Fox & Grapes, Wimbledon Common, SW19

This pub re-opened last week following a closure of a few months in order to effect a major refurbishment. It’s now very much food led, with all but a couple of tables laid for diners. Indeed almost all tables were actually occupied by diners when I was in there at around 2.30 PM on Friday, demonstrating that it is likely to remain a successful business. There were three or four white-shirted black-aproned waitresses rushing around the place waiting on tables. I sat at one of the tables not set for diners, and didn’t see a menu. They did have three ales on – HBB; Black Sheep Bitter; and Sharp’s Doom Bar. I had the latter, served at about 3/4” short of the top of the glass, a little too cold, and at £3.60 a pint. This is a gastro pub price, even if the owner insists that this is not a gastro pub. The structure of the pub remains largely unchanged, except that the previous Caesar’s Bar on the left has been opened up, with the removal of the bar counter in that room. Flooring is now modern replacement bare boards, and walls are painted light pastel shades. There is a large wagon wheel by the window in the narrow area between the two rooms, but other than that I didn’t spot any decor worth mentioning. The pub sign now has the grapes out of the fox’s reach, thus re-establishing the link with Aesop’s fable. Rather surprisingly for somewhere like this, it appeared to be dog friendly, as a couple of chaps came in with their dogs for a drink at the bar, with one of the waitresses producing a bowl of water for the dogs. Nonetheless, for me this now seems to be more of a restaurant than a pub. This view was reinforced when a couple of the waitresses with no more pressing duties stationed themselves in the room in an attentive manner to see to any requirements that the diners might have. But most of the time there was just too much hustle and bustle and rushing around to be really comfortable just sitting and enjoying a quiet pint. In future I’ll probably give this place a miss unless I want to have a meal as well as a drink.

Will Re-open Beginning of February 2011

Its nicely situated on the edge of The Common, 2 rooms split by a central bar, but very food oriented and as others have said, pricey too. I didn't partake but seeing £12.95 for a burger on the menu I wasn't tempted to either. The beer range is refreshing in this Youngs dominated area, a couple of mainstreams in Directors and GK IPA, but TT Landlord, Sharp's Doombar and Welton's Old Cocky available on my visit. Sports prints on the walls all a bit SW19, ie Tennis and "rugger". The lounge bar layout is full of symmetrically placed square tables, sadly to me making the impression of a dining room rather than a relaxing bar.

They had five ales on during my recent visit – Harvey’s Best, GKIPA, Doom Bar, Directors, and Timothy Taylor Landlord. I had the Harvey’s, which was OK, and at £3.20 a pint the sort of price that I have become accustomed to paying in the London area. On the left of the pub is the Caesar’s Bar, no doubt named for the camp that was nearby on the common, although it is highly unlikely that any Caesar ever came anywhere near the place. The furnishings in this bar comprise banquettes, small stools and normal tables, all of which have seen better days. The main “saloon” bar on the right is a high ceilinged barn like affair, with more banquette seating, and normal tables and stools. There was a fire on the go, which must have been welcome to anyone freezing after trudging across the common. I suppose that rugby is the preferred sport here, as the 6 nations’ flags are hanging from the ceiling. There was some Jamie Cullum being played quite softly. This pub used to have a good pub sign that depicted the fox being unable to reach the grapes, as per Aesop’s Fable, thus giving rise to the expression that they must be “sour grapes” as he couldn’t get at them. The current sign has the grapes on the floor with the fox apparently about to devour them; shame they haven’t maintained the link to the fable. But it’s a lot better than the previous black and gold sign. This is one of those “OK” pubs, this one looking better from the outside than inside, that is good for a pint if you are in the area, but not really good enough to go out of your way to find.