The Idle Hour, Barnes  rated2 pints - click for an explanation of our ratings

location:

Barnes

address:

62 Railway Side, SW13 0PQ

phone:

0871 258 7581*
* calls cost 10p/minute, click here for more about 0871 numbers.

nearest stations:

Barnes Bridge Railway station
(330m)

Barnes Railway station
(580m)

Mortlake Railway station
(1.2Km)

how to find it:

Nearest train station is Barnes Bridge. Not too far from there as the crow flies; rather a hike through the back streets on foot. Best way to find Railway Side is to head down White Hart Lane (opposite the riverside White Hart pub) and take a left down Railway Side when you get to the railway crossing. Keep walking past the allotments till you come to the pub

click here for a larger map

picture of Idle Hour
An independent pub, this one has a quite a bit going for it (eg the secluded location, a nice beer garden) but unfortunately not enough to win us over. It didn't help that the beer was off, nor that the anonymous world music on the CD player would have had even Andy Kershaw reaching for the off switch. Also, while the pub hypes its League of Nations spirits selection, only offering from Scotland Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie and Famous Grouse is behaviour more akin an low-rent estate pub. Perhaps if we'd have come for food instead we'd have left more satisfied (the Sunday Roasts sound ideal for gluttons). In its favour, on hearing of the beer being off the barman was charm personified. Given most of the pubs around Barnes have taken the gastro route, The Idle Hour fits in perfectly: at least this one offers a bit more thought than The Sun and the Red Lion.

reviewed:
6/5/2004
reviewed by jack

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

beer garden or outdoor seating available - click for explanationbeer garden
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