The Junction to Wandsworth

The Woodman, Battersea High St, SW11 3HX (www.woodman-battersea.co.uk) has reopened, after a refurbishment, on 30th March. This used to be a smaller pub when I was a youngster, togther with the 'Original Woodman', and was where us school lads used to sneak our early years ale, it being very close to school ;-)

It has recently been taken over by a chef, James Rogers, and his partner, Annie Broom, consequently, some interesting food options here, and not too expensive either. But it remains a pub too, with 3 ales usually on offer, but with handpumps for 4, should their trade increase in that area, and I hope it does.

We visited on Thursday afternoon, quite early, so it was fairly quiet, it's clean and very neat, a pleasure to visit. Friendly barman, and with 2 ales on offer, we tried the Badger First Gold at 4.0% (nice easy to drink bitter); they also had King & Barnes Sussex (3.5%). I loved sitting on a stool at a barrel turned on its end. I will re-visit when they've had a bit more time to settle in.

The Hope Pole, Wandsworth, is a Shepherd Neame pub, the first of their pubs I ever drank at following drinking at the Bishop's Finger in Smithfield Market, many years ago! It's a real pub, sells Shepherd Neame ales, and Bishop's Finger is a crackin' pint...