The Builders Arms, Teddington

Randomness Guide to London - Builders Arms entry

There was an odd scene as I entered with the staff still engaged in putting up the St Patrick’s Day decorations. I told the barman that the gas cylinder sitting in the middle of the floor complemented perfectly the green balloons tied to the backs of the chairs. The vases of daffodils on most of the tables looked attractive and added a touch of St David to St Patrick’s Day. This is a friendly and welcoming backstreet pub. It’s carpeted, giving the place a warm feel, and furnishings are the usual for this sort of pub – banquettes, normal tables and chairs and stools at the bar. It’s on the CAMRA inventory of London pubs with interiors worthy of preservation, no doubt due to the separate bar at the back, from where I think heard the sounds of pool being played. The wood panelled walls, and the windows, are also very attractive features of this pub. The major negative point from my point of view was the radio station being played over the sound system. Banal music is one thing, but being interspersed with adverts does nothing to improve it. There was a TV above the windows at the front, but muted, except when they were testing it for some sort of horse racing shindig being held in the evening. The ales on during my lunchtime visit were Doom Bar, London Pride, Young’s Bitter, and Itchen Valley Godfather. I went for the latter ale of course, at the fairly reasonable price of £3.05 a pint, which turned out to be a very drinkable hoppy 3.8% session ale, although it was perhaps a little hoppy for my palate to stick to for a whole session. There was some pretty basic pub grub (and there’s nothing wrong with basic pub grub!) on offer at reasonable prices. I had an excellent roast beef baguette with a bit of salad for £3.95. I liked this pub a lot, and would be very happy to drop in for another pint or two – if they’ll have me that is, after I pointed out to the landlady a spelling error (no “e” in tomato) on her chalkboard menu! If you like a real pub, then you’ll like the Builders Arms.