The Merton Apprentice, SW19

I think this place may have changed slightly since the previous reviewer's visit. There are still plenty of seats outside facing the bandstand, being mainly solid and chunky tables and benches, but no umbrellas on the last day of April. There is now no conservatory before you enter the pub proper, but maybe it gets added later in the year. Also, I didn't see the retro arcade machine and there's certainly no bar billiards now. There are still standard tables and chairs in the bar area, and the music themed decor is still present. There are two real ales on offer - Sharp's Cornish Coaster, and the excellent Darkstar American Brown Ale. They are no longer served from casks behind the servery, but from everyday handpumps on the bar counter. There were several keg beers available, notably a couple from Belleville Brewery who have said that they are moving away from cask conditioned ales in favour of keg beer. They don't do food, but they seem to allow food to be brought in from the market as I spotted a couple tucking into something that they had brought in. The beer choice is not outstanding, but a couple of real ales is a big plus for a bar in the market area. Definitely worth a punt if you're visiting Merton Abbey Mills.

This venture opened in July 2015 as the Wimbledon Craft Beer Emporium, but within a year had closed down and relocated to a larger premises, still within the Merton Abbey Mills complex but now operating under the name Merton Apprentice. The setting is certainly pleasant, with the pub now located in a former printer's apprentice workshop located in the heart of this nice little market, with the mill just across the square. A good deal of garden furniture has been arranged outside the pub, facing the bandstand, with large umbrellas for a bit of shelter. You enter into a small front conservatory type area with large windows and a corrugated plastic roof allowing plenty of light in. Proper pub tables and chairs are scattered in between the retro arcade machine and bar billiards table, all of which combines to give the space a very pubby feel despite not being in a conventional pub setting. A TV screen was turned off and there were a number of interesting abstract art pieces on display as well. A metal lattice windowed wall with a brick pillar in the centre, screens this front space from the main bar area beyond. This room has bare floorboards, padded pews down either side and some more standard tables and chairs through the centre. The tongue and groove servery is on the rear wall and has a couple of casks racked up on the whitewashed wall bar back. A dartboard to the left of the bar continued the traditional pub effect and there was another TV screen turned off in favour of tunes from a radio station. A few guitars have been hung from the walls, suggesting live music may be on the pub's roster, and this theory was further strengthened when I spotted a mixing board in the rear corner. A small blackboard on the counter details the contents of the casks on the bar back, although one of these was unfortunately not ready when I visited, so by default I ended up with a pint of the remaining ale - Belleville Picnic Session IPA. A few interesting keg options and a wide bottled beer range improved the overall selection and the place seemed to have drawn a good range of customers. My pint was perfectly drinkable but not really in top condition. I really liked the feel of this place and thought it was a good addition, not just to the market, but to the wider local pub and beer scene. I thought it was a great setting which has been creatively adapted to create the look and feel of a traditional pub. The ale range no doubt reflects turnover, which I can't really argue with, but its limitations did make me think twice about extending my visit. Overall, I think this is a fine asset to the local community and I'll look forward to a return visit when I'm next in the area.