I came to The Owl on a cold December evening, just a few days before Christmas. It is one of those pubs you notice immediately from the road, with an exterior that promises something solid and traditional inside.

There is a large garden out front which would be lovely in warmer weather, but the steady traffic noise from the road would make it hard to fully relax out there. On this visit, we headed straight indoors.

I visited The Roebuck on the 20th of December, heading down the road that leads towards Borough. It is one of those pubs you notice immediately. Sitting proudly on the corner, it feels large, confident, and very much part of the area.

From the outside it already looks impressive, but stepping inside really confirms it.

First impressions

As you walk in, the horseshoe bar wraps around in front of you. You can walk the entire way around it, which instantly makes the space feel open and easy to move through. It is a layout that encourages wandering, finding a spot, and settling in wherever feels right.

I came to the Hoop and Grapes late on a Tuesday evening, the week before Christmas, hoping to get food more than anything else.

The pub was busy, but in a good way. It felt lively without being uncomfortable. We quickly realised we would not get a table in the main bar area, but luckily there is a separate dining room at the back with a few spare tables.

I am not usually a fan of dedicated dining areas in pubs, but I also understand that they are often what keeps places like this going. In this case, it was easy to forgive.

I found myself locked out one afternoon, so the only option was to head to The Pavilion and wait it out.

The pub is surprisingly spacious for a London venue, with a decent semi-covered garden out the back. Inside, there are screens for watching sports, which makes it clear this is a QPR pub. I imagine matchdays see the occasional crowd of fans, which would lift the atmosphere, as it was a bit quiet during my visit.