The Crooked Billet, Wimbledon Common, SW19

Very much on the modernised and gastro side of things,with wooden flooring and lots of exposed brick walls. Four handpumps on the bar providing a choice of Young's Bitter, Special and Hummingbird as well as Rosie's Pig cloudy Cider,also a mid range of craft stuff on keg and in bottles. Its not worth a dedicated trip here but worth a look when doubled up with The Hand In Hand a few yards up the road.

The Crooked Billet is a really nice looking pub in a nice location close to Wimbledon common. Once inside there were a few different rooms and all these had a cosy feel to them and looked olde worlde. This pub is a Youngs tied house and there were three real ales on the bar i had a drink of Youngs bitter and this was a very nice drink the other beers were Youngs Special and Winter Warmer. I thought this was a really nice pub and well worth the walk up hill from the station. Pub visited 14/12/2002

This is a large, multi roomed Young's pub situated near Wimbledon Common, which has a real country pub feel to it. There is a lot of bare brickwork, some nice carpets and a good variety of furniture, most of which has a bit of a rustic feel to it - none of your standard pub tables and chairs here. A central fireplace provides a nice focal point in the busy front room and there were plenty of people sat around it on a bracing February afternoon. There is a second bar in a room to the rear, connected by another area which has a few seats as well. We stopped in here for some food and found most main courses were around £10, which seems to be the going rate in this type of pub. I thought the food was pretty good quality, so I wasn't grumbling too much about the price. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the day's papers were available at the bar. Beer choice was a little wider than in many Young’s pubs with Ordinary, Special, London Gold and Bombardier supplemented by Courage Directors and Sambrooks Wandle. I tried a pint of the Wandle and found it to be in reasonable condition. A good place to stop off after a walk across the Common, although there is another Young's pub virtually next door which may well be better, but I found this place served its purpose well enough.

Situated on the road that bears the same name, next door to another Youngs House (The Hand in Hand) lies the Crooked Billet, as close to a country pub as I think you'll find in South West London. Its a cosy, welcoming sort of place, popular with the local residents and as such rather difficult to find seating in during the sunday lunchtime rush. Nevertheless I was able to perch on a stool and thumb through the News of the World to find out about John Terry's latest misdemeanours. Tribute in satisfactory nick. A bit out of the way, but worth seeking out for something a bit different.

The pub was very busy on Sunday afternoon with many people eating the hearty Sunday roast lunches, however I was able to bag a corner table. The main bar area has wooden boarded flooring, a an adjacent area steps up slightly and has rather ancient looking stone flags. Some exposed brickwork, a grand feature fireplace and other areas wood panelled. Seating mainly traditional at tables of various sizes, some seating 10 people. I did spot a couple of sofas however. Artwork on display from a local artist, some of which can be purchased. A Young's pub but one with a guest policy, they had Butcombe Bitter on at £3.25, as well as Ordinary, Special, London Gold and Bombardier. A chalkboard in the covered alleyway/corridor area listed a number of forthcoming guest beers. The food does look good if a bit pricey, one unusual item I spotted on the menu was home made pork scratchings. Outdoor drinking is possible on fine days on the large green to the front which is shared with The Hand in Hand a couple of doors along.

Randomness Guide to London - Crooked Billet entry

Randomness Guide to London - Crooked Billet entry