Shinner & Sudtone, Sutton

Thought on entering this was an Antic, turns out it was until Portobello Brewery purchased it a while ago - the Anticness is still front and centre with a general air of deliberate scruffiness you associate with their venues. An obviously eclectic interior with plenty of old tat/objects d'art on the walls and in display cases. There’s a mix of scruffy parquet and chipped mosaic tile floor whilst the lower servery, which looks to be repurposed pharmacy cabinets, is of genuine interest. Big pile of board games spotted for punter entertainment. Four pumps with two Portobello cask and a cider from Pulp; my Star was the usual disappointment of a brew from them but on a warm day was cool and GBG-par (NBSS 3). Sutton isn't exactly a pub mecca, so this one's worth a nose if you happen to wash-up here. If some money was spent tidying the place up properly it really would be a draw. 6.5

This is an eclectically decorated former Antic pub, now notably rebranded by the Portobello Brewery, following their post-lockdown acquisition of several Antic venues. Entering past a fenced off pavement seating area, you find yourself in a deep but relatively narrow room, which runs through a few distinct spaces from front to rear. To the front is a parquet floored seating area with long tables lined with mis-matched chairs to the left, a drinking ledge under the front windows and some banquettes to the right, which continue further along the side, as the servery emerges on the opposite wall. Here, the banquettes are formed into a couple of nice booths by some high shelving units stuffed full of old books, ornaments and beer cans, with one boasting a load of old apothecary-style small drawers in its frontage. This part of the pub has a great mosaic tile floor, presumably preserved from the building’s former shop incarnation, whilst the servery has a counter which looks like the sort of thing you’d find in a chemist’s, complete with glass fronted display cases in the counter, with drawers beneath. The display cases are full of more ornaments, glassware and various old bottles, tins, boxes and the like. The bar back is also pretty impressive, backed by a glazed tile wall with a tile frieze across the top (the same is also visible in places on the opposite wall, although it has been replaced by chequered tiles in some spots). The bar back shelving units are very much a retro piece themselves and are decorated accordingly with tankards, old bottles, miniature figures and some vases of peacock feathers, among other things. Beyond, a few high tables and stools stand next to a shelf heavily stacked with board games, and past this, some steps lead up to a raised rear seating space which I didn’t properly explore. The whole pub has been decorated with old beer trays nailed to the walls, and extensive collections of bottles and ceramics, most notably in large display cabinets to the front left. Pop music played quietly in the background and there were only a few customers dotted around on my Saturday afternoon visit, most of which were eating from an Antic-esque menu. On the bar, just Portobello Star and a real cider on the handpulls - two of which were left unclipped. The Star was a very reasonable £4.00 for a pint and in good condition - despite the low turnout, it seemed to be relatively popular so I was more than happy supping my pint whilst trying to take in all the quirky decor. This place felt pretty out-there, even by Antic’s usual standards, and the Portobello people don’t seem inclined to tone things down, so there’s plenty here to keep you interested and perhaps merit return visits. The lone ale choice may prohibit extended stays, but it was in good shape and preferable to the expensive craft I found in other Sutton watering holes. Probably my pub of choice for Sutton town centre.

Apparently, the unusual name is derived from what was once an adjoining department store and an historic name for what has become Sutton. Inside it is unmistakably Antic, the front area has cobbled together tables seemingly fashioned from off-cuts of wood, there are cases of all sorts on the walls including some old tobacco tins, all over the walls are fixed tin trays with brewery and cigarette branding and the doors to the toilets look like they've been dragged from a skip then bashed about a bit more. Towards the end of the bar a high ledge holds some ancient suitcases with shelves of board games below, then there is a flight of steps leading up to another area where lines cross the room at ceiling level, each holding a number of music sheets attached by washing pegs. The bar counter front has glass cases of plates, glassware etc which I assume is as a homage to the erstwhile department store. Curiously a picture of a young Queen Elizabeth looks down on proceedings from above the bar back. As an Antic pub there will be a Volden beer, on this occasion their Session Ale. Also on were Siren Undercurrent, Wiper and True Doves and Raisins plus Lilley's Dark cider. The shabby and random style appeals to me as there are all kinds of unusual items to catch the eye and above all a decent and less usual range of beers.

Was expecting more from this place. It was OK but only four hand pumps on the bar. Basic seating arrangements in place. Probably worth a revisit if I'm ever in Sutton again.