Food and Drink

The Freemasons

Above: The freemasons

We’ve all experienced that feeling when you recognise someone in a crowd, but can’t quite place how or where you met them (this is normally followed up by the panic that they’ve spotted you and worse, they’re striding over and know your name). The Freemasons is one of those pubs that we all know in south west London but most of us can’t quite place beyond the striking crimson frontage which pasted at high-speed on the way to the A3. Inside you’ll find pastel shades and the ubiquitous wood flooring, along with an eclectic mix of tables and chairs. This place is no trailblazer, but it certainly does itself justice, and then some. I am always a fan of a pub where the menu is encouragingly small (seven starters, eight mains). It is also well-balanced and reasonably priced. It’s your Tim Henman of pubs – solid most of the time, if not amazing to behold. A starter of English asparagus, poached egg, Serrano ham and béarnaise sauce cut with fresh, tangy sorrel was delightful and perfectly cooked. My fellow diner had delicately battered fish fingers with fresh tartare sauce and declared them to be excellent. Mains of jerk chicken and Moroccan vegetable tagine didn’t disappoint either and we were further enticed by a wicked chocolate brownie and sticky toffee pudding. The wine list boasts an impressive 70 or so wines and champagnes, with ‘by the glass’ options well-chosen to offer good value for money. This place is fun, it’s honest and most important of all, the staff are attentive and friendly, such a rarity these days. So take a stroll up the hill, trust me you’ll need it to work up the appetite, and you can always roll back down afterwards.