The Rutland Arms is tucked away on the banks of the Thames, directly next to its rival, the Blue Anchor. The Rutland may not have the same historical edge as its neighbour, but it does have a wide selection of bevies behind the bar.

The Venue
The riverside location of the Rutland Arms guarantees quite a flow of custom through its doors. It is a popular venue, prized for its cheap eats and vast seating areas. The pub extends across two floors, with a cosy seating section found at the back of the pub, and a more traditional dining hall on the first floor. The décor is very run-of-the-mill; dark oak tables and upholstered chairs, a red and gold colour code, and a carpet that has the usual dated pattern. Upstairs, tacky chandeliers hang from the ceiling and posters advertising special food and booze offers decorate the walls, making this quite a budget venue. Its saving grace is the view across the Thames and of Hammersmith Bridge.

The Atmosphere
What the Rutland Arms lacks in décor, it more than makes up for in atmosphere, as it becomes a lively and often noisy venue in the evenings. Bar staff more than add to this as they’re happy to chat and quick to serve you. Because of its drinks deals, quite a young clientele gather at The Rutland, but don’t be surprised to see the odd older couple venturing here for a bite to eat.

The Food
British pub grub is the order of the day at the Rutland Arms. Food platters, roast dinners, pub favourites and pies make this a crowd-pleasing menu that certainly draws custom to the upstairs dining hall. Light snacks come in the shape of sandwiches, butties and baked potatoes, with a bacon butty (£4.85) probably the most tempting of all. A pie will cost you £7.79, with three very traditional fillings to choose from. The ‘pub favourites’ menu continues this traditional vibe, with gammon and egg (£7.59), bangers and mash (£7.59) and rib of beef (£11.69) all making an appearance. Roast of the day (£8.15) is served with all the trimmings, and diners can even go large portion for an extra £2. Indeed, large appetites are definitely catered for at The Rutland. The chip shop platter (£9.89) comes with battered fish, breaded scampi, chips, mushy peas and pickled onions.

The Drink
The range of lagers and ales on tap mean that The Rutland comes with a Cask Marque accreditation. Ales range from £2.99 to £3.69 in price and include Young’s Gold, Bombardier and EPA. Kronenbourg, Stella, Budvar, Becks and Hoegarden are all on draft, as well as Fosters, the cheapest pint at £3.60. Even Pimms and lemonade is on tap, making this a pub for every taste. A small glass of wine ranges from £3.35 up to £4.95, although bar staff warn the punters off the house wine and recommend the better tasting choices further down the list. And there are some quite pleasant offerings too, such as the Campo Viejo Rioja (£4.25).

The Last Word
The Rutland has plenty of superior competition on this part of the Thames, but it does offer a good range of cheap drinks to an eager, young crowd and traditional pub grub to older generations.

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