London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
West London: Other locations — Teddington
Masons Arms, Teddington TW11 (London)
51 Walpole Road, Teddington TW11 8PJ
T (020) 8977 6521
Open 1130 (1100 Sun)-2300.
Cask beers 4 (Downton, Sambrook’s, unusual/local guests), Other beers 2 keg, 15+ bottles
Food Filled rolls at lunchtimes, Outdoors Small beer garden. Disabled toilet.
Darts, rings, skittles, board games, occasional quizzes and theme nights.
Landlady Rae had been running this small corner pub in a residential street behind Teddington High Street for many years when she and her partner Terry Himpfen, who runs the Roebuck in nearby Hampton, were able to buy the freehold from Enterprise. Rae’s passion for real ale thus had the opportunity to flourish and since reopening in May 2010 the place has become a real gem that will amply reward a visit. Four handpumps dispense Downton Quadhop, Sambrook’s Junction and guests that might come from Arundel, Flowerpot, Hogs Back, RCH or other small and interesting breweries, usually including a dark choice. Lager is from Kaltenberg and Rothaus, while a well-picked and mainly British bottled range includes old fashioned choices like Gold Label barley wine, Mackeson and Manns Brown as well as Hop Back Entire and a kriek lambic.
The spotless and decidedly traditional interior is arranged around a horseshoe bar, with fresh flowers offsetting a substantial collection of beer-related ephemera and breweriana — mirrors, posters and adverts, trays, pub signs and a table of CAMRA literature to browse. Then there’s the well-tended garden, in which old urinals have been recycled as planters. The modestly handsome building, with a fine tiled frontage now restored to its former glory, was once tied to the local Isleworth brewery which was taken over by Watney’s — several major changes in appearance can be traced through a series of photographs and paintings on one of the walls. Both Bushy Park, one of London’s lesser known Royal Parks, and Teddington Lock, the upper limit of the tidal Thames, are within relatively easy walking distance.
National Rail Teddington Bus Teddington Memorial Hospital (281 285 Kingston, R68 Richmond) Cycling Link to NCN4 and Bushy Park paths Walking Link to Thames Path and Bushy Park paths/London Loop
Used to be my local when I lived, well locally. Smashing pub, great atmosphere, super beer and used to have a great juke box (remember them?). Can imagine Rae is a great landlady she used to work there when I drank there. Heartily recommend
This and the Roebuck are about my 3rd/4th nearest pubs – didn’t know the connection, but should have guessed, the interior styles are very similar. Slightly prefer the Roebuck, which is a tad more intimate, and the beer quality always seems rather better.