Best pubs in Wimbledon | 5 Excellent Boozers
If you find yourself up the hill in Wimbledon, wombling across the Common, and marvelling at the wonderful country village vibe (and honestly, Wimbledon does country village better than some actual country villages do), then you’d be forgiven for thinking that the place is one thatched roof away from the feudal system.
Which is a shorthand way of saying that Wimbledon has got a lot of good pubs.
And we’ve rounded up the best of them right here…
The Crooked Billet
As cosy as they come, and located in a truly beautiful spot by the common, The Crooked Billet is exactly the rustic, bring-your-dog, lovely-big-leather-armchairs, let’s-all-have-a-nice-big-roast pub that you think it is – and that you want it to be. Look for the beautiful, flower-covered white building, and follow the general sense of relaxed conviviality.
It’s a family-friendly gastropub where authenticity abounds; pictures of Wimbledon old and new line the walls, fires crackle away in winter, and the beers span crafts and locally-brewed cask ales. And come Sunday? There’s a choice of five roasts on offer, including the lionised classic Aberdeen Angus ribeye of Beef and the chef’s favourite: vegan roast; seitan, mushroom, shallots and beetroot Wellington, all of which are served with a plate full of trimmings. All told, one of the cosiest pubs in Wimbledon.
Details: 14 – 15 Crooked Billet, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4RQ
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The Dog & Fox
Hotel pubs feel like an olden-day feature of green and pleasant land, where Egyptian cotton and freestanding tubs coalesced in perfect harmony. But thanks to the Dog & Fox, Britain’s age-old marriage of bed and board is still very much alive. The Dog & Fox is a short walk from Wimbledon Common and is full of beautiful old antiques, mahogany features and tartan textiles. Sports are screened inside and out, and the terrace is one of the buzziest places for a drink in Wimbledon.
The dining space and accompanying menu bring a touch of continental class to the olde English aesthetic. It’s not all beef and tatters in a warm sea of gravy at The Dog & Fox. The starting dish of burrata served with fig, sun-dried tomato puree, herbed croutons and chicory offers an excellent vegetarian diversion from the meat to follow, which we recommend be the pork, leek & apple sausages, crushed new potatoes, buttered spring greens and gravy.
Details: 24 High Street, Wimbledon, London, SW19 5EA
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Hand in Hand
The Hand in Hand is one of the best pubs in Wimbledon for humans and dogs alike. Originally a bakery back in the 19th century, the interior is grungy (for Wimbledon), uncontrived and sociable, only rolling out the sports screens for tennis season. The Hand in Hand gets particularly busy in the summer months, when punters spill out onto the grass outside to take in the gloaming. It’s romantic and peaceful, and a mecca for the dogs of SW.
The Hand in Hand’s landlord Andrew is a true ale enthusiast, having recently inaugurated the pub’s annual Spring beer festival, and offering his famous beer masterclasses year-round. The food menu is equally high-quality, with traditional hand-made pies and puds accompanied by the occasional fancy-pants touch, like pheasant ragù.
Details: 6 Crooked Billet, Wimbledon Common, London, SW19 4RQ
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The Rose & Crown
“Cosy nooks” is one of the things that the Rose & Crown boasts that it’s known for – and they couldn’t be more right. If you love a cosy nook – and who among us doesn’t – then look no further. The pub also benefits from a bucolic location near Wimbledon Common, making it a perfect stop-off for a) Wombles, and b) thirsty dog walkers. You can fill yourself up after a marathon stroll with their alluring ‘Brunch of Dreams’, or do battle around a freshly baked reservoir of Camembert. It’s the kind of place you’ll probably, inexplicably, find yourself ordering a ‘real ale’. And, what’s more – you’ll love it.
The Rose & Crown is somewhat synonymous with tennis, and may just be the best place to watch Centre Court outside of Centre Court. There are expansive viewing screens both indoors and out, with an accompanying atmosphere to rival Henman Hill (and superior G&Ts to even the most premium tinny).
And the kicker? The Rose & Crown is also home to Wimbledon’s stand-out pub quiz, running every Tuesday from 7:30pm.
Details: 55 High Street Wimbledon, London, SW19 5BA
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The Fox & Grapes
The Fox & Grapes is another historic, cosy, wood-beamed institution where you can eat, drink and sleep beside Wimbledon Common. But as the only independent pub in Wimbledon, it holds a rare cachet above the chain brewery rabble.
Carved from a historic coaching inn, the pub pushes both town and country buttons with a lofty-ceilinged bar area on one side, and a farm-house style dining room on the other. The food, however, is a cut above most Wimbledon pubs – chef director Paul Merrett manned the pans at Michelin starred establishments before settling into the West London gastropub scene. His elevated menu of pub classics includes a stellar fish & chips (battered in local Wimbledon Pale Ale); chicken liver & brandy parfait with brioche; and excellent Sunday roasts.
Details: 9 Camp Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4UN
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