The Golden Lion, Putney Bridge

The Golden Lion... One of the oddest demographics in London. During the day it's full of locals watching the sport.. And then during the summer evenings - the garden fills up with all the pretty young things from the surrounding record companies (sadly with the move of Sony/BMG a lot of the PYT are elsewhere now). On match days this pub has a lovely atmosphere... Anne always sits at the door making sure it's just local Fulhamers that get in.
I wouldn't come here on a romantic night out. But if I wanted to get a bit messy fairly cheaply - this is the place to do it...

8 Sep 2009 13:37

The Plough, Coldharbour

Here is the perfect example of a pub with the most amazing location... but the worst customer service...
We booked in for Sunday lunch... it was busy... we went to the bar to get our drinks and then were told to sit down with our menus and someone would come and take our order. After waiting... and waiting.... and waiting... we watched the bar girl run around the pub - we watched the man behind the bar extol the goodness of his beers (in a quiet period this would be brilliant - when 20 people are waiting to be served; it's very annoying) - we watched the landlady come out from somewhere and greet her regulars; then stare at the rest of us with nothing short of malice - we watched the bar girl run around the pub a bit more. After 35 minutes of studying our menus - I managed to ask the girl if we could place our order. Her reply... "No. It's too busy - you have to go to the bar". We looked at the bar... surrounded on all sides by thirsty cyclists and puffed out walkers... We heard the words "Just try a tiny bit of this one - it's our guest beer... No? OK - Try a gulp of this one... Super hoppy and delicious". We looked at the ever increasing queue. And left.
I have since spoken to many Coldharbour locals about this pub; the tap water debate... the universal dislike of the landlady... and I think... I'll drink somewhere else.

12 Aug 2009 11:53

The Stepping Stones, Westhumble

The Stepping Stones is the kind of pub that; to the rest of the world; keeps alive the British reputation for serving bad food. The pub itself is like stepping back into the 1970's. The huge echo-y dining room would benefit with something to cover the silences. The sticky dark wood tables only add to the dry atmosphere. The menu is stock old school British fare... There is no option for a light meal; only pies and the such like with 3 veg or chips.
Our starters (which arrived after a 20 minute wait) were adequate... my salmon and crayfish was good which cancelled out the tinned quality of the Broccoli and Stilton Soup of my husband.
Another lengthy weight for our main courses.... Barbecue chicken for him and goats cheese lasagne for me... These were terrible. Tim's chicken looked exactly like the Findus version; complete with frozen chips...My lasagne looked like the ready meals that are so reviled in todays society... and was so hot that I still couldn't eat it after 10 minutes. I asked for it to be taken away.
The pub was good enough to have the item taken off the bill - but this gesture was accompanied by a speech from (I assume) the landlady that she had never in the 28 years she had served this dish had anyone sent it back... I think that is because the majority of the clientele of this pub will tolerate anything in stoic English silence.
This could be an amazing pub... and should be...

12 Aug 2009 11:27