The Plough, East Sheen, SW14

Tris C left this review about The Plough

A confused history, this may or may not have been a collection of 15th century farmers’ cottages but may date from the 18th century when this area was all fields. Whatever the provenance – I’d have had this as dating from the 1930s when the surrounding houses went up – it’s now a remote backstreet pub situated amidst a relatively prosperous south-west London backwater, the sort of place where Margo and Jerry Leadbetter would feel at home, with a mustard yellow Triumph Dolomite Sprint parked in the driveway.
Seemingly unchanged since the last review and not unlike a hotel bar, the interior exhibits little if any heritage: aside from the welcome presence of a real log fire, the interior is trendy meets pseudo Olde Worlde, with lots of pale wood, white or taupe paint, conventional furniture with banquette window reveal seating with some strategic knickknacks on shelves. Customers at the time of my Saturday 8.45pm visit were predictable, unlike the annoying berk at the next table who insisted on yelling into his phone throughout my stay, before watching noisy YourFace videos; thankfully I was spared seeing dogs eating pig’s ears (£2.00 a pop), which is downright disgusting.
There are Fuller’s beers here – unsurprising given the SW postcode – so it was more Neck Oil, £3.75 a half, served by a barmaid festooned with tattoos and piercings, she belying the pub’s upmarket aspirations.
With barely any local competition, expect this place to clean up with Mr. Sheen.

On 12^th February 2025 - rating: 4
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