The Hope, Battersea, SW8

There’s no real ale here. However, there were two handpumps, one even had a Masterbrew clip reversed, but on enquiring I was told that they were just for show as they don’t have any call for real ale. Where have I heard that before? There was also a really old jukebox in one corner, as well as an ancient fruit machine. Neither were in use so I suppose they were also decorative features. Indeed, the fruit machine looked as if it pre-dated the electricity versions. There was no sign of any food. There are, however, two dartboards and a pool table as well as loads of sport related (mainly horse racing and cricket) décor on the walls. Some potted plants are dotted around the place. The colour scheme is light blue (RAF or Man City perhaps) and cream, and is furnished with just the one tall table with tall stools as far as I could see, plus a mix of banquettes and normal tables and chairs. It’s carpeted throughout. There were a couple of other unusual features – a stag’s head mounted on one of the walls, and what I think is a bassoon suspended from the ceiling. The interconnected drinking areas are wrapped around what is now a central island servery, with the wrought iron gantry above the bar counter giving it something of a 70s retro look. This is a backstreet locals’ pub of the type that are becoming rarer by the day in London, but I’m afraid that in the absence of a real ale I’m unlikely to consider a return visit.

Been some improvement, new paintwork inside, now seems brighter. Live music and disco, I think, and a new pool table. Now the bad news, no real ale, no Guinness.