The Rifleman, Twickenham

The Rifleman is a Twickenham Ales house, offering 5 of theirs along with Harvey's Sussex Best. The former set really haven't travelled far and are served in great condition, deliciously cool on this hot afternoon. The keg taps are pretty much standard stuff, though there is one beer from the host brewery. There was a friendly welcome and a good bunch of customers, so this was well worth the considerable effort I put into walking here and rehydrated me very nicely.

Named after a former local resident and dribbling footballer, this dates from around the 1870s, a pert little backstreet place, located amidst some rather gorgeous houses; of note is the increasingly rare Courage golden cockerel straddling the pole sign and the far rarer illuminated red Courage box sign, reminding me of the 1970s. The interior is simple: occluded leaded lights, rough boards, duck egg blue Anaglypta to the dado then white, an Artex ceiling displaying dark rafters from which pewter tankards hang, alongside translucent white glass shades; there’s a suitably aged woody bar array. Décor amounted to miscellaneous framed prints, all lapped up by an older crowd of well-spoken locals. There’s more good news in that the pub has been run by Twickenham Ales since July 2019 and alongside Sussex Best and Wye Valley HPA, there were Twickenham’s Daisy Cutter, Wolf of the Woods, Grandstand and naturally, Naked Ladies, £2.60 a half, tasting all the better for being glugged in Twickers, served by a very friendly landlady. This is a very nice pub, not to be overlooked by the Sussex Arms just to the north-east.

Official site of The Rifleman - www.twickenham-fine-ales.co.uk

Official site of The Rifleman - www.twickenham-fine-ales.co.uk

A backstreet pub in a residential area now taken over by Twickenham Brewery, but rather nicely still maintaining an authentic Courage exterior. Inside is a clean, modern refurb, retaining the bar, ceiling fake beams and a few other touches, but brightened up with painted walls. A large sports TV is to one side and a real fire to the other, while a corridor takes you back to a patio garden behind. Ales are mainly from Twickenham of course, in top notch condition, changing regularly and often featuring special brews. On this occasion Naked Ladies, Redhead, Winter Warmer and a small batch Coffee Porter, along with Youngs Original. A serious beer pub.