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Detail Pages
The Garden Shed, SW19
SW19
SW19 1AW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 3½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Garden Shed
As the Horse & Groom, this place dates from at least the late 19th century, the current structure likely a replacement from the 20s’ or 30s’ and with two Charrington’s lanterns remaining, the current name dates from December 2013, probably to differentiate it from the other Horse & Groom at the end of the road, which in turn was known as the Dark House, probably to...errmm…differentiate it from this place.
Refurbished in January 2018, there’s a big opened out rather plain interior, bare boarded with a white theme, punctuated with galvanized suspended ceiling framework from which weeds dangle; also on display are some tactically placed rather pretentious knickknacks; the only obvious sign of heritage is an etched mirror above a fireplace bearing the pub’s original name. The bar back is a modern plank and mirror affair, the front covered with dark shiny ceramic tiles, likewise the furniture to the frontal area which is really little more than glorified tall trestle tables; some booth-style seating was available to the rear. Several TVs were showing the white-knuckle spectacle that is live golf, in unwatched silence, the ambience dominated by a fairly decent live guitarist, enjoyed by a mixed local crowd, mostly in good spirits during my Saturday night visit.
There’s no cask now, just three decorative pump handles fashioned from garden implements, so it was Neck Oil, £3.40 a half, served by a functional barmaid.
This place isn’t a disaster; the live music was entertaining enough, but the lack of cask is a disincentive, likewise the close proximity to the Sultan.
On 20th May 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2017 recommendations about 1983 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Horse & Groom
The original two rooms have been knocked together, but are somewhat separated by some screening. The left hand room has a pool table at the back, and a handful of normal tables and chairs. The right hand room has a few more tables and chairs and a couple of distressed (or perhaps just plain old) sofas, and is dominated by a couple of couple of blackboards, one detailing future attractions and the other details of a charity activity in which the pub is involved. There is a garden at the back.
This is a basic and fairly bland and characterless pub. The only ale on was GKIPA, with a Tetley clip reversed on a second handpump. But the worse thing about this pub was the “house” music and other base heavy rubbish blaring out far too loudly. I’m not sure if anyone was actually enjoying listening to it. I left before the inevitable headache set in.
On 27th April 2013
- rating: 3
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]