Rose & Crown, Wimbledon Village, SW19

The Rose and Crown is a large and nice looking old pub in what people in these parts call Wimbledon village. Once inside i went in a very nice plush room that was very comfortable and inviting on a cold day. This pub is a Youngs tied house and there were three real ales on here i had a drink of Youngs Winter Warmer and this was a very nice drink the other beers were Youngs bitter and Special. I was quite happy having a drink in here. Pub visited 14/12/2002

The Rose and Crown is an attractive old pub which proudly displays a blue plaque outside declaring it the Evening Standard Pub of the Year in 1970. A lot has changed since then, not least Youngs moving out of London and modernising most of their boozers internally to the chagrin of some older patrons. This is probably my favourite pub in Wimbledon, and even though its a fair walk away it counts as my local. Three Youngs ales plus Bombardier and Tribute are kept in good condition and the place is always pleasantly busy without being packed out, although I'm told come Tennis season you can barely move. I'm not surprised - its a pretty good drinking hole.

This is Wimbledon’s oldest pub, dating back to the 1650s. It was originally named the “Sign of the Rose”, with the “Crown” being added after the Restoration of 1660. In the 19th Century it was the regular haunt of literary luminaries such as Thackeray, Swinburne, et al. It has been a Young’s house since 1860, and when I was in there the other day as well as the usual range, they also had on Butcombe Bitter and the rarely seen Ramrod on handpump. I reckon Ramrod is the best ale in the Young’s stable, at a meaty 5.0% ABV. They do food of course, but the menu is not pub grub – snacks and starters are around £6 - £7, and mains around the £10 - £12 mark. However I did spot a small advert on a mantelpiece for sausage rolls (£1.95) and pork pies (£4). The flooring is a mix of bare boards and flagstones, and furnishings a mix of normal tables, chairs and stools, plus a few armchairs and sofas in a room at the back. Even with the Spartan flagstones it retains a plush feel for some reason – I guess the rich dark colours go a long way toward achieving this. There are some interesting features as well – a pillar cum lamppost in the area to the left of the bar, with the Rose & Crown motif depicted in leaded lights at the top, plus above the fireplace on the left are the 12 plates of Hogarth’s Industrious/Idle Prentice displayed. As the R&C also provides accommodation there are a few signs of a hotel reception around the place, so in no way can this be regarded as the traditional boozer it once was, but there are many worse Young’s pubs around. I’ll no doubt drop in for another pint at some time.

Randomness Guide to London - Rose And Crown entry

Randomness Guide to London - Rose And Crown entry