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Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village, SW19
SW19
SW19 5EA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about Dog & Fox
This pub was a coaching inn, dating from at least the early 17th century, a Young’s house since 1834 and rebuilt in 1869, an imposing structure and landmark hotel in Wimbledon ‘Village’, the name picked out with a jazzy fluorescent sign to the façade.
There’s a large interior with a slightly raised side area and substantial dining room to the rear, the ‘Library’ beyond for private functions, one spilling out onto the dedicated patio at the time of my 9.30pm Saturday arrival. There’s not much of heritage here, apart from the very fine and rare terrazzo floor to the original entrance lobby. Otherwise, the floor’s bare boarded with a tiled bar apron, modern dark threequarters height field panelling with grey paint, chocolate brown to the dining area. Furniture is conventional and décor takes the form of obligatory eclectic prints; the bar back is new, resembling wrought iron trellising. Lighting is Victorian-style glass ‘n’ brass and really quite bright, picking out the mixed local crowd and baby, perambulating across the floor, propelled by its mother; the overall ambience was exuberant though overall fun.
A cask libation amounted to just London Original and Hophead, good, served by an attentive barman, but at an awful £3.20 a half, the same as at the Rose & Crown (opposite) and wholly unjustified.
Despite the joke prices associated with Wimbledon ‘Village’s’ over inflated opinion of itself, this is a reasonable place, the most vibrant pub in the Wimbledon area, but the immediate vicinity’s winner is the Hand in Hand.
On 31st May 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2017 recommendations about 1983 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Dog & Fox
Large split level interior serving 6 real ales
On 31st October 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2897 recommendations about 2834 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Dog & Fox
Upmarket treatment of and old and once grand hotel, not surprising in view of its location in the middle of Wimbledon Village. Many parts of the old fabric survive, but generally covered by a layer of arty decorations and furnishings, although it still has something of a genteel feel to it. One side is mainly used by drinkers, with the other end by the kitchen given over to diners. The 'Library' function room stands behind while there is a patio area by the road. The beer range is expanded beyond the usual Young's brews, with Proper Job and Wimbledon Common Pale on offer.
On 18th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3353 recommendations about 3290 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Dog & Fox
Sixth and last of the Wimbledon 8. That stat tells its own tale.
I quite like this place - big, airy, full of paraphernalia , great location and beer as indifferent as the other six pubs.
Photos and more info at my walking blog - http://bit.ly/1Tf0AGO
On 15th May 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1357 recommendations about 1342 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Dog & Fox
The Dog and Fox is a huge Young’s pub in the middle of Wimbledon Village. The pub was last rebuilt in 1869, but there has been an inn on the site since at least 1617. The current building has clearly undergone the Young’s refurbishment treatment in recent times, which sadly means that it’s now quite tricky to pick out anything of historical interest. The pub has a corridor running from the front door to the bar, either side of which are two very different areas. To the left is the dining area – a huge split level room with some banquette lined booths on the lower level and a draped off area higher up which stretches surprisingly far back, before reaching a conservatory type room. The overall look is that of a restaurant, and it’s only by moving to the right of the corridor that you are reminded that you are actually in a pub. The servery is sited on the rear wall and there is a centrally located fireplace opposite. The room has a lot of seating including some nice banquettes and the sort of fancy wallpaper that you seem to find in Young’s pubs nowadays. Several TV screens were dotted around the room, each showing different action from the Olympic Games whilst loud music played over the commentary. There are two outdoor seating areas including one which had a BBQ on the go. We tried some of the food off the standard menu and whilst quality was good, it didn’t come cheaply.
Disappointingly there were just three ales available – Young’s Ordinary, Special and Wells Bombardier – although the full range of Young’s bottled beers were also on show in the fridges. I tried the Ordinary and thankfully it was pretty well kept.
This place may once have been an appealing proposition, but it has been messed about with so much that it barely feels like a pub anymore and certainly not one with any history. It might be a worthwhile option for a bite to eat – it is after all, no more expensive than other eateries in the village – but I can’t imagine me coming back here for a pint.
On 22nd September 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Dog & Fox
The Dog & Fox is set in the very heart of the very upmarket Wimbledon Village, and it shows. This pub has been part of the Young’s estate since 1834, although the current building results from considerable rebuilding in 1900, after which it was renamed the “Wimbledon Hill Hotel”. Thankfully it’s now reverted to its previous name. The usual range of Young’s ales was on during my visit, as well as the excellent Butcombe Bitter (£3.40 a pint). They do food of course, but cheap it ain’t.
It hasn’t changed since my last visit a year or two ago, and Maldenman’s description this summer remains valid. It is a good example of a Young’s pub made over to such an extent that any original pub character has long gone. High tables, high stools, high benches, and sofas abound. The only decent feature remaining is the mosaic flooring in what would have been the entrance hall in days gone by. But maybe this is the sort of pub that the patrons in this very upmarket part of London want. However, on the plus side, it was open when I was in Wimbledon Village at 11.30 AM, and the Butcombe Bitter was excellent. But there are better pubs down the road, or across the Common if you’ve got the time to walk to them.
On 16th October 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Dog & Fox
This is a large Victorian pub in a prominent position in Wimbledon Village, although records show that there has been a pub or inn on this site since the days of Henry VIII. Such a large building would clearly once have been divided into a number of seperate areas, however these days the main pub part is one large space. There is a seperate restaurant area to one side with in my opinion the pretty naff names based on Womble characters, eg Orinoco Lounge, Mme Cholet Room. Again beyond here part of the large building has been converted into a seperate Chinese restaurant.
There are a few hints of the pub's previous life, a mosaic tiled floor and hall remain in what would have been a main entrance once. The lobby of the "Tap Room"...marked in etched glass...is now thoughtlessly blocked over by high bench seating.
The main pub area feels too big and lacks pub atmosphere, the majority of the seating has been given over to those high tables and similar seats.
There is an outdoor seating area to the street, partially screened by planting.
A long standing Young's pub, I could only see three handpumps on my recent visit, of these just two on, Ordinary Bitter and Waggledance.
I suspect the pub has a target market of diners during the day, perhaps younger drinkers later on. It just seems to completely lack character and ambience to me.
On 14th July 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Dog & Fox
This pub is big, I mean massive; On a friday night you could arrange to meet a mate in here and spend the whole night looking for him. The emphasis on the place is very much on the food side which I don't really have a problem with - it is Wimbledon after all. Its probably the area's most popular boozer and that is reflected in the pricing which is fairly steep although my pint of Youngs Special was in reasonable order. Perhaps for a quieter, more traditional setting I'd suggest the Rose & Crown up the road.
On 19th November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Dog & Fox
The Dog and Fox is a large old pub at the top of the hill and in the very posh Wimbledon village area.
Once inside there was one very large room that i noticed and i did'nt really like this room that much,this is a Youngs tied house and there were three of their beers on the bar i had a drink of Youngs bitter and this was'nt on top form the other beers were Youngs Special and Winter warmer.
This was by far the worst pub i visited in Wimbledon on my crawl.
Pub visited 14/12/2002
On 14th December 2002
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]