As is quite common with locals pubs all of the men were stood drinking around the bar which makes it impossible for you to find space to order. There were no ales on offer and the keg selection offered Strongbow in original, dark fruits or cloudy, Fosters, Guinness, San Miguel, Stella and Old Speckled Hen. The bottle selection was small but they did sell Super Bock and Super Bock Stout. I grabbed a pint of Stella for an amazing £3.80 and found a space on a table under the window. I watched the pool match ongoing and noted that the pub was mainly older Irish men who appeared to be in the building trade, with the rest being bus drivers who I hope had finished their shift.
I only stayed for the one and moved on to my main stop for the day the Priory Arms (SW8 2PB). The Priory Arms is not a large pub, but sits on a corner and has space outside for benches. The front of the pub has green boarding around it, and I understand is listed. The pub doesn't open till 5pm and I was a few minutes early but the lady setting up the outside let me go and sit inside till they opened. This gave me the perfect opportunity to browse around at the beer selection. The bar on the right hand wall and had 7 hand pumps. Only 4 hand pumps were on which were Kent Brewery's Brewers Reserve, Prohibition, Oakham's Enough Rope and Scarlet Macaw. On keg there was Paulaner Munich Hell, Pirate Life Stout, Gamma Ray, Schremser Hausbier, Jakes Kentish Cider, Drifter, Day Tripper and Easy Answer. There was also Blackberry Bush cider on cask. By the time I had finished perusing the bar was open for serving. I bought a pint of the Brewers Reserve for £4.50. The beer was very clear with a good lacing. Considering it was an american IPA the beer was quite bitter.
Now the pub has two levels to it, with the bar being on the lower level, and only having a few high tables with chairs. The rest of the seating is in the raised area which is only accessible by going past the front door again. The seating here is a long black 'leather like' cushioned seat running along the walls. I sat down on a small table that overlooked the bar. The walls of the pub are adorned with pump clips but if you look closely it appears where pump clips have been stolen they're putting XT Brewing or Tiny Rebel pump clips. On the pillar directly in front of me there were probably about 8 examples of this. The pub was very light and in the corner there were board games and books. I was still the only customer in the pub when I went up for my second beer, Stout by Pirates Life Brewing. As this beer was 7.1% I only went for a half and also bought a packet of the wonderful Synders jalapeno pretzels. The beer had a wonderful tan head and a great roasted flavour though you could taste the ABV, so was glad I went for a half (Or there abouts as they did pour in my favour). By my final drink, Day Drifter by Sand City Brewery four more punters had come into the pub. Again I only went for a half with Day Drifter, which was only 5.5% and had a very sweet aroma. The immediate taste is sweet with a bitterness in the after taste. Accompanying my drink this time was a packet of Tayto's Bang Bang Spicy Thai.I left the pub though returned mere minutes later once I realised I had left my bag behind. Thankfully I don't have a dog nor child. Now with my bag in tow I made my way towards Battersea Park Station. Prior to arrving at the station I made a stop, mainly due to my bladder requiring emptying. I stopped at Flanagans (SW8 4AG) which is a nice looking stand along pub, with flower boxes on the outside, next to the train tracks in Battersea, surrounded by new developments going up in all directions. The outside normally has lots of benches but there appeared to be gas works going on, so the area was all dug up. The pub inside is very cosy and is exactly as advertised, an Irish Pub.
Irish Pub checklist
The pub is carpeted - Tick
Proper wooden bar - Tick
Solid wood seats - Tick
Female bar staff apart from owner - Tick
Irish Sports shown - Tick (Though Horse Racing currently on - Double Tick)
The pub itself is nice inside. As I said, cosy is the word I would use to describe as it was busy with lots of workers from the building site, and all the seats were taken. There is a raised seating area just beside the door with one table on it. The bar is in an L shape and had bar stools which all the regulars were sat on and chatting with the bar staff. On the top shelf of the bar there were a selection of unopened bottles ales, though they clearly weren't for sale.
The pub had two hand pumps which I wasn't expecting. Only one was one and it offered up Wandle. On keg we had Becks Vier, John Smith, Strongbow Original and Dark Fruits, Guinness (lots of), Coors Light, Stella, Carling and Fosters. I went for the Stella which much like the Duke of Cambridge can in at £3.80. There were a selection of Tayto crisps but after the pack I had at the last pub, I decided to steer clear this time. This pub isn't going to win any CAMRA pub awards but its a pub that I feel comfortable walking into, ordering a pint and either choosing to chat to people or just sit in quiet. It has a fire for winter time, and a nice outdoor area. Testament to this is how busy the pub always seems to be and the varying age of the customers. I enjoyed my pint and made the short walk to the station, happy with my pit stop.
