Pensbury Arms, SW8

The Pensbury Arms looked quite inviting as I approached on a recent Saturday afternoon. Some plants, a couple of chairs under an awning and evidence of a seafood van had me thinking that the Pensbury was going to be one of those proper old school back street boozers that I love so much. Alas my initial hopes of stumbling upon a diamond in the rough were dashed as I walked through the entrance into a shabby unkempt pub. Standard draught and San Miguel were available from an island bar that was docked with the rear wall by an unsightly makeshift food preparation area. The television was showing daytime programmes that the handful of down to earth locals had absolutely no interest in. The air was very blue, but this didn’t seem to concern the resident parrot that looked on from its perch. I noted the presence of a jukebox that was off for the duration of my stay. I thought that this pub was awful and the only saving grace was that the governor was courteous. I will not be returning any time soon.

This pub looks good from the outside with its faux Tudor beams, but I’m afraid that inside it’s very tatty without any of the character that can be retained in a pub that has had hardly any money spent on it. There are a few beaten up old prints on the walls depicting hunting scenes. They’re not particularly attractive and they’re not improved by having “jokes” stuck on them – e.g. on the deceased pheasant “I’m not dead, I just called in sick”. The landlord seemed a decent enough bloke, and commenting on the lack of real ale, he said that he had tried unsuccessfully to sell it. Rather poignantly, during my visit he was dismantling the Adnam’s pump. This looks as if it could be a good pub, but it was just a bit too grubby and tasteless for my liking. Coupled with the absence of any real ale, I doubt whether I shall be making a return visit.

This is a nice pub, both inside & out. Has one real ale pump, Adnams, but it wasn't on at the time. Racing & darts were on the two screens in the bar. Best pub in the immediate area.