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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Sultan, SW19
SW19
SW19 1BT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Sultan
The Sultan is one of those pubs that somehow stands out in my mind. Last here in 2011, I recall my last visit being on a dark winter's evening and where I stayed in the smaller left-hand room where I was unable to get a seat.
My latest visit was centred around a visit to a 2-day beer festival featuring around 20 cask ales and a few ciders too. It was the first time I'd set foot in the larger bar to the right-hand side which has its own separate entrance. The only room connecting the two appears to be the gents toilets which unusually has 2 entrances/exits. The larger room to the right also has a conservatory area which opens into an outdoor seating area where most of the festival beers could be found on stillage and there was also a barbecue in operation.
With tokens purchased at the bar, I thought that £11 for 5 tokens (halves) was good value. I'd initially planned to stay for just 4, but decided to purchase the 5 and ended up having 2 others' tokens too. So, my planned return to the Trafalgar fell by the way side.
At the bar, there are 5 regular cask ales from Hopback who run the pub - Summer Lightning, GFB, Citra, Entire Stout & Taiphoon. In addition, their Fuggle Rock was also on. Guest beers as part of the festival were from Peakstone Rock, Deeply Vale, Pennine, Pig Pub, Bowland, Welbeck Abbey, Burton Bridge, 4T's, O'Neill's, Holden's, Milton, Darklands, Collyfobble, Milestone, Front Row, Nottingham, Dow Bridge & Uttoxeter. To add to the list, there were also 6 real ciders, some outside and some found across the 2 inside rooms.
With other bar snacks such as toasties and pork pies available, there is almost something for everyone. This pub is hidden away in the backstreets of South Wimbledon, but is well worth seeking out, even without a beer festival. I'm hoping not to leave it over 14 years before paying the Sultan another visit.
On 30th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Sultan
A very substantial early 50's exterior on a back street corner with lots of Hop Back signage indicating the tie.The interior still retains a two room layout,a smaller room to the left with a modest bar,better go right to the larger,carpeted room with the 6 handpumps dotted about the bar and a helpful chalk board listings ales and ciders available.There is a small conservatory with a book exchange scheme and some outside drinking options.Sadly two small fireplaces have modern gas boiler radiators in there hearths,and the windows are UPVC but I will forgive all that for the authentic pub atmosphere and very decent ale selection.Food comes in the form of pork pies,scotch eggs and toasties all perfect when on a session.
On my visit the ale options were Hop Back GFB,Citra,Spring Zing,Taiphoon and Summer Lightning (NBSS 4) with a guest in Downton Red Fox.Guest rotation seems large given a diverse set of pump clips on the ceiling.There are real ciders too.I didn't investigate the upstairs room but the alcove at the bottom of the stairs contains the many awards this pub has received.Large scale beer festivals are held here and the soundtrack was perfect,mellow and not too loud.
A must visit when in SW 19,a great double header with the Trafalgar and a big treat for real ale fans.I will be back.
On 18th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Sultan
A short walk from South Wimbledon tube, this is a late 19th century backstreet pub, destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1950s; there’s a surviving freestanding pole sign with a Meux’s frame; of greater importance, it’s a CAMRA heritage pub, with a citation of **.
The interior is well detailed on CAMRA’s site and as mentioned, this has been a Hopback’s house since the mid-‘90s. The interior is something of a time warp, marred only by slightly modern furniture. There was a decent live guitarist on my visit last Saturday night, appreciated by a local crowd of mixed age.
With a mass of pump clips to some wall space, there were six Hopback ales on, all beverages comprehensively detailed to a beer board, but otherwise: GFB, Summer Lightning, Hop Jam, Taiphoon, Entire (a name which has been all but extinct for around 100 years) and Citra at just £2.10 a half, served by a very attentive barman who offered to change my drink due to a slight haze, though I told him it was great.
This is a quality boozer, with a good choice of affordable cask ales in a traditional environment; I doubt very much I’ll find anything else this good in the rest of SW19.
On 21st May 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Sultan
Hop Back Brewery pub tucked away on the backstreets. 2 roomed interior ( didn't visit room to the left) with a conservatory to the right. 5 real ales served.
On 27th September 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Sultan
Bit of an old fashioned locals pub but nice enough.New conservatory added to the side was warm and comfortable Few customers on my tues night visit.Usual Hopback beers on but also hence my visit a beer from the in-house Sultan brewery-trial no1 3.5 which was quaffable but can be improved.Dont like this style of pub really
On 21st March 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Sultan
Still retaining the two room format, this is an unlikely back street pub in an unremarkable part of SW London, in that it isn't really where you would expect to find London's only Hop Back pub. Summer Lightning, Entire Stout and a Downton beer tend to be ever present, my latest visit had also Hop Back Taiphoon, a light beer, hoppy and with lemon grass. A bit strange but it tasted ok.
The larger room is L shaped and leads onto a small paved garden, where occasional beer festivals are held. The smaller room has a functional dartboard and TV. Each room has a seperate entrance from the street, but can only be connected inside by passing through the gents. Traditional seating all round at tables and a few bar stools. A good old fashioned local which attracts beer fans due to the unusual brewery for the area. Worth combining with the nearby Trafalgar and Prince of Wales for a mini crawl of South Wimbledon.
On 10th July 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Sultan
Tucked away in the backstreets of South Wimbledon, this is a good local’s pub serving well kept Hopback beers. The pub is split into two rooms, the larger public bar to the right having a traditional feel to it whilst the smaller room to the left seems a bit more formal and smarter. The furnishing is fairly modern and in good order and the pub as a whole seemed very clean and pleasant.
Four hand pumps provided GFB (very good at £2.45), Summer Lightning and Entire Stout plus one guest, which was Downton Golden Goal. There was also a comprehensive stock of Hopback bottles on display behind the bar. The staff gave a bit of a muted welcome, but the service was otherwise fine.
There is a dartboard in the smaller room and an outdoor seating area as well. I also spotted a poster which depicted all of the pub signs of Wimbledon, which I appreciated.
A good backstreet pub with the novelty of being the capital's only Hopback pub, which certainly makes it worth some investigation.
On 6th June 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Sultan
They had GFB, Downton Apple Blossom Ale, Entire Stout, and Summer Lightning on. It’s interesting that they call their stout “Entire”, as that is a very old name for this style of beer. I had an excellent pint of Summer Lightning, at a wallet friendly price of £2.80 a pint.
This is still a two-room pub, although I’ve only ever been in the public bar on the right hand side. Furnishings are mainly scrubbed solid pine tables, some banquette seating, small upholstered stools, and some solid pine chairs. The walls boast some wood panelling that is probably an inter-war fitting, possibly like the pub itself. The bar gantry looks a modern addition, as does the bar counter. I didn’t spot anything in the way of decor worth mentioning, and music was provided by a radio playing, although quietly enough to be background music. There is a small garden area on the right, with an attractive wisteria in flower when I visited on Tuesday lunchtime. It’s worth remembering that they don’t do food, other than crisps, peanuts, etc.
From my description it perhaps doesn’t sound like much of a pub, but it is for some reason quite a good one. It’s mostly a locals’ backstreet pub selling decent ale at decent prices, which is exactly the sort of pub that I like. But as the only Hopback pub in London it does tend to attract some real ale and real pub enthusiasts. There’s nothing wrong with that of course. I’ve been here several times before, and will no doubt visit again.
On 1st May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Sultan
Backstreet Hop Back Brewery outlet (the only one in London), situated in a brick built 1930’s building, which whilst not obviously attractive has a certain uniqueness. Spread over two bars, it’s clean and cosy inside, the furniture is pine and the carpet is busy. There’s an unfussy, paved beer garden out the back which catches the sun. The full range of Hop Back ales are on, plus the occasional Downton. Quality has always been top-notch on my visits and prices refreshingly cheap. Dart board available and and a rarely-used TV. No food either, just bar snacks - this is a drinkers pub first and foremost. Generally a local clientele but picks up a few beer tourists at weekends (like me). Watch out for the tinted mirror in bogs, it makes you look like you've been caught in a thermo-nuclear blast.
Well-worth the yomp from Colliers Green tube or Wimbledon mainline. Best take a map though, it's well in the back-streets. Recommended.
On 12th September 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Sultan
Straight forward no nonsense two bar back street boozer selling "Hopback" beers. This is a traditional pub and has won awards from CAMRA and is well worth a visit. 10 minutes walk from Collier's Wood/South Wimbledon tube stations
On 19th November 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]