The Arab Boy, Putney, SW15

Tris C left this review about The Arab Boy

This is one of four pubs along Upper Richmond Road and the only one situated in the residential part, nestled amidst rather large upmarket houses; What?ub paints an interesting history of the place.
Rex mentions that the pub claims to be probably the oldest in Putney, though dating from just 1849 means their claim is twaddle. With all traditional character removed and by 2011 too, a small totally modernised interior features a new boarded floor, vanilla colour scheme with white Anaglypta ceiling, contemporary mixed furniture, bright modern lighting, a silent TV tediously showing the news, then a rear area with tables laid for dining (no one eating at the time of my Friday mid-evening visit) with a dog sitting on one of the dining chairs and hardly hygienic; customers were mixed in age and few for a Friday night, the overall ambience reminding me of a doctors’ waiting room.
The beverage choice amounted to Eurofizz, an unused pump then just Pride at £2.75 a half and fine. By Pride standards.
With just one dull cask beer, I found this to be a disappointing and ultimately utterly unmemorable pub which I doubt will survive; Upper Richmond Road isn’t a great drinking venue, the Prince of Wales being the street’s pub of choice, but this place is miles better than the Fox & Hounds.

On 13^th February 2024 - rating: 4
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