The Rifleman, Twickenham

Despite having lived in and around the Twickenham area (for a somewhat generous definition of 'area'), I'd never visited the Rifleman. This has now been rectified. To have two excellent pubs (this and the Sussex Arms) within a (say) two mile radius is indeed a treat. The Rifleman is a small pub with eclectic seating, a couple of benches in the front and a lovely rear garden (complete with a wildflower bed). There were four (I think) real ales on when I visited, including Twickenham Vanguard, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Buttcombe and one other (a session ale) whose name I can't remember. These ranged in price from £3.30ish - £3.55 (Landlord) - good prices for SW London. They focus on wet sales - unless you want crisps or a toastie, this is not the place to come for food. The barman was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, both about the ales and about the pub itself. There are a couple of televisions which were on but on silent (one showing cricket the other Grand Prix) - this, ideally I could do without though I know many people welcome such things. The loos were clean (and completely intact). In fact, the pub itself was clean and comfortable - a pub I would certainly be pleased to visit again.

This is a pleasant backstreet pub with a local feel, most punters were gathered around the bar standing or perched on stools, exchanging banter during the England v Ukraine game being shown on the pub TVs. The single room has a horseshoe bar, beamed ceiling, standard style seating, a wooden floor with tiled chequered bar area plus attractive leaded obscure windows with the original winding opening gear still operational. Decor includes several framed collections of banknotes, green shield stamps, pictures of riflemen/servicemen over a fireplace and a large canoe paddle suspended over the bar. A brass plate plus the pub sign with cockerel signify the pub's previous life as a Courage house. Five handpumps, one unclipped but a reasonable range of Ringwood Best, Youngs Bitter, Butcombe Bitter and Twickenham Naked Ladies on offer. A decent and vibrant back street pub in an area outside central Twickenham but well worth a mini crawl with the POW, Sussex and Blucher all nearby.

This Pub is now back open, with Courage Best, Youngs Bitter and a Twickenham Ale always on tap... a good selection of lagers and a few other bits and pieces going on. Food is on the way with a brand new kitchen waiting to be installed... so come visit this great local... Quiz nights on monday from 8pm

Closed January 2011

This is another small backstreet locals’ pub. They had Young’s Bitter, Courage Best, and Twickenham Spring Ale on when I visited. The Spring Ale was pretty good at £3 a pint. There was a TV on, playing a radio channel; a games machine was also available for those who fancied their chances of beating a computer; tables were mainly iron framed but with unusually seen tiled tops. There was a collection of old black and white photographs on the walls, and the windows were those rather attractive ones with small, framed panes of glass. The beams on the ceiling were painted black, and the walls up to the dado rail level were painted dark red. This was clearly a Courage pub at one time, as evidenced by the large Courage mirror hanging over the fireplace, and traditional sign of the gold cockerel on a red background hanging beneath the main pub sign outside. This struck as a plain unpretentious backstreet pub, to which I would be happy to pay a return visit if I’m in the area again.