Prince of Wales

This Victorian corner pub manages to mix some original flavour with serious gastropub pretensions - and a distinctly weird edge. The two small bars at front offer good drinking to a backdrop of pewter mugs, stuffed animals, flagstones, brasses and pictures of Botham winning the Ashes. The dining room at back feels isolated from the bar and also manages to seem bigger than it is, thanks to a glorious Victorian pyramidical skylight. In fact, there is just a smattering of tables among yet more stuffed rabbits, antlers, artful black and white photos and a rotisserie grill. The menu changes regularly and you'll do just as well dining in the pub as the restaurant. Fish and chips, lovely light gazpacho, platters of sesame prawn toast, own-made houmous and pot-roast poussin with caesar salad give the idea. We tried succulent slow-roast rump cap with bearnaise sauce; the triple-cooked chips were sensational. Finish with some great unpasteurised cheeses or something from the brief list of puddings: mint humbug chocolate fondant with mint choc chip ice-cream, say. Staff are very keen and you'll find the drinkers and diners a more mixed bunch that at many other Putney boozers.