The Latchmere pulls in a varied, discerning set of punters - including performers and creatives - from the trendy Theatre 503 that sits above it. Unfortunately, this pub suffers from the Battersea curse of being poorly connected transport wise and there's little to recommend it as a destination venue in itself.

The Venue
The Latchmere stands prominently on the crossroads of Battersea Park Road and Latchmere Road but its drab exterior does little to inform passersby that there is a vibrant pub inside.

With a cosy beer garden at the back and a fully functioning fringe theatre and stand-up comedy venue above, there is much to recommend this pub; however, as with the exterior, the interior retains the traditional old-style pub feel with many period features still intact, making it a little drab and not recommending itself to passing trade. Once inside, however, there’s a cosy and welcoming atmosphere that centres around the sizeable bar counter.

The Atmosphere
Thursday night is quiz night at The Latchmere and has been voted one of the top ten in London. The staff are always friendly and personable and the clientele are happy to welcome new faces. There are several sports screens dotted around the bar, making it a local haven for football tournaments, during which the atmosphere can become a little rowdy. Expect to be approached in a friendly way by representatives from the upstairs theatre poaching customers.

The Food
Patrons of the theatre receive money off their food bill and consequently there can be an influx of the pre and post-theatre crowd. Roasts are available all day on a Sunday at a reasonable £8.95 and there is a lunch and dinner menu, both of which contain a decent selection of surprisingly mouthwatering options, including mussels (£8.25), all day breakfasts (£7.95), and the mind blowing mixed grill. Advertised as not being for the faint hearted, this meat guzzling combo includes half a rack of BBQ ribs, a steak, pork chop and pork and leek sausage with tomatoes, chips and peas. If you don’t feel up to that kingly feast, lighter snacks such as hummus and olives with pitta bread are also available.

Lunch sandwiches offer a fantastic choice at a mere £3.95 and are available with chips or a generous portion of curly fries. Burgers are also available, including veggie burgers and chicken burgers which are moist and hearty enough to please any taste-buds.

The Drink
Many of the usual beers can be found on tap, including John Smith, Becks, Staropramen and Stella, as well as some more unusual picks in the shape of Cornish beer Doom Bar and local South London beer Youngs. Drinks at The Latchmere are friendly to the wallet with a wide range of cocktails priced at £3.95 each, including bellinis, Moscow mules, and banana, raspberry, passion fruit and pomegranate mojitos. Pimms is also served seasonally and is available served in an unconventional guise mixed with pomegranate juice. There are also a pleasing variety of shots on offer, ranging from sourz and flavoured sambuca at £2 each, to Corky’s vodka flavours at a very reasonable £1. For those in search of some non-alcoholic refreshment, two fruity mocktails are available.

As part of the Barracuda Group there is also a deal on wine that means if you buy two large glasses of any one wine, you get the rest of the bottle free. The wines are all at the lower end of the market and range from £11.50-£19.95, including selections from France, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Spain. Veuve Clicquot is available at £47.00.

The Last Word
The Latchmere is a fun and charming little pub with good food and a decent beverage selection available at reasonable prices. However, it is a local and traditional pub that lacks the vibrancy and colour - in terms of decor and clientele - to make it a destination worth travelling for.

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