The Drayton Arms, SW5

Well described below and on CAMRA’s site, this is quite an ornate edifice, with residual etched glass, a mirror in the open air vestibule, fine original mahogany fittings and grand central column (see photo). Furniture is mixed, me sat a tall hydraulic table; I dared not press the pedal. Customers are young professional types and there’s a theatre upstairs; Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance was blaring out over the gramophone. There were two unused pumps, then Doom or Landlord at a very steep £2.95 a half, though very good. This is a decent pub, the best of the four with a frontage on Old Brompton Road, marginally better and more pubby than the Duke of Clarence, almost opposite.

An ornate building with a theatre upstairs. The interior doesn't really match-up but there is enough character to make it decent, with some old interwar features still in situ. Laid out in a funny apex shape with a spur off right, the main bar is light and bright with large glass windows whilst the spur is dark and dingy, not helped by the dark blue paintwork. Four pumps with two ales on, Doom Bar and Sadlers Peaky Blinder, the latter of which was expensive, warm and pump tired (NBSS 2, at a push). A better bet may have been the 18 keg options which had a bit of variation. Family-friendly to the extent of having screaming babies in the main bar with the kind of parents who think they own the pub and that everyone else has to submit to their little darling’s every ear-piercing squawk. Overall it’s probably worth a nose if you're nearby but once was enough for me. 5.5

The Drayton Arms is a decent looking pub. Once inside there is a single wedged shaped room with the bar facing,there is comfy bench seating and chairs to the front and one tall table and chairs plus a half circular settee in the middle area,the right side has normal tables and chairs. There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Harvistoun Afterglow which went down very well,the other beers were Sambrooks Junction and St Austell Tribute. There was a small TV to the right showing tennis and quiet background music was playing. I quite liked this place. Pub visited 1/7/2015

The daytime menu here featured tea for two at £22.40, but taking into account that I was in a pub I decided against this bargain and had a half of Bateman’s Yellabelly Gold for £1.95. The other beers on were Sharp’s Doom Bar, Brakspear’s Summer Gold and Sambrooke’s Junction. The daytime menu also had a traditional breakfast for £8.50 and other main courses around the £10 - £11 mark. This pub is a large, imposing (Grade II listed) building that dominates the junction on which it sits. Inside it’s fairly large, but not as large as the exterior would suggest. It’s lost most of its original splendour of course, although a few vestiges remain, such as the vestibule with the door signed to the private bar, the ceiling with its original fielded panel design, and some etched glasswork and panelling. Thankfully it’s managed to avoid having Chelsea grey daubed everywhere, with the traditional brown of the wood predominating. But it does still have some “high class” adornments like the Champagne bottles in the bar back and yellow tulips in little vases on all the tables. There are some large potted plants introducing some greenery, and although there a couple of tall tables/tall stools the main furnishings are normal tables and chairs. Apparently there is a theatre upstairs, although I didn’t go up there. This is still a fairly ornate pub – especially the exterior – and although it doesn’t have the traditional “pubiness” that I appreciate I still quite liked this one. It’s comfortable, and the beer is OK (if a tad expensive – but probably not unreasonable for the area).

Interesting exterior, and whilst the irregularly-shaped bar (with dining area beyond) has been refurbished it retains fairly traditional furniture and decor. Theatre upstairs (not visisted). Doom Bar, Wandle, Brakspear Oxford Gold, Copper Dragon Black Gold (£3.60, and served in a jug) available from the four handpumps. Overall, quite a reasonable place I thought... (NB - Review dates from April 2012.)