The neat rows of bamboo and large cursive D on the sign hanging outside The Durrell tells you that this once grungy sports pub has had a makeover. The refurbishment gives this local boozer a stylish edge and it’s still a favourite for pub grub and sports fans.

The Venue
With a mix of comfy wooden chairs and tables, cocktail stools, slouchy couches, and huge booths, there is plenty of room to relax in this huge venue that sits neatly on a corner of Fulham Road.

The chocolate and slate colour scheme at The Durrell is embellished with the attractive chandeliers, hanging lamps, polished floorboards, motif wallpaper and gilt-edged mirrors you seem to find in every modern refurbished pub these days. However, the Victorian features like etched ceilings, ornate cornices and the musty mirrors behind the original bar give an air of uniqueness and hint at the history of this pub, which was named after an eighteenth-century naval hero.

The Atmosphere
On game nights, The Durrell is packed with a sports crowd, glued to one of two large plasma screens, punctuating the din every now and then with raucous, beer-fuelled cheers. The pub has a friendly, easygoing atmosphere with plenty of locals hanging the coat on their hat stand and wandering in for a few drinks. The crowd is both young and old and the service amiable, although the food service can be a little slow on busy nights.

The Food
A hugely varied menu offers everything from standard pub grub like steak burger and chips and tuna fishcakes to some more original touches like homemade pies, moules mariniere and seasonal chef’s specials. The food is standard at decent prices – the way mains are nicely presented on boards is a cut above average pubs. While the food is not exactly in the gastropub league, it serves its purpose.

The Drink
The wine list at The Durrell is helpfully organised into taste categories, so if you don’t know your chardonnay from your chablis you can select wines based on whether they are dry and fruity or warm and spicy. Bottle prices range from £12.50 to £24.50 and there is also the blessed carafe option.

Less standard brews on tap are Apsall Suffolk Dry Cider and the Japanese beer Kirin Ichiban, and there is also a cocktail menu with some tasty unique selections alongside the usual favourites.

The Last Word
It’s good to see that the refurbishment of The Durrell didn’t turn it into a pretentious gastropub, and that it remains loyal to its local sports-fan patrons and the less cashed-up breed of Fulhamites. As long as it keeps its comfortable decor and plasma screens, it looks set to remain a local favourite.

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