The Sultan, SW19

Virtually unchanged since my last visit which must be between ten and fifteen years ago, indeed half of the beers on were also present back then. Five from Hop Back, Summer Lightning, Citra, Fugglestone, Entire Stout and Spring Zing with a guest of Downton Dragon IPA and a couple of Ciders from Against The Grain. It's an old fashioned locals pub but a solid one.

The Sultan is one of those pubs that somehow stands out in my mind. Last here in 2011, I recall my last visit being on a dark winter's evening and where I stayed in the smaller left-hand room where I was unable to get a seat. My latest visit was centred around a visit to a 2-day beer festival featuring around 20 cask ales and a few ciders too. It was the first time I'd set foot in the larger bar to the right-hand side which has its own separate entrance. The only room connecting the two appears to be the gents toilets which unusually has 2 entrances/exits. The larger room to the right also has a conservatory area which opens into an outdoor seating area where most of the festival beers could be found on stillage and there was also a barbecue in operation. With tokens purchased at the bar, I thought that £11 for 5 tokens (halves) was good value. I'd initially planned to stay for just 4, but decided to purchase the 5 and ended up having 2 others' tokens too. So, my planned return to the Trafalgar fell by the way side. At the bar, there are 5 regular cask ales from Hopback who run the pub - Summer Lightning, GFB, Citra, Entire Stout & Taiphoon. In addition, their Fuggle Rock was also on. Guest beers as part of the festival were from Peakstone Rock, Deeply Vale, Pennine, Pig Pub, Bowland, Welbeck Abbey, Burton Bridge, 4T's, O'Neill's, Holden's, Milton, Darklands, Collyfobble, Milestone, Front Row, Nottingham, Dow Bridge & Uttoxeter. To add to the list, there were also 6 real ciders, some outside and some found across the 2 inside rooms. With other bar snacks such as toasties and pork pies available, there is almost something for everyone. This pub is hidden away in the backstreets of South Wimbledon, but is well worth seeking out, even without a beer festival. I'm hoping not to leave it over 14 years before paying the Sultan another visit.

Official site of The Sultan - www.hopback.co.uk

Official site of The Sultan - www.hopback.co.uk