Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village, SW19

This pub was a coaching inn, dating from at least the early 17th century, a Young’s house since 1834 and rebuilt in 1869, an imposing structure and landmark hotel in Wimbledon ‘Village’, the name picked out with a jazzy fluorescent sign to the façade. There’s a large interior with a slightly raised side area and substantial dining room to the rear, the ‘Library’ beyond for private functions, one spilling out onto the dedicated patio at the time of my 9.30pm Saturday arrival. There’s not much of heritage here, apart from the very fine and rare terrazzo floor to the original entrance lobby. Otherwise, the floor’s bare boarded with a tiled bar apron, modern dark threequarters height field panelling with grey paint, chocolate brown to the dining area. Furniture is conventional and décor takes the form of obligatory eclectic prints; the bar back is new, resembling wrought iron trellising. Lighting is Victorian-style glass ‘n’ brass and really quite bright, picking out the mixed local crowd and baby, perambulating across the floor, propelled by its mother; the overall ambience was exuberant though overall fun. A cask libation amounted to just London Original and Hophead, good, served by an attentive barman, but at an awful £3.20 a half, the same as at the Rose & Crown (opposite) and wholly unjustified. Despite the joke prices associated with Wimbledon ‘Village’s’ over inflated opinion of itself, this is a reasonable place, the most vibrant pub in the Wimbledon area, but the immediate vicinity’s winner is the Hand in Hand.

Large split level interior serving 6 real ales

Upmarket treatment of and old and once grand hotel, not surprising in view of its location in the middle of Wimbledon Village. Many parts of the old fabric survive, but generally covered by a layer of arty decorations and furnishings, although it still has something of a genteel feel to it. One side is mainly used by drinkers, with the other end by the kitchen given over to diners. The 'Library' function room stands behind while there is a patio area by the road. The beer range is expanded beyond the usual Young's brews, with Proper Job and Wimbledon Common Pale on offer.