The Eagle Ale House, SW11

Tris C left this review about The Eagle Ale House

This place dates from at least the late 19th century and on approach to this backstreet venue, the visitor is confronted with a multitude of aluminium casks stacked up out front in the patio.
The bare boarded interior with a few rugs is just the kind of pub I like, with a good atmosphere up to a point. The colour scheme is a pleasing almost all-over burgundy with a coffered ceiling, white partitions with the gap between picture rail and ceiling filled with pump clips. There are a few knickknacks about the place, such as bottles and eclectic prints. Furniture is mismatched and traditional, two small TVs showed the rugby alongside an irritating IMAX projector screen, sound off with a decent soundtrack on the stereo. Customers were locals of course and mixed in age, but the abiding memory will forever be the landlord, effing away at customers for having removed stools from the bar, before knuckling down to a sarcastic description to a potential customer of available lagers; I’ve never experienced such extraordinary behaviour; the Norman Balon de nos jour?
The ale lineup amounted to a reversed clip, then Windsor & Eton LD20, Surrey Hills Sheer Drop, Redemption Fellowship and Downton New Forest, £2.50 a half and dull, served by a charming barmaid.
This is a fine pub, but the ale selection could be more adventurous, though the sports overload and customer service are a disincentive to undertaking the schlep required to get here, but it’s the best option in the area.

On 18^th September 2023 - rating: 6
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