Spread Eagle, Wandsworth, SW18

Randomness Guide to London - Spread Eagle entry

Randomness Guide to London - Spread Eagle entry

A well preserved Victorian example of a gin palace, split into three areas with dark wood partitions with etched glass. The attractive island bar serves all areas; the bar back is an abundance of etched mirrors and polished carved mahogany. The saloon bar is carpeted and has generally traditional seating although there are a couple of high tables towards the front windows. To the rear of this room there is a large stained glass rooflight lending some natural light into what is a long deep room. The public bar is dominated by a pool table. To the rear of the saloon is an area accessed through a door in the screen marked "Lounge and Dining Room". This area now has a few sofas, a bookcase of novels and the decor consists of mainly French adverts in frames making it feel a bit like a Cafe Rouge. Another less attractive rooflight in here is made of wired glass and has a timber cradle underneath so I'm supposing some of the glass might be cracked. No one was in this room where a large TV was playing to itself. All the areas seem to have working fireplaces, not needed in June obviously. Board games are set on a side table for customer's use. A couple of TVs offered a choice of the World Cup or Royal Ascot. Despite the attractive period interior and the generally grand feel of the building I couldn't help feel that the pub had a rather down at heel feel, mainly I suppose because apart from myself there were just 4 or 5 solitary drinkers perched morosely on bar stools occasionally passing comment about something or other. Despite the size of the bar and the repeated banks of handpumps there were only Young's Ordinary and Special on. It's certainly worth a visit however for the interior but I left feeling that there is something missing.

This is a rather impressive Victorian gin palace of a pub, with many superb original features still in place. It has one of the best bar backs you'll see anywhere. It's obviously a very spacious pub – that's the way the Victorians liked their gin palaces. It's a Young's pub – I guess one of their flagship pubs since when the brewery was opposite. But I didn't find it all that welcoming for some reason. The barmaid did say what an excellent choice I had made in choosing Young's Special (there wasn't much else to choose from!) and that it comes with a 10-year guarantee. What a strange thing to say – I got the feeling (perhaps wrongly) that she was taking the micky in some way. It's definitely worth a visit to have a look at the décor, but I'm not sure it's the sort of place I would like to spend a long time.

A great old Fashioned Young's pub where wood panelling and etched glass abound. one large front bar with a side bar incorporating a pool table and a seperate dining area at the back. This is a real "Traditional" pub and long may it survive. Lets hope it does not suffer the same fate as the Brewery Tap opposite. Over to you Charles Wells

Very large pub, lots of those etched mirrors, I think that's what they'll called. Sells real ale. Has a pool table in it's own area. Very comfortable seating.