Hand In Hand, Wimbledon Common, SW19

CAMRA’s SW London Pub of the Year 2013, this is a former mid-19th century beerhouse, run by Young’s since 1974 and like the Crooked Billet next door, is situated in an idyllic ‘village’ location, just south of Wimbledon Common. There’s a slightly nooky rambling interior with low ceilings, but given Young’s fetish for messing around with stuff, I suspect the interior has been a wee bit trendified since the last if not earliest reviews, with a cream of mushroom soup colour scheme, some dark wood t ‘n’ g, a little bare brick with a yard of ale hanging behind the bar. Furniture is traditional, prints are eclectic and customers were mixed age locals, though none seemingly as young as the St. Trinian’s next door. A commendable – for Young’s – cask lineup, with London Original and Special, then Black Sheep, Sussex Best, Directors and Proper Job, £3.10 a half and good. Like Moby, I found this to be a more traditional pub experience than the Crooked Billet, less food focused with a much larger cask selection and far fewer – if any – children.

Official site of Hand In Hand - www.thehandinhandwimbledon.co.uk

Official site of Hand In Hand - www.thehandinhandwimbledon.co.uk

Young’s pub that like the nearby crooked billet had an atmospheric interior on my dark winter night visit. The 2 pubs make a good double header.

More of a proper pub than the The Crooked Billet just down the way, although food is a part of its makeup, there is a wider range of beer available and simply just feels more traditional pubby.A central bar servery catered for several distinct areas throughout the pub,eight pump handles in total with a choice on my visit of Young's Special, Bitter, and Hummingbird, along with Wells Bombardier, Courage Directors , Twickenham Spring Ale and Adnams Ghost Ship. Maybe not the most exciting choice of beer, but at least some choice.

really nothing to choose between this and the crooked billet. Even the prices are the same. Youngs Special comes without a head. More info and photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/1Tf0AGO