So it was time to head back to Chelsea and visit some more of their pubs. My first stop was the World's End Market (SW10 0LR) which is on the main road next to the estate named after the pub, World's End Estate. I've passed this grand building many times which stands out from its surroundings. The pub is grand and stretches upwards with the distinctive red brick design you see in Sloane Square and Victoria. The entrance to the pub is round the side and I easily found this due to two guys walking out for a ciggie. The bar is a few steps in front of you upon walking in and is quite small. There are bar stalls around this small bar, which is where the only customers were all sat. It was at this stage I realised that the pub had become a gastro pub and beyond the bar area was lots of tables entirely for the restaurant. An open kitchen was at the rear with an ice display which sea food would be placed on soon. There was nobody eating in the restaurant and only six people drinking in the bar area. Although mainly a restaurant you can just sit and have drinks, which is exactly what I done, though I did fail at the first hurdle as although they had 5 brass beer taps, none of them had any names that I could visible notice. I asked the barmaid what was on offer and struggled as she quickly said 5 beer names back to back. I could make out Spitfire but didn't fancy that so just ordered the blonde. I believe all the beers were Shep Neame and this distinctly tasted like Whitstable Bay Blonde, but I can't guarantee that.I grabbed a bar stall and sat at the bar with the others and gazed around the pub. On one wall they had a fishmonger and butcher mural. The rest of the walls had clean white tiles from ceiling to floor. On the floor along the bar there were black and white tiles whilst the remainder of the floor was wooded. There was a comfy looking green sofa all along the outside walls, and from the ceiling hung copper plated lights. The whole decor of the building was beautifully done it's just this no longer felt like a pub. My stay in this venue was short, and made all the more shorter by the man in the glasses seated at the far end of the bar giving me a dead eye stare the whole time. His eyes never seemed to come off me, which just made me feel creeped out and uncomfortable. I quickly drained my pint and left.
I walked through the back streets of Chelsea praying my next stop would be more pub like and welcoming. My next stop was the Sporting Page (SW10 0BH) which I knew showed sport not just because of its name, but as someone I know pops in here. I imagined more a back street boozer than what I was actually graced with. The outside of the pub is painted in a grey charcoal colour and there were some tables outside which were full of drinkers (hence why my picture is side on rather than front on). The outside has gas heaters which is why it was popular. The front entrance doors into the pub are different in that they're coming out towards the street in a V. Upon walking into the pub the bar is straight away and runs all the way down to the side wall on the left. There are a few tables in this space and some stalls at the far end. The majority of the seating though in the pub is off to the right where it's slightly more open. There was a large chalk board on one wall advertising the ales on now and coming soon. There were 6 hand pumps with only three on offering up a choice of Wandle, Junction or Coaster. The coming soons were Twickenham's Naked Ladies and Truman's Swift and Runner. On the bar there was a selection of lagers including Amstel, Estrella, Guinness, Camden Hells, Camden Pale, Neck Oil and Gamma Ray. There was also a Moment of Clarity from Siren which is what I went through.
The Moment of Clarity cost £7.60 which I felt was very steep for a below 5% beer. The beer was enjoyable and I would order again, though perhaps not here. I went to find a table to drink my beer but noted that all had reserved signs, which is something I dislike in pubs. They did however at least have a time on the reserved signs, so I sat on one of the tables which gave me an hour, if required. I looked around the pub in more detail now I was sat down and realised that the bar was actually painted in a dark colour and had tiles on the back bar. Over in the far right hand corner there was a small area hidden around the corner, though I never seen/checked how big it was. On the walls there were some fake bookcase wall papers which I never understand why pubs use. Though across all the other walls were paintings and memorabilia from Horse Racing, Tennis and other sports. This was a really nice cosy pub and I would certainly return though perhaps try a more mainstream beer or perhaps ale. I did note that they had a nice selection of craft beers from both local and America, though I might steer clear of those.
I finished up my pint and left to head north to the main road for my final stop the King's Arms (SW10 9PN). The outside of the pub immediately stood out with its light wood. Walking into the pub and the place stretches back quite a bit and is nice and wide and airy. The bar is straight ahead against the side wall and stretches back the majority of the way. This is a Young's pub though they on their 3 hand pumps they offered Grandstand, Ghost Ship and Young's Bitter.On the keg front there was Chelsea Blonde, Beyond the Pale, Guinness, Yakima Red, Hiver Honey Beer, Amstel and Peroni. I went for a pint of Beyond the Pale by the London Beer Factory. The beer was a nice pale ale that I drank but I'm not sure would hunt out again.All the tables were taken so I found a space out of the way at the of the bar to stand and drink. The clientele were all young though mainly sitting solo at tables. The interior of the pub was beautiful which tiles on one side and exposed brick on the other. There was a sky light at the rear letting in more natural light from above. There was a red leather sofa running along the exposed brick wall.
I sadly didn't stay too long as I had to make my journey home from Fulham Road and could rather have done with a seat than standing. I did thoroughly enjoy my pub tour today for the decor of all the pubs I visited which were all different but beautifully done. It doesn't surprise me that this three pubs were in Chelsea as that is where customers have money, so the pubs have done themselves up to compete with the restaurants.
