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Situated equidistant between Fulham Palace Road and North End Road, and just around the corner from The Queen’s Club, The Colton Arms was always a pub for locals and luvvies. Manys the time Billy Connolly held court over in the corner, and his first road manager is still a regular of an evening.
Once known for being one of the smallest pubs in London with, surely, the oldest landlord, and a reputation for hardy drinkers regularly emptying the optics within an hour of opening, things hit a downward spiral after the owner’s demise, and eventually the pub had to close its doors.
But this is now a built-up area devoid of any boozers, and so it seems a no brainer to re-open with a couple of ‘minor’ adjustments. For those who have been before, the front of the bar remains, but a light and airy extension leading to a small, paved garden has been added. The layout and set up confirms food is the way forward for this venture.
But is it any good? It won’t knock your socks off, but it’s fine and typical pub fare. Cod could’ve been chunkier, chips couldn’t have been crispier, roast pork came recommended and hit the spot with a faint five-spice seasoning and so on. Puddings were rapidly struck off the menu halfway through the evening, suggesting that the locals are with the programme. Staff are friendly and fun, but the beer choice is below average – on my visit Timothy Taylor’s Landlord was ‘off’, leaving only two choices of ale.
Despite that, if you’re in the area and this is your only choice, it’s not a bad one to have.