78 Norman Road,
Colliers Wood,
London,
SW19 1BT

0872 148 4842

Note: Calls cost 10p per min plus network extras.

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The Sultan is, apparently, a prize-winning pub.

Its manager informed me that for the last three years it has been award Pub of the Year for South Wimbledon – in fact, every year it’s been entered. You’ve got to admit that sounds quite impressive.

I must admit to being surprised that it had gained such an accolade. This had more to do with where it is than what it’s like: it’s a fair old walk from South Wimbledon tube, and planted in an extremely unpromising-looking residential street. This is exactly the kind of place you wouldn’t go if you were looking for nightlife.

And indeed ‘nightlife’ isn’t exactly what’s going on in here – just people having a quiet drink. The place went almost dead silent at my entry, presumably because I’m not local and I’m under thirty. It has a definitely un-urban, out-of-town atmosphere, which is enhanced by very busy Aztec-style carpets and over-complicated floral curtains.

Sophistication is not the name of this game. Not even a sub-heading. And it isn’t even a family, Sunday-lunch sort of pub – no food, along with no music. So, no fun then?

Well, it must have got those prizes somehow, I thought. It turns out that the Sultan was honoured for its exemplary dedication to beer. Run by the Hopback Brewery, it’s a real ale pub.

Its activities are all beer-related – cheap beer at the beer-club on Wednesday, a beer festival in September, open beer-garden during the summer months. Oh, and the favourite sport of beer-drinkers; darts. Let it not be said that this pub has any doubts as to its identity.

Chances are that by now you’ll have decided whether you’re interested or not – but just in case, I’ll clarify. If you’re in South Wimbledon at this moment gagging for some English ale, by all means look them up at once. Just don’t go out of your way to visit if you’re looking for liveliness or style.