Three Falcons, St John's Wood, NW8

Visited in June 2010 The Richmond Arms is an old fashioned street corner locals pub dating back to the 1920's and is situated in a less than salubrious part of St Johns Wood. It's in an area of unattractive looking council estates just off the Edgware Road. The pub features in CAMRA's book of London Heritage Pubs - which was why I sought it out - and features some original fireplaces and cushioned fixed seating around the walls of the 3 original rooms, which are now interconnecting. Original bar fittings and counters still remain and the pub is carpeted throughout. However, I'm afraid that the distinct overriding impression is of a rather tatty and run down pub in need of some TLC. It's a former Watney Combe Reid pub and two of the round stag signs can still be seen on the external walls. My recent Sunday evening visit ( after watching a 20-20 cricket match against Essex at nearby Lords ) was not a particularly memorable or enjoyable visit. The pub had what could only be described as a rather rough and ready council estate pub atmosphere. A good few of the customers were clearly quite a bit the worse for wear and looked as though they had probably been in the pub for most, if not all, of the day. Bad language was rife. It's the type of pub where everybody looks at you as you walk in. After a quick walk round the 3 rooms, I retreated to an unoccupied table on the pavement outside. There's no real ale and I had to settle for a pint of John Smith's Extra Smooth - £ 2.70p. Don't be fooled by the St Johns Wood address - this is a rather unappealing pub with little, if anything, to commend it at all to a passing visitor. I wish that I had read Rex's review below beforehand

This is a backstreet locals’ pub just off the Edgware Rd. It’s a CAMRA London heritage pub with interior décor from between the wars, with separate (but connected) bars, and wood panelling, etc. But there’s no real ale, just the usual bog standard lagers plus John Smith’s. There were some apparent regulars at the bar – they must be regulars judging by the amount of swearing they were doing, as I suspect that visitors would not always be permitted such largesse. There’s not really anything to recommend this pub (as far as I am concerned) and I doubt whether I shall be back.