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Detail Pages
Hawkins Forge, SW11
SW11
SW11 1EJ
Pub Type
Orchid (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Hawkins Forge
Trading from at least the mid-19th century, this was originally the more mundane Railway Tavern, though apparently once a blacksmith’s forge, he presumably called Hawkins.
This is a large, stripped out place with an area to the rear seemingly devoted to loud – but decent – live music on my Friday night visit and pool. Otherwise, it’s a soulless place with a boarded floor, bare brick and mid-grey paint with some corrugated iron to the bar back; a football table was available too, all to lighting from trendy fittings with filament bulbs. Understandably, customers were on the younger side – a theme here – and unlike me, having a good time.
There’s no cask here, me plumping for a half of Wiper & True’s Lemon Drop Hill, freezing cold and tasting like sherbet lemons (but without the sherbet) at £3.65 a half, served by an efficient barmaid.
Another venue aimed at the area’s Club 18-30 brigade, so I’ll not be returning, but it’s fractionally better than the Northcote.
On 20th September 2023
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Hawkins Forge
I paid my first visit to this pub since its change of management and change of name to the most unusual Hawkins Forge. To be honest it didn't seem a great deal different apart from the pizza operation having been given the heave-ho, and of course an improvement in the beer choice. There are four handpumps here, two dispensing Harviestoun Summer Ale and Wimbledon Common (£2.25 a half); a third had a Wandle clip and a note saying that "I'm next", with a fourth having a Doom Bar Clip and a note saying "next week". I came the right week then. There are now single sheet menus on all the tables - as examples the burger and fries is £11.95, and the "Cherry Orchard Farm horseshoe sausage, spring onion mash, & a red wine jus" (sausage & mash in English) is £12.50. A bit of an upmarket from the seven quid pizza I would say.
The basic structure is of course unchanged, but I did spot a dartboard in the room at the back. It's still not exactly an absolute winner as a pub, but is still an improvement on the previous incarnation.
On 28th July 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Duck
The signage outside states that the pub is a "Pizza Kitchen and Bar" which kind of prepares one for what awaits inside. In actual fact my initial signage related scepticism was eased somewhat on entering, although some distance from my idea of a perfect pub, the place was acceptable for a quick half, even if this was of the ever increasingly prevalent Doom Bar. One other pump was unclipped.
The main room has the bar on a back wall, padded frontage, a bit 70s style, next to it is the food servery and pizza oven, they are seemingly not limited to pizza as I spotted someone scoffing a burger. Pizza is the mainstay however and takeaways are offered.
Two raised areas adjoin the bar, the rear has two pool tables and a pair of dartboards, the side bit with a pair of sofas and a few regular tables. Seating in the bar is also mixed, high tables dominate but thankfully there are a few standard issue at the back with banquette and chairs. Lacquered wooden flooring, grey painted modern wainscoting.
If you like live sports you'll be at home here, I counted at least five big screens including one behind the bar, all showing the Wasps RU game this afternoon, with volume on. There is music, of the live type, advertised for Saturday evenings.
Really nothing to get excited about although I'm sure it would tick boxes for live sport fans and at least it seems real ale has returned, even if it was Doom Bar.
On 12th October 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Duck
The Duck is in three sections with a bar and stone pizza oven on the right hand wall that faces some seating and a couple of plasma screens. At the rear are some steps up to two pool tables and some limited seating that faces a projector screen. To the left of the pub is a raised area that houses some sofas and is labelled as the 3D screen zone. Sky Sports is shown and a mix of football, tennis and rugby has been showing during my Friday afternoon visits over the last couple of weeks. The pool is £1 a frame and a £5 deposit has to be left behind the bar for the pool cues.
The bar is stocked with standard and premium draught. The menu is made up of burgers and Italian food including the stone baked pizzas which are now priced around £9 for a 12”.
There are a couple of tables out the back that are used to keep smokers off the street.
I like this pub as I enjoy watching sport with my pint and this place is quieter than its peers as it is just of the main drinking stretch.
On 2nd July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Duck
This pub was formerly the Dog & Duck, and still has a typical traditional pub exterior featuring the trademark polished ganite facings. But inside there was no real ale on, just the usual lagers plus Budweiser and Peroni which you don't see everywhere. The Peroni was £2.10 for a half. This place labels itself as a "pizza kitchen & bar", so obviously pizzas are the food of choice here. They're not too expensive, with, as an example the 12" pepperoni and rocket at £7.75.
As you enter the pub into the main bar area the open view pizza kitchen is behind a bar on the right, just before the main drinks bar counter. This room is furnished with normal tables and chairs and a few tall tables/tall stools. At the back on the right is a room containing a pool table, and on the left is another room that looks as if it's a later addition to the pub and which is furnished with armchairs, sofas and the like. The main bar has a large flatscreen TV on one of the walls, showing (muted) Sky News when I was in, and some fairly low volume pop music was being played.
This place is probaby OK if you happen to fancy a pizza, but otherwise I don't see this as a pub that I would want to re-visit.
On 12th January 2013
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]