For a seemingly perpetual crowd and a casual drinking spot guaranteed to be showing the game, look out for the cheeky red fox on a prime corner in Putney.

The Venue
Pubs in this competitive area tend to choose a niche to make them stand out from the crowd and, in these parts, The Fox is known as the place to watch sport. The reason it’s popular is it’s easy to find (just off the major intersection of Putney High Street and Upper Richmond Road) and it’s huge. There’s plenty of seating in the L-shaped open plan interior from high window-seat benches to dining tables and comfy couches, all of which afford you a decent view of one of the many televisions or the large screen erected for big games.

Behind its attractive Georgian-style cream facade, the decor is typical of a chain (the pub is operated by the Town and City company): basic, modern pub-style furnishings with nothing unique or fancy. There is a small outdoor beer garden for the summer.

The Atmosphere
Make no mistake, if there is a big rugby or football match on The Fox will be heaving with a boozing crowd usually dressed in their team’s shirt or jersey to declare allegiances. Service is admirably quick and cheery at these times despite packed-in punters at the bar, and you can expect many fuelled fans shouting at the screens and chatting in groups. When there’s no sport on, The Fox attracts a chilled-out, casual crowd; events like a weekly quiz night contribute to a lively, social atmosphere.

The Food
With its cheesy chain menu there are definitely better places to eat in Putney if you’re after a gourmet meal. If all you’re looking for, however, is some cheap nosh to accessorise your pint then there is a wide choice of good value pub favourites like burgers, bangers and mash, curries, jacket potatoes, roasts and baguettes to choose from, starting from a cheap-as-chips £3.75. Breakfasts are also on offer (the pub is open from 11am daily and noon on Sundays) starting from a measly £1.95, and you can get an All Day Breakfast and a drink for £3.95 that is sure to banish even the most brutal of hangovers.

The Drink
What the Fox doesn’t offer in terms of sophistication or variety, it makes up for with some seriously pocket-pleasing prices. Definitely one of the cheaper bars to drink in Putney, you can wet your whistle with a standard range of beers, wines and spirits from as little as £2.50. The draught offering includes stalwarts Fosters, Heineken, Kronenbourg and Wells Bombardier. A small wine list with mostly new world options starts from a gasping £2.45 for a small glass of USA grape up to £5.15 for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

The Last Word
Cheap, cheerful and conveniently located. If you’re not looking for anything fancy, The Fox is a decent spot to catch the game.

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