The Corner Pin, Summerstown, SW17

Dating from at least the late 19th century, I suspect this is a 1930s’ rebuild, no longer round the corner from the Prince of Wales which was converted into a Tesco over 10 years ago. I doubt this place has changed at all since the previous two visits. It goes back a fair way with, as mentioned, a raised area to the right on entering, in use for loud karaoke on my Friday visit at around 9.45pm; it was a lot quieter on passing the next day about 20 minutes earlier. It’s a plain interior which I didn’t fully note as this was really more of a stick my head round the door as there was clearly nothing here to hold my attention; a few small TVs were showing the footie to an older very local crowd. This is really the only pub of this nature in SW17 and a rarity in the whole borough; with the desolate location, competition from the Against the Grain shed across the road and somewhat backstreet location, I doubt it’ll survive. But I hope so.

Walking in to this pub my eye was drawn to the bar counter (as it always is) to see the disappointing sight of two unclipped handpumps. But on enquiring as to the availability of bitter, the barman informed me apologetically that they only had Young’s Bitter. Believe me, that is a quantum leap ahead of anything else that was available. I do think that pubs ought to have a pump clip of some kind on if there’s a cask attached to the pump, even if it’s only a handwritten bit of cardboard, which my local often has. I was in at around 7.30 PM on Thursday and there were (still) some clingfilm wrapped rolls behind the bar. I didn’t see any sign of other food. The pub itself has a classic brewer’s Tudor facade, with the theme continuing inside with some dark posts/beams on at least one of the walls. A pool table dominates the far end of the room, there are a few prints on the walls, a carpet on the floor, and some pretty standard tables and chairs made up the furnishings.There’s a stage area to right as you enter the main door, with (ominously) a DJ deck on it, massive speakers to the side of it, and for some reason a bank of coloured hats (!) on the beam above it. A sign advertised karaoke evenings. Luckily when I was in none of this paraphernalia was in use. This is a very ordinary pub, albeit handily placed when the By the Horns brewery tap turned out to be shut on Thursday.

The Corner Pin is situated round the corner from The Prince of Wales and is a large brick built pub that is considerably larger inside than it looks from the smallish external frontage. It’s a long comfortable single bar with a beamed ceiling and is carpeted throughout. At the near end of the pub a smallish stage is presumably where the advertised Friday karaoke and Saturday disco are centred. At the far end is a pool table. The walls are decorated with old photos of the area and reproduction framed posters advertising beers from defunct breweries. It’s a pleasant enough interior with that rather dated 1970’s feel. On my recent Saturday afternoon visit, the pub was virtually deserted, just 3 or 4 middle aged locals occupying stools by the bar, something of a contrast with the Prince of Wales, from where I had just come. Evidently, there’s not much real ale trade here as there’s only 2 handpumps, with just a rather poor – even by Bedford standards – pint of Youngs ordinary on offer on my visit. Indications were that a Sheps beer was on occasionally. It felt distinctly like a pub whose days are numbered and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if this pub joined the ranks of those 30 odd pubs which are closing every week. Even if it’s still open, I’ll be missing this one out next time I’m in the vicinity.