The Sun, Carshalton

Imposing wedge-shaped corner pub with some attractive old green tiling on the exterior. Food heavy inside and I was the only person exclusively drinking mid-Saturday afternoon. Six ales on at the polished copper-topped bar (note the impressive dark wood and etched mirror bar back); Sharps Doom Bar, GK St Edmunds, Arbor Blue Sky, Bingham's Vanilla Stout, Saltaire Sir Titus and Wimbledon Tower. The Saltaire and Wimbledon were in decent shape. Small decked rear area leading to a larger gravelled garden off left with pizza oven. It's a decent place that's worth a detour but a session boozer it is not.

The Sun was the last pub I visited on an all-day pub crawl so my memory of it is a little hazy. I noted that one of the five hand pumps was off so the ale options were Sharp’s Doom Bar, Plain Ales’ Inntrigue, Tring Brewery’s Jack O’Legs and RCH Brewery’s East-Street. Texas Hold’em is played during the poker night which is held here every Monday from 20:00 and there is a quiz every Tuesday evening again from 20:00. Every Sunday from 19:00 live local acts are employed during the Acoustic by Candlelight evenings. There is an advertised garden bar that is open when the sun is shining, but I didn’t venture outside during my visit. Food is served from 18:00 until 21:00 on Mondays, from noon until 15:00 and from 18:00 until 21:30 Tuesdays through to Fridays and from noon until 16:00 and 18:00 until 21:00 at the weekends. I found the staff to be nice enough and would have no problem returning here if passing.

An impressive building occupying a corner location close to Carshalton station,the pub splits into two segments,an open plan drinking area immediately on entry with a bar on the left hand side and then beyond this in various sections,a dining area that would fit the broad description of gastro.There is an opening where the modern kitchen and chefs at work can be viewed and dining seemed to be the core activity here.However there were 5 handpumps,offering ales from a pubcos list,but that is the extent of my pitiful notes.Would I come back ? Given the commitment to real ale and the friendly attitude of the bar staff, yes and I would take more careful note of whats on offer next time as well.