Fox & Hounds, SW1

Very much a traditional locals pub with old prints mostly of nautical and railway subjects. What isn’t picture is Lincrusta or gold framed mirror, there’s plenty of leather, dark wood and cast iron here too. The rear section has sofas and bookshelves. An odd mix of punters including three clerical gentlemen unless they were in fancy dress. I was surprised to see a Kirkstall beer on and it wasn’t bad even at £6.50 a pint; ‘ow much? didn’t pass my lips, honest.

Official site of Fox & Hounds - www.foxandhoundssw1.co.uk

Finding virtually every central London pub closed early, not just on a Sunday, but one post-Hallowe’en and with just 75 minutes to go to fulfil my One Month, 100 New Pubs Challenge, I stumbled across this backstreet traditional boozer, which I’d never even seen before. It’s a simple traditional place, with much dark wood and small basic bar, the whole long and thin. It’s rough boarded, the walls are black match board to dado, then burgundy Anaglypta to the walls, with a similarly papered white ceiling. There was a very jovial quiz on, on my arrival, with customers and quiz master exchanging much banter, the lovely barmaid joining in. At other times, customers may be drawn from those taking in a show at the Royal Court Theatre. Décor comprises paintings with brass picture lamps, otherwise it’s like a low-ceilinged village pub. Still a Young’s house, one pump was unused, one for London Original (reversed), the Proper Job and Oakham’s Inferno, very nice but at an increasingly normal £6.00 a pint; this is Belgravia. This is a very dinky and mainly charming place, definitely one of the best pubs in SW1.

Official site of Fox & Hounds - www.foxandhoundssw1.co.uk

An traditional looking street corner pub located down a side street but just a minute or two’s walk from Sloane Square, it has an attractive appearance and was very busy on our Friday evening visit with just as many punters spilling outside on to the pavement as there were inside. Internally it consists of one long and narrow room with dark wooden boards on the floor, dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and red painted wallpaper up above. There were several large mirrors on the walls as well as large oil paintings in ornate gilded frames. A couple of bookcases were at the rear, one of which was free standing and another recessed in to the wall as well as an old piano. A large skylight here brought in some natural light to the rear of the pub. A couple of Chesterfield sofas in both the more traditional red as well as blue provided some comfy seating. Beers on tap were all from Young’s with their Original, Special and Cityscape. The solitary cider was Orchard Thieves which didn’t seem quite as nice as I had remembered. Prices too seemed expensive with a pint of the cider and a G&T coming it at over £13, although that was at least better than almost £18 which I was asked before querying it.

Narrow Young’s pub tucked away on the back streets. Bare boarded interior serving 3 real ales from the 4 taps.