The Limping Fox, Long Ditton, Thames Ditton

This is clearly a typical backstreet locals’ pub, tucked away down a small residential road on the edge of Thames Ditton. There were a couple of games machines, and a one-armed bandit in the main bar area, as well as a pool table and dartboard in an area to the left and to the rear of the bar counter. This room led to a small garden with an awning, presumably to make life more comfortable for smokers during inclement weather. I noticed three TVs; the two in the front bar area showing two different sports channels, with the one at the back near the pool table being switched off. That makes sense as nobody was playing either pool or darts during my midweek, early afternoon visit. The carpet looks as if it has seen a fair bit of wear, as have some of the small red-upholstered stools which looked a bit grimy. But the green upholstered banquettes look in much better shape. There’s no decor on the walls worth mentioning. There were a couple of ales on – Bombardier and Young’s Bitter. I had the Young’s, which was OK, and at the decent backstreet price of £2.90 a pint. The food on offer seemed to be a plate of rolls wrapped in clingfilm behind the bar. That’s tradition, or nostalgia, for you! Very simply this is a decent backstreet boozer with no airs or graces – an endangered species, at least in the London area, these days.

Well-run suburban local. Nothing that is really exceptional, but good beer in pleasant company. A proper pub.