Fox TW1

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
West London: Twickenham and Hampton Hill

The Fox, Twickenham TW1 (London). Pic: Twickenham Taverns.

Contemporary pub (Enterprise/Twickenham Taverns)
39 Church Street, Twickenham TW1 3NR
T 020 8892 1535 w www.thefoxpubtwickenham.co.uk f thefoxtwickenham
Open 1100-2300 (0030 Fri-Sat, 2330 Sun). Children welcome until 1930.
Cask beer 6 (Fuller’s, Sharp’s, Twickenham, 3 sometimes local guests), Other beer 2 keg, 6 bottles, Also 37 wines, a few malts.
Food Enhanced pub grub menu, interesting bar snacks, Outdoor Unusual beer garden. Disabled toilet.
Thu-Sat live music, functions.

The choice for discerning drinkers in Twickenham expanded still further late in 2011 when this historic pub in picturesque Church Street reopened after a thorough refurbishment. It claims to be oldest pub in the town, founded in 1670 as the Bell to serve ferry operators on the nearby river, then rebuilt in 1749. The main bar is rustic and traditional, with old beams and an uneven floor, the steep step down from outside indicating how the street level has risen over the centuries. But off to the side is a new and attractively contemporary space created by glassing over a side yard, leading through to an unusual beer garden decked out with palm trees, bamboo and “found sculptures” of eroded wood. A British food menu creeps into restaurant prices for dishes like calves liver and bacon, pan roasted cod loin or three bean and mushroom pie; a more snacky bar menu – smoked haddock Scotch egg, grilled goat cheese and chips – will fill you up for less.

The pub is now run by the people behind the outstanding Sussex Arms nearby, and although it has a notably more restricted beer choice than its sister venue, there’s still plenty to be getting on with. Doom Bar, Pride and local favourite Naked Ladies are the regular cask choices, while guests tend towards unusual beers and seasonals from established breweries like Caledonian, Robinsons or Wychwood, all immaculately kept. Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada Pale and Negra Modelo add a touch of class among the bottles.

Insider tip. If it’s not in use for pre-booked functions, look out for the half-hidden Oak Room, a small wood panelled delight.

National Rail Twickenham Cycling LCN+ 37, Hampton Wick, Brentford, link to NCN 4 Walking Thames Path