The Garratt Tavern, Wandsworth, SW18

This pub dates in some form from at least the mid-19th century when it was a Wenlock house, but given the very historic original name of the Waggon & Horses, probably dates back a lot further; the current name dates from 2017. Unsurprisingly the floor’s still wood, likewise the furniture (with chocolate brown vinyl upholstered chairs), albeit seemingly obtained from a restaurant catalogue, but the glasses are the horrible semi-rigid plastic type. A gloopy white and grey colour scheme complements some bare brick, with sports’ trophies on display along with décor in the form of pictures of the area from yesteryear along with multinational cloth rugby tat, then adverts for forthcoming sports fixtures. There’s a selection of modern trendy light fittings with filament bulbs and unwatched silent football on multiple TVs; customers were few, either trackied-up young women or lads on the lager. There’s no cask here, just several obscured pumps, so it was yet more Gamma Ray at £3.75 a half, served by an incomprehensible barmaid. This isn’t a great place, even if there were a decent cask option; it’s really more of a sports’ bar now and the Tír na nÓg is next door, the Spread Eagle just to the north.

One roomed bar with beer garden to the rear.Wooden floor wooden bar wooden furniture and surprised the beer glasses weren't wooden.Only two cask beers Hobgoblin and Doom.

Official site of The Garratt Tavern - www.thegarratttavernwandsworth.co.uk

Official site of The Garratt Tavern - www.thegarratttavernwandsworth.co.uk

This place was not as bad as I feared it might be. There were two ales on; GK Abbot Ale and London Pride, the latter at £3.20 a pint, which is reasonably priced by London standards. There was the usual array of lager fonts, including Hoegaarden and San Miguel, as well as Pimms on tap. Forgoing the temptation of the San Miguel, I went for the tried and tested London Pride, which tasted like it was supposed to. The only food menu I saw was on a chalkboard on the wall, with the daily specials including wholetail scampi, etc, at £6.50. There’s nothing special about the interior, with some sofas, tall tables/stools, and normal tables and chairs making up the furnishings. It comprises a single bare-boarded room, but with a fair bit of outside seating at the side and rear of the building. For some reason, wall decor included some sets of skis. I have to say that I found this to be a fairly cheerless place. That may be because it was so gloomy inside – OK, it was a gloomy day yesterday – with the outside canopies and venetian blinds cutting out almost all of the natural light. On the plus side, a magazine rack on the wall gave customers something to read. When I was in there was also a party of women plus kids in. I know you have to take kids somewhere when it’s a rotten day, but I doubt that GJ’s bar would be my first choice. But everyone to their own, I suppose. I doubt whether I’ll be going back.