted with what looks like pool table baize. Add in the swirly 60s/70s soundtrack of instrumental acid music and you have complete sensory overload. The toilets are Femmes and Hommes. Despite this, the pub had a very mixed customer base from students through young couples/families with babies to older people. It was busy too but this may reflect the dearth of decent pubs locally. Loads of bar flyers in the toilets show a commitment to live music, I suppose the green baize raised bit forms the stage, a quiz night is also advertised. Food served including bar snacks, home made scotch egg £3.50, miso soup £5. Three handpumps, Doom Bar, Cornish Coaster also by Sharps and Sambrooks Wandle. £1.90 for a half of Coaster. Not my ideal pub by any standards but having walked up this way randomly from Clapham Junction and stuck my head in a few real dives I'm glad I found it. One word of warning, if you go here get the bus back to Clapham Junction, don't wait for a train at Queenstown Road unless you are very patient indeed.

Large pub with a very large garden. Youngs & Wadworth 6X on tap. Food portions looked big. Friendly staff. Worth calling in.