The Cat's Back, Wandsworth, SW18

This is a mid-19th century pub which I suspect was rebuilt in the 1930s, originally the Ye Olde House at Home later the Foresters, then Brush, the current name arriving in the ‘90s after a prodigal cat, the Harvey’s acquisition dating from 2012. The interior is moodily lit, with herringbone parquet floor and at least one leaded stained-glass partition, along with a decent bar back and front. Furniture is conventional, décor amounting to knickknacks with odd anthropomorphic prints of animals dressed as royalty. There was a mixed local crowd, a good overall ambience and much more traditionally pubby than Harvey’s Royal Oak. Disappointingly there were just two out of four pumps in use, one illegible in the gloom then something called Forward’s Choice at £2.60 a half and ok but nothing special. This is a very decent pub, easily the best in the immediate vicinity, but I’m not a disciple of Harvey’s beers and my drink was as unadventurous as their mainstream lineup; the one unisex cubicle could prove problematic too.

Traditional backstreet Harvey's pub. A fat L shaped interior; the main bar as you enter with a narrow spur off right leading to an impressive semi curricular bottle green banquette. Red walls, wallpaper and white ceiling as well as a nice dark wood bar area with wood flyover and gold trim. A fire was on the go but the embers were dying, which was a shame. Beware of the toilets, a long slog upstairs through the curtains with no signage. Four pumps with three Harveys ales, the Old being off. Unfortunately the Armada died fairly quickly in the glass (NBSS 2). It's a decent little pub; maybe I got unlucky with my beer but you wouldn’t get a duff one in the Royal Oak… 6.5