The Telegraph, Putney, London

Out of all the pubs I’ve visited in Putney (no more than a handful, but still), The Telegraph is the only one that warrants a trip from South East London to Putney Heath. It has stolen my heart.

It’s billed as a country pub in London and that couldn’t have felt truer when I visited on a Friday evening. It’s a good few minutes’ walk from any main road and surrounded by green. Handily the beer garden has plenty of space and tables, so even when it’s really busy I imagine you’ll still get a seat. Judging by the small children running feral with crayon all over their faces, it’s very family-friendly. And dogs appear to be more than welcome too.

And if the fact that it’s gorgeous isn’t enough, the food is also amazing. They have a decent selection of starters, mains and desserts but we stuck to their sharing boards (£10 each – mains were a bit more) and chips. The tapas board was definitely the highlight – enough chorizo, squid rings, prawns, chicken wings and more to keep hungry drinkers happy.

The Telegraph is the type of pub you could happily spend all day in. It’s slightly pricier than some of the other pubs nearby but totally worth the extra money.

I'm a South East girl, and West London and I aren't exactly the best of friends. It's difficult to get to, everything is different and it confuses me. But a trip to The Telegraph might just sway my opinion.

As other reviews have mentioned, it's sold as a country pub in the city. And that's exactly what it is. It feels like a country pub. A very well-to-do one with children called Constance and Horatio running around, but still.

The food was excellent, we shared platter board with everything from calamari to chorizo and bread. Everything tasty. Even if I couldn't bring myself to eat the prawns in their shells (the term 'brain juice' was coined that afternoon, shudder). Boards were a tenner each, which is really good value. Mains were around the £13 mark, and they all sounded super tasty.

It got a little bit nippy, so we only stayed for one drink with dinner, but there's enough space outside that even if it were very busy, you'd likely still find a seat. You've got a five minute walk through the heath to get here, I imagine that passing trade isn't something The Telegraph have much of. That's OK, I'm plotting to go back and eat more of their tasty food.

Fantastic location & good beer

“A country pub in London” is how The Telegraph describes itself, and rightly so, the pub is smack bang in the middle of Putney Heath and it really does feel like you are outside the M25.

The Telegraph is great for families (hundreds of young families with 2 year olds called Toby) and they have baby changing facilities, high chairs etc. etc. The pub is also right on the Heath, so plenty of space for the little ones to run and around.

The pub itself is very large and is certainly benefiting from its multi-million pound makeover (it was pretty packed). Lots of cornish real ale on tap and the staff (on a whole) were very friendly and helpful. My only gripe with The Telegraph is the fact they ran out of Sunday Roasts so quickly! All roast were gone by the time we arrived, so i had to settle for bangers and mash (which was nice, but not amazing - too much mash, not enough banger!). I’ll definitely be going back though. This place is going to be awesome in the summer and the location in itself earns this place 4 stars.

The Telegraph Inn underwent a renovation a couple of years ago, where it received a much needed facelift inside and out. It describes itself as a country pub in the city, which is pretty accurate as it sits away from any major developments just half a mile down from Putney Heath (or a mile up the hill from Putney Mainline station). In fact this strength is also a weakness, because it can take a while to get to from Putney unless you visit by car or bike (or the 424 bus).

The interior is upmarket and spacious, and the large beer garden at the front is elegant and has extensive seating. The staff are friendly and helpful. The pub welcomes cyclists, making it a great place to visit after a bike ride in nearby Wimbledon Common or Richmond Park.

I would describe the menu as upmarket British pub food, with main courses around the £10 mark, including steak and chips, sausages and mash, fish and chips, salmon, omelettes, plus and selection of sandwiches, starters, and deserts. All of these are presented well and are handmade on site – much better than some of the pre-packaged dishes you’ll find at other pubs. Excellent Sunday lunches are also served, but these can be popular so consider arriving earlier in the afternoon as these sometimes run out.

Drinks wise they serve a good selection of real ales, including Adnams, plus a range of lagers, bottled beers, and an extensive wine list.

Recommended if you fancy a relaxing drink in the almost countryside.