Hawkins Forge, SW11

Trading from at least the mid-19th century, this was originally the more mundane Railway Tavern, though apparently once a blacksmith’s forge, he presumably called Hawkins. This is a large, stripped out place with an area to the rear seemingly devoted to loud – but decent – live music on my Friday night visit and pool. Otherwise, it’s a soulless place with a boarded floor, bare brick and mid-grey paint with some corrugated iron to the bar back; a football table was available too, all to lighting from trendy fittings with filament bulbs. Understandably, customers were on the younger side – a theme here – and unlike me, having a good time. There’s no cask here, me plumping for a half of Wiper & True’s Lemon Drop Hill, freezing cold and tasting like sherbet lemons (but without the sherbet) at £3.65 a half, served by an efficient barmaid. Another venue aimed at the area’s Club 18-30 brigade, so I’ll not be returning, but it’s fractionally better than the Northcote.

I paid my first visit to this pub since its change of management and change of name to the most unusual Hawkins Forge. To be honest it didn't seem a great deal different apart from the pizza operation having been given the heave-ho, and of course an improvement in the beer choice. There are four handpumps here, two dispensing Harviestoun Summer Ale and Wimbledon Common (£2.25 a half); a third had a Wandle clip and a note saying that "I'm next", with a fourth having a Doom Bar Clip and a note saying "next week". I came the right week then. There are now single sheet menus on all the tables - as examples the burger and fries is £11.95, and the "Cherry Orchard Farm horseshoe sausage, spring onion mash, & a red wine jus" (sausage & mash in English) is £12.50. A bit of an upmarket from the seven quid pizza I would say. The basic structure is of course unchanged, but I did spot a dartboard in the room at the back. It's still not exactly an absolute winner as a pub, but is still an improvement on the previous incarnation.

Official site of Hawkins Forge - www.hawkinsforge.co.uk

Official site of Hawkins Forge - www.hawkinsforge.co.uk

The signage outside states that the pub is a "Pizza Kitchen and Bar" which kind of prepares one for what awaits inside. In actual fact my initial signage related scepticism was eased somewhat on entering, although some distance from my idea of a perfect pub, the place was acceptable for a quick half, even if this was of the ever increasingly prevalent Doom Bar. One other pump was unclipped. The main room has the bar on a back wall, padded frontage, a bit 70s style, next to it is the food servery and pizza oven, they are seemingly not limited to pizza as I spotted someone scoffing a burger. Pizza is the mainstay however and takeaways are offered. Two raised areas adjoin the bar, the rear has two pool tables and a pair of dartboards, the side bit with a pair of sofas and a few regular tables. Seating in the bar is also mixed, high tables dominate but thankfully there are a few standard issue at the back with banquette and chairs. Lacquered wooden flooring, grey painted modern wainscoting. If you like live sports you'll be at home here, I counted at least five big screens including one behind the bar, all showing the Wasps RU game this afternoon, with volume on. There is music, of the live type, advertised for Saturday evenings. Really nothing to get excited about although I'm sure it would tick boxes for live sport fans and at least it seems real ale has returned, even if it was Doom Bar.