The Tommy Tucker, Fulham, SW6

This is a late Victorian pub, originally called the Princess Royal, later the Pelican, the oh-so-funny rhyming slang moniker arriving along with gastrofication in 2015. There’s still a strange smell, probably fish ‘n’ chips emanating from the open kitchen, which along with the heat and noise, is why I don’t like them. The place has been completely stripped back, with a modern pale floor, a modern tall bar with pewter top, held in place by Phillips head screws; all very industrial. Furniture is tubular steel and plywood, the whole ensemble resembling a canteen. Unsurprisingly, acoustics are terrible making conversation very hard. The bar is an offset island affair, with all the taps on the side where there’s limited space between the bar front and rear wall. This wasn’t helped by this being occupied by a large group of drinkers, virtually obscuring the taps, an unused pump, another summoning up Doom. I had to penetrate this gaggle, then retreat to the more spacious section of the bar, hoping to attract the attention of the barman, whose sole preoccupation revolved around chatting to customers. As the only customer at the bar, after my statutory five minutes of being ignored, I walked, the pub garnering an automatic '1'. Even if I had been served, this is by no means a great place.

Our first of the day. Three hand pumps of which our choice of ale had just gone off. There was a strange smell in the air which none of us could identify.

Official site of The Tommy Tucker - thetommytucker.com

Official site of The Tommy Tucker - thetommytucker.com

Nice pub but very quiet on an afternoon visit.Last time I was in here I had a pint of Watney,s newest beer.Fined bitter.On today were Pride and Harveys-Sussex bitter.

Three ales on during my visit - London Pride (of course), Harvey's Best, and Otter Ale. The latter was £3.90 a pint, which is a top of the range price for a 3.6% ABV session ale. Mind you, it punches above its weight for such a low ABV ale. This looks a very food focussed pub, although no tables were laid for diners, and drinkers seemed to be able to sit where they wished. There were lunch menus, available 12.0 - 3.0 PM, on all the tables. Main courses were around £9 a pop, and included burgers and fish & chips. There's also a "£6 menu", headed by their homemade burger, accompanied by something called "skinny fries", which I suppose must be some sort of undernourished chips. The one-room pub is dominated by a couple of red leather Chesterfields sofas in the middle of the room. There are a handful of tall stools at ledges around pillars, but the majority of furnishings are normal tables and chairs. Some benches provide a bit of outside seating on the pavement under canopies.There's an interesting raised area at the front by the windows, surrounded by an unusual wrought iron balustrade. The colour scheme is mainly magenta and cream; the wall decor is arty prints; and the gastropub feature of wine bottles in the bar back is also present. There are obviously no dartboards, pool tables, or fruit machines in here, although there is a fairly unique mural in the gents featuring cartoon depictions of young ladies enjoying themselves (photographed uploaded - if the admins allow it). This is now nothing like the traditional pub it undoubtedly once was, but it's a decent enough little watering hole. Its upmarket feel is typical of the area.