One of Putney’s oldest pubs, built in 1826 on the site of a coaching house and forge, twice CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year, famed for its ever-changing British real ales
The Bricklayer’s Arms holds six hundred and forty reviews and an excellent 4.6 – a genuinely superb score on a good sample – and it is a genuine real-ale legend: one of Putney’s oldest pubs, built in 1826 on the site of a coaching house and forge, twice CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year, and famed for its stonking, ever-changing selection of British real ales.
The historic pub
The Bricklayer’s Arms has genuinely deep roots – it is one of the oldest pubs in Putney. It was built in 1826, on the site of an old coaching house and blacksmith’s forge, and was originally known as the Waterman’s Arms (being very close to the Thames, its early customers were mostly the watermen who worked the boats). At the end of the nineteenth century it changed its name to the Bricklayer’s Arms, reflecting the huge amount of construction then going on in the area (due to the extension of the District line railway). There is genuine history here – the 1826 origins, the coaching-house-and-forge site, the watermen’s heritage, the railway-era name. It is tucked away on a quiet Putney side street, not far from the Thames – a genuine hidden gem, one of Putney’s oldest and most characterful pubs. There is real history and character to it – the 1826 origins, the watermen’s heritage, the hidden-away character, the storied old pub.
The multi-award-winning ales
The Bricklayer’s Arms is a genuine real-ale legend – one of London’s most celebrated and decorated real-ale pubs. It has twice been CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year for the Greater London Region (in 2007 and 2009), and was South West London Pub of the Year three times (2006, 2008 and 2010) – a genuinely outstanding record of recognition. There is real quality and pedigree here – the multiple CAMRA Pub of the Year awards, the celebrated real-ale reputation, the genuine beer-lover’s pedigree. It is rightly famous for its stonking, ever-changing selection of British real ales – a mecca for ale connoisseurs, with friendly bar staff happy to let you sample a drop before you take the plunge, plus delicious English ciders. There is genuine quality to it – the multi-award-winning real ales, the ever-changing selection, the friendly beer-loving service. It is a genuine real-ale destination – the celebrated ever-changing ales, the multiple awards, the beer-lover’s paradise. There is real quality and pedigree in it.
The cosy local
The Bricklayer’s Arms pulls off a genuine and lovely trick: it is both a mecca for ale connoisseurs and a friendly, unassuming local boozer – warm and welcoming to all. It changes beautifully with the seasons – in winter, the cosy atmosphere entices, all gentle lighting, a roaring fire, and the comforting hubbub of regulars propping up the bar; in summer, the beer garden beckons, for delicious English cider in the sunshine, and there is bar skittles for a game and one for the road. There is real warmth and charm to it – the cosy winter fire, the summer garden, the friendly unassuming welcome, the bar skittles, the whole warm and characterful local atmosphere. Combined with its historic character and its multi-award-winning ales, it makes the Bricklayer’s Arms a genuine Putney treasure. Its excellent 4.6 across a good sample confirms it – a genuinely superb, much-loved pub. There is real history, quality and warmth in the whole thing – the historic pub, the award-winning ales, the cosy welcome, the roaring fire and summer garden.
Between its 1826 origins as one of Putney’s oldest pubs, its multiple CAMRA Pub of the Year awards, its stonking ever-changing real ales, and its cosy, friendly, unassuming welcome, the Bricklayer’s Arms is a genuine real-ale treasure of Putney. Its excellent score across a good sample marks it as a genuinely superb and much-loved pub. The Prat’s desk samples the ever-changing real ales by the roaring fire, salutes the multiple CAMRA awards, and raises an appreciative glass to the Bricklayer’s Arms.
The pub
An excellent, much-loved pub doing a superb 4.6 across a good sample – the Bricklayer’s Arms, one of Putney’s oldest pubs (built 1826), twice CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year, with ever-changing real ales.
Verdict
Excellent, much-loved, and a genuine real-ale legend – the Bricklayer’s Arms, a multi-award-winning historic Putney pub with stonking ever-changing ales.
Sample the ever-changing real ales by the roaring fire at the Bricklayer’s Arms on Waterman Street – one of Putney’s oldest pubs (built 1826) and twice CAMRA’s Greater London Pub of the Year.
Alan Nafzger was born in Lubbock, Texas, the son Swiss immigrants. He grew up on a dairy in Windthorst, north central Texas. He earned degrees from Midwestern State University (B.A. 1985) and Texas State University (M.A. 1987). University College Dublin (Ph.D. 1991). Dr. Nafzger has entertained and educated young people in Texas colleges for 37 years. Nafzger is best known for his dark novels and experimental screenwriting. His best know scripts to date are Lenin’s Body, produced in Russia by A-Media and Sea and Sky produced in The Philippines in the Tagalog language. In 1986, Nafzger wrote the iconic feminist western novel, Gina of Quitaque. He currently lives in Holloway, North London. Contact: [email protected]
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