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Detail Pages
The Leather Bottle, Merton Park, SW19
SW19
SW19 3NW
Pub Type
John Barras (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Leather Bottle
Supposedly dating from the early 18th century, the current structure was rebuilt in 1897 as a big roadhouse number; it reopened on Friday 7th June after yet another refurb.
My visit was undertaken the following Friday, arriving just before 9.30pm and the interior is certainly contemporary, with a part polished wood floor, then somewhat psychedelic tiling. There’s a raised area, Arts & Crafts-style floral wallpaper or Farrow & Ball (all visible on their website), the bar array featuring shiny blue tiles to the rear and tubular steel racking; obviously there were games machines and silent TV sport to a fairly loud soundtrack. Customers were a mixed age local bunch, many quite boisterous.
Cask held no surprises, with Abbot and GK IPA which was off, my emergency beverage of choice – Neck Oil – ‘That’s off’, so it was a half of Tadcaster’s finest: Madri, £3.35 a half, served up after an age, the product of utterly shambolic service.
This sort of utterly formulaic style really isn’t my thing and with the limited drinks choice – on a Saturday evening – and poor service, doesn’t really paint the place in a flattering light; there are only two pubs in this part of SW19 worthy of anyone’s shoe leather.
On 16th June 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Leather Bottle
Large suburban pub with a good late Victorian exterior. Inside is still one large L shaped room but smartly facelifted and the games area has disappeared in favour of a greater food offering. Woodwork has been given the muted grey and brown treatment, the bar back has been tiled and much of the floor has become stone flagged, for no apparent reason. A number of large sports screens overlook proceedings. Outside is restricted to narrow patio areas alongside the road frontages. Ales on were IPA, Abbot and TT Landlord; condition seemed fair enough. Not really worth seeking out specially but respectable enough if you are in the area.
On 20th January 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Leather Bottle
This one remains pretty much as described by Maldenman, with the sports area remaining on the left – notably with the rarely seen table football – and normal tables and chairs elsewhere in this large, rambling pub. This is a John Barras pub, which makes it part of the Punch Pubco. And it looks the part as well. It looks OK from the outside, occupying a prominent corner site, and being well maintained with numerous hanging baskets. There are a good few picnic benches at the side and in the front, the latter screened from the busy main road by a hedge. But inside it’s fairly tatty. You have tables not cleaned properly after diners have finished, and some of the filthiest upholstery on the banquettes and chairs that I have seen. The TV screens were showing Sky Sports (muted), and some pop music was blaring out.
The ales on were Spitfire, GKIPA, and OSH. The food was the usual Punch Pubco stuff. I’ve been in hundreds of pubs like this one, and will no doubt end up in many more, but this is one that I won’t be in any hurry to return to.
On 12th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Leather Bottle
This pub is now one large open plan L-shaped space with the bar in the inner corner. There are a couple of raised areas of seating, plus another at the rear forming a "sports" area, with two pool tables, a dartboard and a bar football table. A few screens are dotted about showing a mixture of cricket and Sky News, competing with the music from the juke box.
Currently the flags of almost all World Cup countries are hanging from the ceiling, I reckon finding a North Korea flag is proving elusive.
There are a few hints of the pub's age and history but not many, some decent stained glass remains in the upper portion of the windows.
The seating is generally traditional in style, however the banquette upholstery has seen better days. The general ambience is summed up by the notices declaring CCTV is present and "No hats, Baseball caps or Hoodies".
There were however three ales on, nothing too exciting but nevertheless welcome. Young's Special, Deuchers IPA and Old Speckled Hen. £2.85 for YS is not bad.
The Leather Bottle has a history of entertainment, hosting jazz back in the 70's (Humphrey Lyttleton played here), blues nights in the 80's then a comedy club in the early 90's. I'm unsure however if anything similar still occurs these days.
On 5th June 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]