The Temperance, SW6

Big sports bar with balcony and loads of screens.Ideal for the football and boxing.Doombar and Pride.Tried the rarely seen now Hoogaarden which was refreshing.Of its type a decent pub.

Although not really my type of pub, I have utilised The Temperance a couple of times in recent months when this side of Putney bridge because you can invariably get a seat early evening over the weekend and the standard pub grub on offer is usually reliable. A big barn of a mainly sports orientated pub, well described by previous reviewers, my first visit was during the world cup, when it must have been a contender for the maximum number of country flags you can squeeze into one roof space. And then back in a couple of weekends ago and on both occasions managed to get a seat by the large front windows. I think two of the four ale pumps were on the go for both visits and good to find offerings from the smaller London breweries with beers from the Truman and Hackney breweries available, and they were passable enough to be enjoyed with the food. I guess this place functions best when a popular sporting event is being shown on the various large screens available, and it’s not the most exciting place when there is only a few in. But that suited us as we weren’t looking for excitement and the muted Test match cricket was entertaining enough for us.

Official site of the Temperance, contains menus - www.thetemperancefulham.co.uk

Official site of the Temperance, contains menus - www.thetemperancefulham.co.uk

Formerly The Temperance Billiards Hall, then at one time an O'Neill's, this is a rather unusual pub. The exterior is quite attractive with original tiling and a low domed area of roof, internally there is a high vaulted ceiling with exposed metal trusses, almost like a scaled down Victorian railway station. The bar is central in the main area, with plenty of room all around, flooring is wooden with an area of tiled inserts, a bit like samples you'd see in a tile shop. Modern Art hangs on the walls. A few TVs were showing 20-20 cricket muted. The back of the pub has a mezzanine area up an open staircase where there are a couple of pool tables and mainly sofa seating. Lighting is subdued, with twinkly fairy lights entwined around foliage. Seating is more traditional in the main area, distributed around the perimeter. There were a few board games available to borrow on a table but you'd most likely need to bring a torch to play. Four handpumps, two on at the time serving Pride and GKIPA. There is a food servery in the rear corner, but I didn't spot any menus. An unusual but inoffensive place, a better ale choice could entice me back, and my information is that it does get better than the pair we encountered on the night.

A big play is made of the ales available on a board by the door, which displays numerous pump clips of the ales they have presumably had on at one time or another. However on our visit only London Pride and GKIPA were available, with clips for Young’s Bitter and Doom Bar reversed. The Pride was OK, but not as good as the pint I had had earlier in the Golden Lion. At £3 a pint it was reasonably priced, and served in a dimpled jug. I think they must have just stopped doing food when we arrived at around 9.45 PM as the menus were soon removed from the tables. But a cursory glance revealed that main courses were about £9 - £10, and sandwiches about £5+. Inside it’s not much like any pub I’ve been in. The ceiling is very high and curved and the room itself is enormous – I’ve been in smaller aircraft hangars. There is foliage all over the place – large vases of lilies on the bar counter, massive pots containing ficus benjaminii adorned with fairy lights giving the place a surreal effect – making it a bit reminiscent of the hot house at Kew Gardens. I didn’t mind this pub, although I thought it was very unusual. I can’t see me rushing back, although I certainly wouldn’t object to returning for another pint sometime in the hope of finding a more exciting ale selection.