Lofty Turtle SW14 *

The Lofty Turtle, London SW14

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
Southwest London: Other location – East Sheen

Bar, specialist (Independent)
505 Upper Richmond Road SW14 7DE
T 020 8878 1995 w loftyturtle.com f The-Lofty-Turtle tw theloftyturtle
Open 1700 (1200 Fri, 1100 Sat-Sun)-2400 (2330 Sun). Children welcome until 1930.
Cask beer 1 (unusual guest), Other beer 9 keg, 60 bottles, Also Cocktails, 35 wines.
Food US diner-style menu, Outdoor Front terrace, Wifi. No disabled toilet but ramped access.
Occasional live music, DJs, films, functions, major TV sports, pool, board games, retro video games.

The suburban village of East Sheen, in an area between Richmond and Putney much favoured by successful actors, is perhaps not a place you’d expect to stumble on an impressive range of beer. So the collection of brewery enamels displayed beside the comfortable front terrace of this bar among an unassuming parade of shops may come as a surprise.

The site was a struggling jazz bar and restaurant known as the Naked Turtle until January 2012 when beer loving owners Patrick and Dee reconfigured it in a style inspired by New York loft bars, with a drinks offer to match. The rejig has proved a great success, both as a bar and a party venue – something that might partly be explained by the friendliness of the place, which is warmer and more informal than the crimson-draped cocktail bar look might suggest.

A changing cask beer from the likes of Arbor, Magic Rock or Pin-up is complemented by keg beers from Brooklyn, Innis & Gunn, Samuel Adams (imported, not the Shepherd Neame version) and Stiegl plus rotating guests that might include British craft kegs alongside German imports from bigger breweries like Paulaner. A decent bottle and can range is predominantly sourced from the US – Left Hand, Maui, Odell, Stone, Victory – but stretches to Trappists from Chimay, Rochefort and Westmalle and British entries from BrewDog, Bristol, Harviestoun and Magic Rock.

With three easily separated spaces, the Turtle is well equipped for coping with groups and parties though the main bar is kept available for regulars and casual callers. There’s lots going on, too, including regular film screenings, and the well made but fun menu – burgers, hot dogs, salads, steaks, barbecue shrimp skewers, all with beer matching suggestions – is also available to take away.

National Rail Mortlake Bus Graemesdyke Avenue (numerous Richmond) Cycling LCN+ Chiswick, Richmond Park, link to NCN 4