The Prince of Wales, Wimbledon, SW19

They wanted to charge £4.40 tonight for 3.8% Hophead!!! errm, no thanks! I will never set foot in here again!

Prince of Wales page at the Taylor Walker site - www.taylor-walker.co.uk

Originally, so its website says, a 17th century coaching in, this externally grand pub has long resembled a Victorian gin palace and with sympathetic ownership could be a classic of the genre. Not much chance of that with Punch Taverns, who have lately inflicted their Taylor Walker branding on it, so it's much the same as all their others in London. It's a perfectly safe choice for a couple of hours but it could be so much better.

Prince of Wales page at the Taylor Walker site - www.taylor-walker.co.uk

I quite liked this place - nice leather armchairs and a well preserved Victorian interior. Rather middling pint of Pride was served (Adnams Regatta, GK IPA and Landlord also available) but I still think I'd give this place another go. Its certainly infinitely preferable to some of the horror shows down the road.

A large pub located across the road from Wimbledon station. Beers from adnams,brains,everards,purity,smiths & theakston.

The prominence and architecture of the building suggests that it might be late Victorian, or possibly Edwardian, but there is nothing remaining inside to testify to such a noble heritage. There’s still some nice original tiling on the outside, even if it is battered and chipped in many places. Downstairs there is something called “Bertie’s Bar”, to which I didn’t venture. On the ground floor there is now a one-room bar. The front part of the room as you enter is bare boarded, with some sofas high tables and stools, and with some attractive black and white tiling in front of the bar counter. At the back is a slightly raised carpeted area with some banquettes and normal tables and chairs, and a fireplace that does not look as if it has had any recent use. The toilets are in this area, including one for disabled customers. The wall decor in the pub is mainly faux chalkboards, a large TV monitor (but off during my mid afternoon visit), and a few old black and white photographs. There were three ales on during my visit – Theakston’s Old Peculiar; Young’s Special; and Brain’s Reverand James, with two pumps with reversed clips (one for Adnam’s as I recall). I had the Rev James (at £3.20 a pint), which was unusually served far too warm, as the opposite is more commonly the case. This is a Punch Group pub, with their usual pub grub menu on offer. When I was in this seemed to be an unobjectionable and unexceptional pub, just like a hundred other Punch Group pubs you’ve been in.

A busy town pub over the road from the station. Nice wood and etched glass porch entrance, inside is one elongated space. A mix of seating, from high tables and sofas to the more traditional....and favourable....in my opinion. There is an attractive black and white tiled area in front of the bar. Downstairs is Berties Wine Bar, an occasional music venue, but not visited by me. A good enough spot for one or two while waiting for a train. the barmaid was friendly and chatty. Beers were Pride, GK IPA, Adnam's Broadside, Theakston Old Peculiar, and Brain's Reverend James(£3.20).