Leather Bottle, SW17

Tris C left this review about Leather Bottle

This grade II-listed freestanding pub dates from 1721 and was probably a coaching inn, serving Garrett Lane’s 2.6-mile meandering length. There’s a beer garden which the pub claims is ‘The best beer garden in SW London’ and customer parking, about which no boasts are made.
Through the modern doors with their automatic closers and this place has probably changed a fair bit since Rex’s visit almost 10 years ago, not least due to a renovation of March this year and yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s one of Young’s throw the baby out with the bathwater affairs as this now has an interior best described as resembling a baronial hotel bar, with masses of natural new dark wood field panelling, modern boarded floor, ‘antique’ oil paintings with brass picture lights and mixed furniture, some lounge-style, lit with glass ‘n’ brass hanging lights. There’s a modern bar back which displays a large selection of scotch, gins and bottles of champagne; the only items of heritage I managed to spot were some interesting residual exposed rough-hewn dark members, with unusual textured infill. Customers were youthful and boisterous with a clutch of older customers, filling the modern rear dining area and, late Friday, making for quite a rumpus when combined with the rather loud soul soundtrack.
A poor cask selection – and especially for a Friday – amounted to just London Original and Special, Neck Oil at £3.70 a half, served by a monosyllabic barman.
I remember a local friend speaking highly of this place over 10 years ago, but I doubt she’d be so enamoured now; a short bus ride north takes you to Young’s beautiful Spread Eagle, proof that the brewer doesn’t have to remodel every pub in its portfolio.

On 12^th May 2024 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2005 recommendations about 1971 pubs]