please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
484 people recently replied to an advertisement - for 2 jobs, at this well known establishment.
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Why does everybody complain about the prices. The Alex was buzzin on saturday. You pay for quality and thats what you get.
Some fine pubs in Wimbledon before hitting the clubs.
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Nice pub, but the prices are a rip off. London Fields-Love not War £4.45!!!
Half of London Stout £2.30. Will not be hurrying back. Marked low due to beer prices.
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It was just about worth paying £4.75 for a pint of keg Aspall's for a one-off visit to the roof terrace, but at that price I won't make a habbit of it.
The view from the roor terrace is just of the main street from a different angle.
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Plush, comfortable and indeed very inviting pub handy for the station. Good range of ales. Would be an absolute class act were it not for some of the clientele who's 'banter' included expletive ridden suggestions about the barmans sexual preferences and behaviour, repeated ever more loudly and repetitively as their pints were guzzler in the early afternoon.
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Good grief, I thought pubs like this closed in the 70's, a single woman buys a drink and gets watched... Expensive , a microwaved so called "Roast Chicken" sandwich with chips and a vodka and tonic over eleven quid. But as the barman said "there's always Wetherspoons" Yeap, and I'll be going to The Wibbas in the future !
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Yes, the beer is good, but boy, you don't half pay for the privilege of drinking here.
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Good pint of Young's in here yesterday. Service good
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Can't say too much about the Alexandra, haven't been there for a while, but the Smart Alex wine bar thing next door. WOW!!!! It is THE ideal place to go if your idea of a great night out is for four drinks to come to about about 25 quid, to be spoken to like an absolute piece of shit and shoved around by over-zealous and inexplicably angry bouncers clearly upset that their miserable lives are going no where, and the finger a woman with no teeth in her sixties. If these things are not your idea of a great night out, avoid like a fizzing suicide bomber
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Sorry I haven`t tweeted for a while. I was disgustingly abused ( verbally ) in this pub the other evening by a Marxist twat known as The Tolpuddle Martyr however provided you avoid him ( he usually only comes in on Fridays ) it`s generally peaceful - best keep off he subject of politics though - a few deluded Lefties hold up the Sports Bar including the aforementioned "gentleman" - if you ever meet a socialist in this pub who comes even close to adhering to socialist principles drop a line to wimbledonboy coz I have never met one yet. There is one good Conservative though but he`s very shy and he wouldn`t want to be mentioned here.
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Had agreat pint of Gold in the Alex yesterday. Good to see that the quality of beer is still top notch.
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The ONLY topic of conversation in the pub last night amongst the regulars was who removed the landlord`s "Welcome Back" message to Mr.Stats, one of the pub`s most loyal long-term punters and a very kind gentleman, albeit a bit on the whiffy side. Yiddyface was asked to put up a petition but he is too busy with his Jewish Historical Society "activities", P-the-W is too busy arc-welding diamond rings into oblivion and Fluffyboy is too busy with his dog painting-by-numbers commissions - all rather unsatisfactory really. Still if you want your Jewish ancestry interogated, your family heirlooms cremated or your dog sketched by one of Wimbledon`s leading artistic talents, "The Alex" is the place to come, all washed down with a pint of dodgy bitter, a plastic sausage roll and the landlord`s rollicking good humour ( Hmmmm )
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SMELLY STATS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO REMOVED HIS WELCOME BACK MSG FROM MICK AND STAFF - SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET A CAN OF DEODORANT FULL FACE
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Sorry I haven`t tweeted for over a month - been very busy welding and chilling out with my good mates fluffyboy and yiddyface - anyway wimbledonboy ( who is often the subject of mistaken identity I notice ) wishes all his customers and staff a happy September ( a bit of a giveaway there methinks - haha ) and watch this space !!!!
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"wimbledonboy" is having troubles keeping up with all the staff changes at "The Alex" these days. JR - see posting 26.03.12 has returned to his native Poland and we wish him well. Sam - see posting 26.03.12 has returned to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - you know what they say, you can take the girl out of the valleys but you can`t take the valleys out of the girl and she is marrying her policeman boyfriend - not that he ever solved wimbledonboy`s crimes - hahaha - and we wish THEM well.
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Haven't visited the Alex for some time due to variable beer quality. Pleased to say my visit on 23/6/12 that the ale was on top form, especially enjoyed the London Gold. A bit pricey though!
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Nice to see a nice review below - that will please Mick - hehehe - specially since he is losing his most valuable member of staff on Saturday 31st - ROFL :-)
- that new Welsh girl Sam is very pleasant - Wimbledon boy is only too happy to give her a plug - metaphysically speaking of course - especially knowing what her b/f does for a living - hehehe - if he`s such a good detecive why hasn`t he tracked Wimbledonboy down yet - hehehe
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Can't agree with "amous" because I had a great meal off the Specials menu at the Alex just last night. The front bar was, as always, packed to capacity and the bar itself hard to reach. But in the back bar there were plenty of tables, more than enough staff to serve you, and quite personalised service when - at quieter times - they came round the tables taking orders. And the food, prepared and cooked on the premises, was imho delicious.
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Yes it`s me - Wimbledonboy - back after a forced absence - so behave yourselves punters unless you want your antics plastered all over the internet for all and sundry to read - and that means you too J.R. !!!!!!
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terrible, overpriced "food"!
amous - 19 Mar 2012 12:16 |
The alex used to be my favourite pub in the area, but recent changes (over the past couple of years) haven't improved my experiences here. But the competition in town is pretty poor so I guess they don;t have to try too hard.
Great beer though if you can afford it.
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Re my entry of 22.09.11 - this was Wimbledonboy`s little joke - Tony is NOT in fact Wimbledonboy - perhaps it is only fair to clarify this not that anyone believed it anyway and it is a little unlikely Sir Simon Millbank-Towers would add Tony to his guest list for his forthcoming bash, not that Tony wouldn`t bend over backwards for a nibble of Sir Simon`s cocktail sausage and cheesy vol u vents. Don`t worry Tony if you are reading this, Wimbledonboy will save you a doggy-style .. er I mean doggy bag so you won`t feel left out
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So Happy 70th Birthday to the Miserable Sausage Man whose name I have now found out is Colin. Hi Colin. Birthday cake, candles, drinks on the house, a free grope of one of the staff who shall remain nameless - a good time was had by all last Sunday except for those trying to watch the Chelsea v. Liverpool game ie : the vast majority of the pub. Anyway well done everyone - particularly Carla who supplied the cake. So the next big occasion is Abi`s birthday bash - you know the sweet girl who is into body art with the big brute of a boyfriend. And THEN - the REAL BIGGIE - the birthday bash of that financial luminary of The City of London Sir Simon Millbank-Towers this will be a very posh "do" indeed - no riff raff ..... you really haven`t made it in Wimbledon society until you`ve licked one of Sir Simon`s vol u vents - you plebs watch and weep - Wimbledon Boy has already received one of Sir Simon`s gold embossed invitations thud onto his doormat which is quite apt because Sir Simon treats him like one. Under Mick Dore and his staff "The Alex" goes from strength to strength and to attract such prestigious events such as Sir Simon`s forthcoming celebrations is indeed a coup for the pub AND the brewery.
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It is me - Tony - I AM Wimbledonboy - hehehe :-)
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Well I last reviewed this pub in May 2008 - over 3 years ago - and I must say I am pleasantly surprised by the changes brought about by Mick Dore and his staff and I congratulate them for doing such an excellent job and I would thoroughly recommend this pub to any visitor to Wimbledon. I have never watched "live" wrestling in a pub before which was most enjoyable - that "miserable sausage man" has certainly livened up a bit since my last visit - hehehe - full marks to him for participating and entertaining the locals. The refereeing was a bit heavy handed and I would recommend bringing along a waterproof if you want to watch the action close up. But nothing negative to say about this pub - well managed, good beer, good food, friendly staff and friendly locals - even our afore-mentioned sausage friend manages the occasional light-hearted snarl. Well done everyone !!!! Wimbledonboy will return !!!!
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The photograph (image 1) is reversed!!!!
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THE THINGS I COULD WRITE ABOUT THIS PUB - BUT WE`LL REFRAIN FOR NOW - WON`T WE MICK ????? HEHEHE - WIMBLEDONBOY IS BACK !!!!!!!
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Actually that's "Wandle" beer (not Waddle) though it may have that effect. Broadway Place restaurant in Hartfield Road is great for fish n chips.
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Very pleasant pub; best in Wimbledon town centre. Young�s, of course, but they well serve a pint of Waddle from Seabrook�s Brewery. Quiet place, good for a natter; despite the many televisions attracting-in the Saturday afternoon�s geezers: the TVs� sound was turned down low. Efficient and friendly staff who remembered you when you returned to the bar. Tiny toilets; and watch the trip hazard as you come out! Been coming here for decades and the character hasn�t changed much.
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Great boozer - splendid ales, splendid quality, great choice, decent layout and upkeep and ione of England's finest. Easily the besdt boozer in town for me and way above the local opposition. The Prince Charlie nearby is ok but not the same selection or as much. The rest I'd ask Saddam to point his slup cannon at and have a field day. Wimbledon village do have nice boozers but they are designed and frequented by the hoy-perloy and serviced for that type of market. You have a few beers up there and chance it with the frau-lines and you get rebuke after rebuke - it's not that they are wearing comfortable shoes or have a fixation for womens rights or anything - they are just from another world that rates DKNY, Gucci, the world of HELLO Magazine and all that mish mosh as something to strive after. Drink some ale and get on it luvvies -you don't know what your missing.
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this is a great pub - the quality of the beer is good and reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is always friendly. well done youngs.
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Impressed last weekend. Despite the egg chasing being on, they were more than happy to set up a TV at one end of the Smart Alex Bar for the Fulham game. Proof that management do listen to the punters
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I seem to remember going there possibly a couple of years ago and thinking what a dump but I went last night and was pleasantly surprised.
It seems to have improved a lot and I had a very pleasant evening with friends.A very nice atmosphere and a welcoming and courteous barman.Beer was very good.
Must try the roof terrace when it is a bit warmer
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Food prices have gone up sharply. The Young's steak & ale pie has gone from under a tenner before the VAT rise, to �11.20 after!
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Always find this place clean and friendly with a good beer selection which is invariably in good condition. Roof terrace is a great feature, particularly if its warm and not too busy, especially now they have beer on tap up there.
About the only decent place in Wimbledon centre to watch sport now the Hand & Racquet next door has stopped, although can get very busy for big matches and not all seating is well positioned for a view of the screens. Beer pricey too, but then you pay for a decent venue!
Kurto - 27 Jan 2011 14:18 |
Great pub. Usually friendly staff and a good atmosphere. Also good for watching Rugby.
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Since Mick has come in and given it a spring clean including the development of a cracking roof terrace it has picked up no end. In my book one can always tell a place by it's clientage and kind of client. As the number of women per square meter has increased substantially since the new management have taken over it can only be a good thing.
The staff, as ever are professional and courteous. They even put up with the odd bit of ' Tom Foolery ' from punters such as myself when I've had one too many. They probably know I'm not a bad lad at heart :-)....anyway where was I?, ah yes, The Alexandra, great pub, well run, certainly Champions League material.
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A very nice pub with a great roof terrace and the German bar-lady was very friendly.
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whatever you do, do NOT spill your drink in this place because if you do the manager will come over, threaten you and then kick you out. the staff in this place are terrible.. the only good thing about this pub is the roof terrace but that gets too busy and youre still stuck with the same staff.
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I have to agree with TTTAT - since the Alex reopened its like a completely different place. The roof terrace is stylish and they've opened up the bar so you don't have to carry rounds up the stairs. The traditional pub bit still has an old fashioned charm, but is much cleaner and fresher and the bar looks much better. Also, the moody staff seem to like the changes too - they actually seem like they want to be there and like their jobs, whereas before they all looked like they'd given up on life... Yeah, the prices are often complained about, but its actually not that much more expensive than most of the pubs in Wimbledon. The food is pretty good too. So much better!
jtana - 11 Jun 2010 12:34 |
Don't be put off by the previous comments. This place has reopened under new management and you wouldn't recognise it from the comments below. We spent a very relaxing evening, great service, great value food and very friendly staff. If it ever gets warmer the roof top garden will be the place to talk away a summers evening.
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Still have a soft spot for this place BUT as others have said over the years it has got too expensive and service is poor. Worth popping in
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Guinness at �3.85; �4.40 for 'cheapest' Scotch and ginger ale; miserable barman; pub cut in half for refurb - awful smell of spray paint made us drink up quick and leave. Avoid.
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An awful experience. Youngs Special from pipes that apparently hadn't been cleaned for six months cost �3.25 a pint; Guinness, chilled beyond redemption, cost �3.80 a pint and both served by a miserable barman who clearly was more interested in talking to his local mates that dealing with passing trade. Went next door but one to the Hand and Racket for an excellent pint of H&H at �2.70 and decent Guinness, not frozen, at �3.20. They really need to get their act together, get some decent staff in and stop charging rip off prices.
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Awful service, from a series of disinterested colonial bar staff
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Not a bad pub this; I wandered in and was pleased to find the Twenty20 cricket on, so over a pint of Tribute I was able to watch England get a complete pasting by the South Africans. It was a sunday lunchtime got fairly busy during my stay, which was good, and I felt sure the barman undercharged me the first time around only to find out again that my pint of ale was indeed �2.10 - unbeatable value given the location. The interior itself is fairly standard and non-descript; It has not been given a conspicuous makeover like many of this brewery's establishments. Worth one when passing.
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Potentially a very good pub (which I have used intermittently for many years), it is spoiled for me by sullen and unprofessional staff. I don't think it is asking too much of bar-staff to a) notice a customer, and b) serve that customer within a reasonable time. Pubs that do not put their customers first and that employ useless barstaff are on the road to oblivion. Perhaps there is a plus side: today the "reluctant" barman caused me to limit my lunchtime pints of Ordinary to one...
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Thought I would have a few drinks sitting outside last night but unfortunately all of the tables were taken, there was a horribel noise coming from inside with speakers blaring out full blast and the bar full of kids. I went into anothe bar but the connecting passage to the kids bar meant that you could still hear the noise. So that's another pub I won't be using for evening drinking.
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The best thing about the Alex is that you can sit outside in St Mark's place in the summer and watch the world go by . I can't comment on the food or wine bar or the area with televised sport, none of which intertests me, but the small carpeted bar would be perfect for the non-extrovert drinker if it were not so gloomily lit. If you are thinking about reading your newspaper during the daytime, don't forget to take a torch with you.
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It's a pub trying to cover a number of bases and is indeed split into three areas - a large wood furnished area for general bar hubbub and sport on the telly, a cosier carpeted little bar for the old uns (me!) and a wine-bar-ey area round the back for posher grub and DJs. The advantage of this is that you can generally get a seat but disadvantage is that it is large and anonymous. The bar staff are generally hulking Aussie/South African blokes who are entirely charmless though just about functional. The beer is OK. It's usefulness is its location and the ability usually to find a seat. I use it for a couple of pints before climbing the hill to the eateries in Wimbledon village ...
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Friendly enough - beer expensive
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Nothing to write home about. Bitter was just about passable and the barman/landlord was indifferent to say the least. Dirty glasses too (the pub not the landlord). Average.
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the pub show on the outside display an express lunch menu but they denied it was availaible, trying to deceive tourists.
and in front the evidence they told me and my boyfriend several lies, arguing that the express lunch menu was valid only from monday to tuesday and that it was necessary to download a voucher from Internet (but they don't have a web site!!!)
It's a really unfair policy towars customers and particularly tourists!!
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Youngs Special was ok
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Been here on and off for a few year but only ate in there today for Sunday lunch. Sadly it was abismal, the "giant yorkshire puding" was abot 1 1/2" and looked like Aunt Bessies best, the belly of pork was n't cooked for long enough and so was tough, all-in-all really not very good, for �11.50 it's not stupid money but I really would expect much better as normal meals are ~�8. Ok for drinks but won't bother with food again.
zak39 - 18 Jan 2009 16:43 |
Went there for Sunday Lunch in the restuarant side yesterday. Ordered one roast belly of pork and one Roast beef lunch from the specials board. The 3 slices of overcooked shoe leather that mascaraded as beef where virtually inedible. 3 miniscule roast potatoes, soggy veggies and one small Aunt Bessies Yorkshire pudding for �11.95. The roast pork lunch �12.95 was not much better, the 'crackling' that they shouted about on the board was soggy with the same sad accompaniments on the plate. An appaling rip off. Do not eat there.
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they sell Leffe .I see one guy pay �4.20 a pint for this and he still dosn't faint .more mediocre service too busy to worry about customer satisfaction
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And that miserable sausage man still whinges if his view to the football screen is blocked.
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All gone downhill since Maria left and getting very expensive.
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Unremarkable. Other comments sum it up. Good meeting point for a couple of pints on the way to somewhere else. One good thing is that there is plenty of space.
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Average pub like so many in the immediate area. No particular attractions within. A sense of being unclean accompanies you when you realise you've given them cash which could be better spent elsewhere for very low quality ale. Does have sport on tv though and usually easy enough to grab a table. Seems from other comments that the service is as hopeless as ever.
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Routine Youngs/Wells house, fairly busy as town centre/ station pubs tend to be but nothing too special in fact rather ordinary if Youngs fans don't mind the pun. Beer ok.
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Good pub been going for years but your right the bar staff need a kick up the backside. Mincer landlord a bit of a slacker on his staff
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WheelieBin is right - it probably is the best pub near Wimbledon station. The roof terrace is good if the weather permits, and the pub has got a decent selection of drinks.
Service, however, is very sketchy. When busy the barstaff serve randomly and out of order, when quiet it's hard to rouse them from the group huddle in the corner.
Apart from that it's an enjoyable pub.
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It really isn't as bad as people make it out. It is after all the only uncomplicated and unpretentious pub to drink in in Wimbledon Town. Make an effort with the staff and they will make an effort back - they're only human. It is over-priced - but it's a Youngs so it's a given. It is too smokey - but that will change from next week.
Just a decent, plain boozer. And they are few and far between these days.
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Loose the rude aussie/kiwi barman with the attitude problem and this place would be a whole lot better. Won't be going back.
anonymous - 12 Jun 2007 13:46 |
I was unlucky in that I went to this pub on the night of a big football match. Packed out, Noisy, smokey, horrible. Roll on July 1st.
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ianbeer is fortunate to have gone on Wednesday. On Bank Holiday Monday the management arbitrarily decided to give the restaurant staff an evening off and provide no food at all! It just goes to show this isn't primarily an eaters' pub. If it was, this would have been one of their more lucrative nights.
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Just been here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. Ate in the restaurant section that used to be Finch's. Service was excellent and the food was as good as you would expect from Young's suppliers. My overseas companions were suitably impressed and, being American, were literally amazed by the quality of the Wells & Youngs bitter. Portions could have been a little larger and the smoke did get in from the rest of the pub. So... only 7/10 where it could have been 9/10.
Great crowd of friendly people in the front when we left 3 1/2 hours later. I'd recommend this place to anyone. Looks like Youngs are getting it right here - no, I don't work for them!
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Not the same as it used to be following the refit. As well as the wine bar, there used to be three separate bars - each with their own atmosphere and clientele. It's now one big bar, with features you'll recognise from other Youngs/Wells&Youngs pubs that have been "done-up" in recent months. A real shame.
It's an OK pub and handy for the station. But not particularly one to go out of the way for.
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Classic! I just read the reviews and I see quite a bit has changed at the ole Alex..I was one of those starving backpackers that worked there back in the 1990's for a few years off and on between travels.
I was there for the first renovation and wine bar renovation it was great. My memories of this place slowly soured over time with crap staff with crap attitudes being employed and the good ones moving on.
If the food is crap? and the landlady is still Betty? I am surprised, she always was a great support for the kitchen and an elegant lady as well.
Such a shame that a once stylish pub with friendly staff has reverted back to the days when it was filled with old cranky barflys that always got their way for fear of a nasty letter written to The Ram Brewery.
Sometimes it's better to flick the crap punter to make way for a better style (friendly) punter that will want to bring their friends for a knees up!
Those "fruit machines" have ruined many a pub the world over trust me!
The guys and the fruit and vege stand outside where a crack up.
The Bungle from Downunder...lol
anonymous - 6 Apr 2007 15:40 |
whats up with the bar staff? moody german bloke with an alice band. get a hair cut and ask the barber to shave your attitude. serve bitter in cold or room temperature glasses for gods sake! especially with youngs.
anonymous - 29 Mar 2007 16:59 |
Myself & a mate visited this pub recently on a Saturday & found it to be average to worse for both Guinness & normal strength lager (eg. Fosters/Carling) of the 3 pubs we went to that day (the others were the Hand & Racquet & The Walkabout - urgh!). I tried some ales after the Guinness didn't go down too well, and they were much better (Winter Warmer I think :S ). They have several screens including a big screen, though the big screen quality is not great - the brightness & colour was all over the shop.
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Surely the best pub in the whole of Wimbledon, now that the Dog and Fox has gone No Smoking and pretends to be Finch's and the Rose and Crown still charges about 50p more for any drink and isn't worth it in the slightest..?
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The non-smoking area is not so effective as it used to be now that they have opened it up with the bar on the right (looking from the main road). But I have never had a bad pint pint, based on numerous visits over the past 20 years or so. What really bugs me about this pub is the ankle high tables in the non-smoking area that make it impossible to eat anything requiring a knife and fork unless you want to eat Japanese style. Nothing wrong with eating Japanese style, but would you want to kneel on the floor here? Used to have some interesting photos in the non-smoking area - particularly one with Edward VII, Queen Alex and other European royal families. May be still there. Good pub for a swift pint if you are passing through Wimbledon, and agree with (most)other reviewers that it is still the best Wimbledon pub this side of the Village.
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At least they had Ram Rod on as well as Bombadier, Special and Ordinary last time I was here.
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Why are there no decent pubs in Wimbledon? This is the best there is on offer without going to the village.
Overall it is ok (beer, food, decor) but not what I want as a local.
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Almost four pubs in one: A "posh wine bar" at the back, a smoky "old mans pub" a bit further round, a decent "sports bar" in the next room and a continental style "roof terrace" up top. Can get busy on match days, but never so busy that you feel squashed in.
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I like the place. Crap food though. Beer always great but they run out of bottles too much. I hate walkabout.
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The best pub in Wimbledon...yeah, I know how bad the others are...but still. I like the fact that half the pub is split so as to be more of a 'bar' than a 'pub' (the 'Smart Alex'), so it can cater for different tastes. It's been a good place to watch football in, and the beer is well kept. I found the staff to be okay, and the old blokes in there are better than the chavs in Edwards, and as much as I love Aussies, I sometimes want a quiet pint rather than a party in The Walkabout, the only other bearable pub in Wimbledon, and The Alex is perfect for this.
Vicky
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Biggish Youngs pub, with several different drinking areas that should appeal to everyone. Beer OK. It would be nice if the bar on the roof terrace was open.
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Unbelievably smoky. Not enjoyable.
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Went in last week and really like the place. Old features, but quite swish and very accomodating. Youngs Beer is always good and the staff are pretty friendly. Big screens for the footie.
Thumps up!
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One of the better pubs in Wimbledon, but this is hardly say much. The openair part outside part is it's most redeeming feature, but this is often shut even at the height of summer. Why?
anonymous - 1 Jun 2006 01:53 |
Youngs St Georges was good, and to be fair real ales have been good on all visits so far. Certainly a pub with a split personality though with the Alex's 'wine bar' at the rear and the more trad pub at the front. Staff not friendly and no smoking area a joke. Old guys watching the horse racing on the afternoon of latest visit was quaint. Have to try the roof terrace next time round, though suspect fumes from the traffic may be a problem.
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oh my word,what an awful pub.lazy dreadful looking barstaff,crap beer and i spent an hour there no one spoke a word to me or cleaned my table,yet another awful youngs pub 0/10
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A good pub. Sells youngs which are generally good beers everywhere. Has a golf game machine where you can win prizes. But most likely to be a waste of money
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oh boy, what a collection of hardened alcoholics. Overpriced and uncomfortable with a passing selection of junkies who do the rounds playing the fruit machines in the wimbledon circuit. If this was the only pub in town i'd slash my wrists...fortunately the hand and racquet next door is much better.
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Finished work really late, went to meet mates here last weekend and was turned away from the door at 11 because its their "door policy" not to let people in after that. I wouldnt mind but the place was half empty. mates met me outside and we went to o'niells instead!
anonymous - 16 Feb 2006 17:59 |
I think that 'terfysgwr' is being somewhat harsh here. Yes, it's expensive, but it's a Young's pub in Wimbledon so that's hardly a surprise is it? It is no more expensive than most other similar pubs in the area.
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Well pricey - even for Wimbledon
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Excellent pub. Overpriced. Zero staff training. Tables wiped once a day if you're lucky. Ridiculous 'No Smoking' designated area sandwiched between smoking areas. Even encourages smoking at the bar! No wonder the staff look so pissed off. Overbearing studily rude humourless chief barman. Surly landlord. Very pleasant landlady. Staff used to be antipodean backpackers doing a lap of the world. Now mostly east Europeans.
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A pub of two halves, a traditional feel at the front, a more modern bar 'out the back'. I was in the rear, so to speak, and it was quite pricey.
Very busy when I visited, but it was a late-night shopping night two weeks before Christmas, so I only have myself to blame.
May go back one day to try the food, if only to see if it really is as bad as previous contributors say.
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Further to below comment they played Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightnin'"" which pleased us.
(I spelt visited wrong.)
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We visted the other day for lunch. The Youngs bitter, house white and the fish & chips were all fine. Food portions were large and the cost wasn't too evil by London standards.
Will go here again (I don't live southside no' mo). It's certainly my fave place to eat and drink in Wimbledon.
Staff were OK. It's pretty pointless to complain about staff in london pubs anyway, as they tend to only last a few weeks on average.
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Want to really love it and the refurb is ok but the miserable staff with attitudes and the piss-taking price of crap food is too much to suffer. They make you feel like they're doing you a favour but letting you in! Beer in good nick though. A 5/10
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I have mixed feelings for the Alex. I feel obliged to go in there every so often as it's where my Dad hangs out after work. I resent giving the grumpy bar staff my money, and it's always too smoky in there. But where can anyone go that is not smoky these days?!
Now that they have revamped the bar a little there is a bit more space but I for one still wait ages to be served, even when it is not packed. Even after several (hundred?!) visits there over the last few years the bar staff make no effort in remembering the customers. Unless of course you are one of the ones who sit at the bar day in day out!
The food is unbelievable. That is, you pay up to �7 for what is basically a ham sandwich!
At the end of the day it's a typical Youngs pub, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favourites.
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Youngs draught beers. Best pub food anywhere, but expensive. Gorgeous roof garden (you just must see the hanging baskets). All staff friendly and helpful with the exception of one snotty female.
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It cost me over �6.00 for two poxy drinks the other day. Ridiculous.
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I was shocked at the crappiness of the food, ridiculously expensive and you don't get a lot for your money. Also, �2.60 for a pint of lemonade is taking the piss.
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a horrible pub which sells low quality food at not low prices. The only reason this gets a 5 (and not less) is that it has the smart alex wine bar next door. Although not the best pub it is the best you are going to get in Wimbledon town. If one has time then a trip up the hill (�3.60 in a black bus) is better but if you are meeting people in town then this is more convenient. In the summer there is an area outside to drink in which although not a secluded beer garden is slightly off the road so is not too bad.
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Pretty grotty in keeping with most of the other pubs round here - mouldy beer, swirly patterned carpets, just a bit tired really. The Smart Alex wine bar next door is no better - OK it's cleaner but the staff are equally surly and the beer is equally poor. Hop on a 93 up to the village, much better.
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Dodgy Stella defo. Had the squits for days. Leave well alone.
anonymous - 22 Dec 2004 11:59 |
The 'old' part of the pub is very dirty - could really do with a lick of paint and a new carpet.
anonymous - 31 Aug 2004 14:26 |
Can't comment on the prices (not my round) but the quality of the bitter was excellent. A bit of a gloomy wood panelled Youngs pub but convenient located near the station
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Went in there on Monday during the afternoon. I had previously been in there for a pint one evening a long time ago, so went in and was presently surprised. Though popping in once during the afternoon can give a false impression of the pub, it had a friendly atmosphere, a great area to watch the big screen. Sitting in an air conditioned pub with a pint watching TV was just what the doctor ordered in the hot weather. Scores 7 rather then 8 because I had a pint of Carling which costed 2 pounds 80, but thats par for the course in a Youngs Pub. They charge you quite a lot if you have the gall to buy beer that isn't brewed by them.
Like some other Youngs Pubs I have been in, nice but a bit over priced.
I like pubs - 9 Jun 2004 21:21 |
If you are over 40 and love rubbish austrailian accoustic combo's playing'Rugby Funk' You will love the smart alex part of this pub. Its the type of pub that doesnt let you in with trainers. It is designed for 40 plus alcoholics with red noses and old painted up tarts. Food is terrible chain pub rubbish, but more expensive than L'Escargot or the Ivy. The old part of the pub is great, fantastic atmosphere and great Youngs Ale. Roof Garden is hidden treat in Summer.
Mark Allen - 22 Apr 2004 16:10 |
An "authentic" pub in Wimbledon - now quite a rarity. Went at lunchtime on Easter Monday. Quietish but with good range of Young's ales and above-average pub grub. Best of all....a non-smoking section, so can eat your lunch without retching.
MarkW - 13 Apr 2004 00:38 |
EXCELLENT!!! Really good atmosphere with very friendly, most of the time, staff. Food is superb. The pub quiz on a Monday night is brilliant. I agree with Womble about the Camp landlord but if it is him who does the quiznight then all i can say is well done, he is camp but very vey funny. Will definatly go there more often. well worth a visit.
steve - 16 Mar 2004 16:39 |
Really good. And Smart Alex ain't too bad either!!
Scotty - 15 Mar 2004 22:14 |
The best "real" pub in Wimbledon. A bit pricey but so what. Watched Wimbledon FC get relegated from the Premiership in here, not a happy memory :-(
Joe - 12 Jan 2004 17:59 |
Dead convenient for the station and a pretty decent boozer in a traditional sort of way. Rammed when the footies on.
Good selection of beer and staff are ok. Decent venue for post work beers and good starting point for crawl in Wimbledon.
Shed loads of food options in the area.
anonymous - 7 Jan 2004 16:43 |
Dodgy Stella here defo something wrong with it. Quite expensive Cramped when footy on. Camp Landlord
womble - 29 Oct 2003 13:30 |
I don't like the Alex Stella, it is always either watered down or stale. But the Pilsner seems to be OK, as well as the extensive choice of wines that they serve. Not cheap either, but if you want really overpriced drinks go next door to the Smart Alex. But that's another story.
Briony - 23 Oct 2003 16:12 |
Good pub with good beer. Big screen TV for the sports, good atmosphere. Nice roof terrace upstairs which is perfect in the summer evenings to simply sit back and watch the World go by - I highly recommend it!
Lawrence - 2 Oct 2003 16:34 |
Old mans pub. Food not bad. Roof Terrace is so much nicer!
Smart Alex used to be ok.. now's just plain naff. Bouncers are crap as well! (smart alex does nice food so that's about it)
JP - 25 Sep 2003 16:51 |
Good proper pub with good proper beer. Food is good but little to offer any veggies out there, my suggestion: Have another triple X, it will soon fill you up.
Dr Ed - 21 Aug 2003 08:18 |
Beautiful pub with a view from the charming roof-terrace of Wimbledon Hill Road and historic Elys. Other than the Elys bit, very pleasant.
pete - 1 Jul 2003 01:41 |
Good Youngs pub - good food reasonably, well kept ales, some fairly eccentric but friendly locals. Great for an after work session, but packed on Football evenings.
Sloth - 20 Jun 2003 13:32 |
A Youngs pub with good ales/lagers. Always rammed for football and tends to get very smoky. Updated the menu recently and food was good. Roof terrace is always popular in the summer.
Richard Dixon - 10 Apr 2003 17:10 |
roof garden is lovely, and there's a bar up there too (it doesn't serve the full range of drinks but it does their most popular ones).
get there early though as it gets busy.
lisa - 8 May 2002 10:53 |
