The Woodman (Bar)

Top 10 things we discovered about The Woodman pub when we visited:

1) Bar snacks are brilliant: wild boar Scotch egg with a crispy coating and bright orange still-runny yolk, delicious; homemade sausage roll with shot glass side of crackling, mmmm more pig. In fact, the pub won ‘Best Bar Snack’ in the prestigious National Pub Food Challenge awards recently; that’s how good they are.

2) If you’re feeling a bit more civilised, there’s a chalkboard full of starters as well, from creamy pates to vibrant green risottos.

3) A pub is not a pub without a mesmerising choice of beverages on tap. This is a pub, and we drank a hoppy, malty Badger ale, and a fresh and fruit Stowford cider.

4) This building is a tardis. Enter via the cosy Battersea pub, head through the restaurant, and walk out to the leafy garden.

5) When you’re offered a recommendation, pay attention. Cote du Boeuf was well advised. Food envy peered at me from around the room as my man-size portion of steak (also award-winning) with all the trimmings was presented on a huge chopping board. It hurt, but I ate every morsel.

6) Portions are big. First glancing at the menu, I did wonder if £15-£20 for a main in a pub (albeit a pretty one) was a bit top-heavy, but the quality and quantity was “absolutely faultless,” according to my dining companion.

7) If you have the stamina, dessert won’t disappoint. The day’s special of chocolate torte with espresso mascarpone was a creamy, decadent indulgence of chocolatey goodness, decimated in minutes.

8) Exposed brickwork, neutral colours, wooden beams, a wall of log cuttings, chandeliers juxtaposed by industrial lighting, and gilded mirrors mixed with modern art; in every corner of the pub’s beautiful surroundings, something different.

9) A dog wanders around (not near the food, don’t worry). I love dogs! You can’t have a pub without a dog. It makes you feel like you’re in a country local in the middle of nowhere, only nicer and easier to get to.

10) Battersea is a bit of a pain to get to, admits owner Annie (I disagree; the measly 10 minute walk to Clapham Junction gives you the opportunity to walk off your meal) but surely a little walk is no effort to eat award-winning fare that’ll keep you full for a week? ...read more