231 Putney Bridge Road,
Putney,
London,
SW15 2PU
(020) 8874 1555
The ViewLondon Review
Good food, decent wine and great surroundings is what The Normanby stands for, and it pulls it off with ease.
The Venue
Just off Putney High Street and near to Putney rail and Putney Bridge tube station, The Normanby is a spacious and airy pub. Big windows greet you as you enter the pub and what grabs you is how roomy and homely the place is. To the left is a small cosy area with lots of leather sofas and comfy chairs, and this is the best spot for a quiet drink. To the right is the main bar area and it looks like a large living room, with three TVs fixed on the walls. Littered with sofas and relaxing furniture, the attitude here is comfortable and chilled out. The beautiful brown leather armchairs by the window are the best seats in the house due to the views and placating feeling you get from reclining in them. On a wooden side board there are a selection of classic board games such as Trivial Pursuit, Cluedo and Connect 4.
Going past the bar, to the back of the venue, there's a small area which is home to a pool table and two more TV screens. Additionally, scattered around the venue, there are big pot plants and lamps on side tables which reinforce the homely feel.
Out the back is a small patio area with wicker furniture and a BBQ, perfect for the summer months.
The Atmosphere
Due to its location, the people that come here are a mix of office workers, locals and people who want to watch sport. Some days during the week, The Normanby has a selection of deals and events: on Tuesdays there’s a quiz at 8pm; Wednesdays offer is 2-4-1 cocktails; and Thursdays is poker night. Also, as it has five screens, it’s a great place to watch sport and, when big tournaments are on, it helps that there are many screens offering different angles. The staff are effortlessly friendly and helpful and add to the venue’s relaxed nature.
The Food
When it comes to the food, it is typical pub grub with a few specials mixed in. Snacks consist of loaded potato skins with chilli beef and sour cream, cheese and bacon or chilli bean and sour cream (all £3.50). For the price, the portion is big and the skins are piled high with melted cheese oozing all over them. They are not your typical loaded skins as they are small, crisp slithers of potato dripping in cheese and bacon. Sour cream, ketchup and mustard dips only add to tastiness. Other snacks include calamari rings (£4), onion rings (£3.50) and bruschetta (£4.95).
For mains there is a lot to choose from, including a decent selection of salads and burgers. Burgers start at £6.50 for a spicy soya bean version and the rest are priced at £7.50. One to try is the Cajun chicken burger. With a fresh spicy salsa, soft bun and perfectly cooked breaded chicken, this burger is delicious. It also has a little spice so if you like a kick to your food, this is the dish for you. In the mains section, dishes don’t go above a tenner and include pub classics such as pie of the day (£8.95), beer battered fish and chunky chips (£9.50) and bangers and mash (£8.50). The latter comprises of three plump sausages lying peacefully on a large bed of mash, with lashings of meaty gravy. The mash is creamy, dreamy and combined with the thick gravy, it is a pleasure to eat.
If you can squeeze in dessert then the luxury Swiss ice cream (£4.95) is a must. You get three scoops of either pannacotta or creme brulee flavour and it is heavenly, particularly the creme brulee one. It is silky and light whilst being rich and creamy and is quite possibly the most phenomenal ice cream around. Alternatively, the chocolate brownie (£4.95) is a thick slab drenched in hot chocolate sauce. But with an abundance of sauce poured all over the plate, the brownie ends up too soggy.
The Drink
Whether you fancy a fine wine or a cheeky cocktail, The Normanby can provide for all tastes and states. The wine list is quite decent, with the house a respectable £14 per bottle, £3.70 a small and £5 a large glass. The house red is a smooth drink and easily gluggable. Notably the Chenin Blanc (£3.90/£5.30/£15) is a delightfully fresh and crisp wine, perfect with fish. The wines go up to (and above) the twenty pound mark for a Rioja (£20), a Pinot Noir (£22.50) and £25 for a Sauvignon Blanc. There are a few sparkling options to choose from, too. Prosecco is a fiver a glass and £23 for a bottle, and there are two reasonably priced Champagnes: Veuve Joubert (£6/£30) and Theophile Roederer (£38) which shouldn’t break the bank. However, if you do want to splash out then there is Perrier Jouet (£60) and vintage Dom Perignon (£130).
The beer and cider selection is respectable, with Stella, Guinness, Doom Bar, Addlestones and San Miguel featuring on the list for around the £3.40 a pint mark. Cocktails come in big jugs, or by the glass, and start at £5/£13.50 for Classic Pimms and £16 a jug for Turbo Pimms.
The Last Word
The Normanby is a great pub for all to enjoy, whether it’s for boozy nights with your mates or quiet, relaxing dinners with your family.
The Normanby has been reviewed by 11 users