The Duchess Belle, SW8

There were a few real ales on in here - GK IPA, Hogsback TEA, and the GK "house" ale called Duchess Ale (£2.20 a half), which is actually Hardy & Hanson Bitter rebadged. Orchard Pig Hogfather cider was also available. I didn't see any sign of food when I was in late afternoon on a Friday. This pub has now been fairly modernised, but in a fairly tasteful way. Perhaps some might not consider the couple of enormous framed black and white photographs of naked ladies in artistic poses as tasteful, but I thought they went quite nicely. Other features of note were the old jukebox, presumably as a decorative feature as it had a "do not touch" sign on it, the brewery mirrors, and the large platform above the door to the garden bearing a piano, guitar and motor scooter all in Union Flag livery. Unusual, to say the least. It's bare-boarded of course, but all furnishings were normal tables and chairs. There's also a reasonably large garden at the back. It was obviously fairly wuiet late afternoon on a Friday, but they had enough punters in to make it worth their effort of opening up. I imagine that they will hope to generate extra business when the Battersea Power Station development opens. I quite liked my short visit here, even if some of the traditional pub character had been lost. The beer selection seems to have improved a bit since its last refurbishment, but as a Greene King pub it's never going to be great.