176 Fulham Palace Road,
Fulham,
London,
W6 8QT
(020) 7381 8682
The ViewLondon Review
The bright neon lights from the Southern Belle shouting BBQ and American pool can be seen quite some distance down this long stretch of road. It may not be the classiest of starts, but it certainly intrigues.
The Venue
A short walk from Hammersmith tube, situated next door to Charing Cross Hospital, it’s hard to miss Southern Belle with haystacks placed by the entrance and large shrubbery shielding it from the bustling Fulham Palace Road. Outside, there are a few places to sit but with the plants it feels like you’re not practically on top of a main road.
Stepping inside, you’re greeted by several American pool tables, which are usually all in use. The sole focus of this area is the pool and there are a few seats and some delightful wooden rocking chairs for when you’re waiting in between games. In the main bar area you’ll find many long polished wooden tables and comfy booths. The colourscheme is heavily skewed towards various shades of brown and it’s pretty understated, although quirky touches such as the faux wooden menus on the tables do show an attention to detail. The layout offers a lot of floor space, accommodating many people, which is to its credit on a busy weekend night. Located towards the back of the venue is a small stage for live bands, and if you’re lucky you may be able to land a table right by the stage.
Next to the stage is the karaoke room where X Factor wannabes can sing to their hearts content in a private room that can hold up to 12 people, charged by the hour. For those who want a pool table and room to themselves they can hire out the VIP lounge, which is also charged by the hour and can hold up to 15-20 people.
The Atmosphere
The clientele consists mostly of locals and people with a keen interest in pool and Southern American dining. During the week, numbers rarely reach an uncomfortable level; however, come the weekend you can expect it to be packed to the rafters with revellers wanting to wave goodbye to the working week with a game of pool whilst sipping on a cocktail.
The music policy doesn’t seem to be set in any one genre, ranging from ‘60s and ‘70s funk music to Bjork, Beck and some gangsta rap. Depending on how busy it is, the staff are either very helpful, full of smiles and good manners, or conversely harassed and short with you. Trying to serve a load of lagered up lads after the footie is always going to be a struggle to be fair.
The Food
The food is as Southern as it gets. If you’re not after a huge meal or just fancy a starter before your main course then such classics on offer include buffalo chicken wings (£4.95 for six), Louisiana style crab cakes (£4.95), chilli cheese fries (£3.95) and homemade beef jerky (£2.95). Alternatively, you can try clam chowder (£1.95 a cup), Southern Belle chicken salad (£6.95) or a meat and salad combo (£6.95).
If you’re after something altogether more substantial, you can dine on a huge plate of macaroni cheese (£5.95); however, the real draw here is the meat. From the smoke pit you can order half rack pork ribs (£7.95), full rack pork ribs (£11.95), or half a chicken (£8.95). For something a little different there is the beer butt chicken (£17.95) - a whole free range chicken for two, cooked in the BBQ on a beer can with fries and coleslaw. The hotdogs are definitely worth a try and are really good value for money. A regular hotdog with onion and fries is just £4.95 for a sizable portion. If you want to go the full hog, then the chilli hot dog (£7.95) is just as good. Desserts are all typically American, with pecan pie (£3.95), double chocolate espresso fudge cake (£3.95) and vanilla bean ice cream (£3.50).
The Drink
Considering it’s an American themed bar, you’d think that they would have some American lagers on tap. Unfortunately, this is not the case, which is a huge disappointment. Instead, they offer Sharps Doon Bar, Fosters, Budvar, Guinness, Cobra, Kronenbourg, Heineken, Bulmers, Aspalls and Birra Moretti, starting at £3.
Wines starts at £15.50 for a bottle of Sauvignon and £13.50 for a Bergerie de la Bastide. If you want to splash out then the Sancerre for £25 and Lussac St Emillion £24.50 are recommended. There is also a small selection of sparkling wines and Champagne with a Prosecco costing just £4 a glass. What the Southern Belle does do well is its selection of cocktails. Starting at £5.95, rising to £6.95 you can choose between classic American cocktails that have been re-hashed, such as Advant (Guard Sour with bulleit bourbon, lemon juice, honey and marmalade) - an original concoction that may sound a little odd but actually works very well. Alternatively, they offer original cocktails devised by their own mixologists; Tanqueray Blossom (Tanqueray gin, cucumber, pressed apple juice, elderflower cordial and mint) being highly recommended.
The Last Word
Southern Belle brings a little taste of America to Fulham. In an area lacking in much imagination, it’s a pleasant, fun-filled bar that has already attracted a loyal league of followers, keen to show off their pool skills.
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