The Duchy Arms, Kennington, SE11

A food forward corner pub and indeed the barmaid was prompted to come and ask me at my table if I would be eating by her seemingly up his jacksy manager or landlord, I got constant disapproving glances from him whilst I drank my pint sat out of the way on a small corner table.Thankfully my skin is thick enough to ignore it and continued with my rather average pint of Wimbledon SW19, the only cask beer available, there was a standard keg lineup plus a token Beavertown Neck Oil.The pub was bereft of custom other than myself and a couple of solo diners. The barmaid was friendly but under constant pressure from the boss, I'll not be back anyhow.

Dating from at least 1821, this has presumably been rebuilt at some stage in a rather Georgian style, the name dating from 1972, prior to which, it was known as the Anchor & Hope. The place doesn’t exactly do much to announce itself, as there’s no external lighting. On approach, I actually thought I’d got the wrong street, as the place isn’t visible until you’re virtually on top of it. Once inside though, it’s quite brightly lit and fairly traditional, with an interesting leaded stained-glass front to the pot shelf. Furniture is mixed and conventional, with a boarded floor, décor in the form of framed prints. What’s most striking, are the large arched window reveals, complete with extravagant blue velour swag curtains; it was a bit like drinking in Marlene’s boudoir, with pleasant music playing. Customers are a game of two halves, with seemingly young male incomers in the rear bar, but with rather glum old locals in the front. Ale manifested itself in the form of one unused pump, a real cider, Portobello Stiff Lip IPA and Sambrook’s Pumphouse, at a pleasing £2.25 a half and in excellent shape too, served by a friendly barmaid. This is quite a decent place, but it would be much improved if the TVs were turned off, at least in the main bar, for a more relaxing experience.

Official site of The Duchy Arms - www.duchyarmslondon.com

Official site of The Duchy Arms - www.duchyarmslondon.com

Nice corner pub in the Kennington area. Back room has been through a refurb, now is a mix of dining area and bar. Large screen showing sport. 3 ale taps all at £4, Hogs Back Harvest, Mister Chubb's & Doombar, which was turned round. Lots of choices for food including a kids selection. Friendly staff. Garden area through passage to the right of the main bar. Like this place. Gastro pub it ain't.

Box-shaped corner pub with a single-storey rear extension. Gentrified staple-shaped interior, with a back room in one corner and the passageway through to the rear patio beer garden in the other. Mix of furniture throughout. Two of three handpumps in operation, offering Doom Bar and Truman's Swift.