The Bull, Streatham Common, SW16

This pub retains three separate rooms, unusual in itself these days, especially for a member of the Young's stable. The largest room has had a bit of the usual treatment with modern stripy wallpaper and carpets and the usual mix of seating, however perservere and wander through to the area behind where we have the original billiard room and bar. The room at the back has three pool tables but I suspect this isn't the original games room as the ornate skylight is situated in the area to the front where I guess the bar has been extended; this area has some attractive carved dark wood and etched glass. The pool room itself is decorated with various framed portraits of dukes and other dignitaries, there are also a range of trophies on a shelf, I assume for pool. Some good quality wood panelling survives too. Mostly regular seating, the former billiards room has exposed wood roof trusses. Youngs beers, the routine ordinary Bitter and Special plus Jersey brewed Liberation Ale guesting. Thatchers cider on too. A decent pub, catering for all tastes it seems, let's hope it can be kept that way.

There’s been a pub on this site since at least the middle of the 18th Century, as it was a stopping point for coaches en route to London. It’s been a Young’s pub since 1832, and has been expanded, and considerably renovated several times over the years. I found this place a bit of an enigma – The bar on the left is entered through a pair of double doors, with some very old leaded glazing gracing them, with the ironwork “billiards” sign above them. The room you find yourself in has a skylight, which suggests that this is where the billiards (and of course snooker) would have been played, but with the bar counter currently in here there wouldn’t have been room for a snooker table. Nothing like a mystery to occupy one’s thoughts when sinking a pint! In any case this is the nicest room in my opinion, with some very nice cut glass mirrors set in the bar back. The large room on the right has been given the traditional Young’s makeover – sofas and all that – but it’s not too bad for all that. At the back of the pub is a large pool room, containing three pool tables, with beautiful wood panelled walls reminiscent of a gentlemen’s club. There are a number of sketches and pictures on the walls here, featuring various old MPs and other worthies. Being a Young’s pub the usual offerings of their Bitter and Special are available, but on my recent visit the added bonus of a very drinkable ale called Liberation Ale (£3.50 a pint) from somewhere in the Cannel Islands apparently, was available. I rather liked this pub, and would be happy to drop in for another pint if I was in the area.

Located on the busy Streatham High Street, just off the south west corner of Streatham Common, the Pied Bull is a large multiple room Young’s house. Entering through the left hand door at the front of the pub, you find yourself in a compact narrow public bar. The room is carpeted with banquette seating down the left wall and the servery opposite. The bar back in this room is perhaps the highlight of the pub as it boasts some fine glasswork and elaborate woodwork. Above is a stained glass skylight below which you can appreciate various exposed beams and girders as well as some nice arched windows on the front wall. On the right hand side of the pub is a spacious lounge cum restaurant with smart contemporary wallpaper and a good mixture of formal and comfy seating options. Old photos of the local area line the walls and overall the place has that gastro feel that many refurbished Young’s pubs now seem to have although I was happy enough in here flicking through the excellent selection of Sunday papers that had been laid out whilst enjoying my pint. At the rear of the pub there is a games room with three pool tables, a couple of fireplaces and some fine panelled walls. From here there was access to a paved garden to the left of the building. Three Young’s ales were available on handpull – Ordinary, Special and London Gold – along with further bottled offerings. My London Gold was in good shape and served to me by an attentive barman. I never knew this pub in its previous guise as alluded to by the last reviewer, but I thought that it still offered a pleasant drinking experience, maintaining plenty of interesting features and providing an environment that will appeal to a wider range of customers.