This is a proper village pub in every sense — a Young's house sitting right on Wimbledon Common with a rambling, low-ceilinged interior that feels like it hasn't changed in decades (in the best way). CAMRA named it South West London Pub of the Year in 2013, and the beer selection still lives up to that pedigree. The terrace garden is the real draw in summer, and yes, dogs are welcome — it's that kind of place.
CAMRA-awarded Young's pub with a rambling low-ceilinged interior and a terrace garden spilling onto Wimbledon Common — dogs welcome.
Arrive before noon on weekends to snag a terrace table — the garden fills up fast with dog walkers and locals on sunny days.
A proper village pub on Wimbledon Common
The Hand in Hand is the kind of pub that makes you forget you're in London. Tucked away on the edge of Wimbledon Common, this former mid-19th century beerhouse has a nooky, rambling interior with low ceilings that feels genuinely old-world rather than retrofitted. Young's has run it since 1974, and while the brewery sometimes gets accused of tinkering with their pubs, the Hand in Hand has kept its character — CAMRA clearly thought so when they named it South West London Pub of the Year in 2013.
The beer is the headline act. You'll find a solid range of Young's cask ales alongside guest brews, kept in excellent condition. The food is proper pub grub — pies, fish and chips, Sunday roasts — and while most reviewers rave, a few note occasional inconsistencies in portion sizes. It's not fine dining and it doesn't pretend to be. Come for a long lunch on the terrace in summer, or a cosy pint by the fire in winter.
The terrace garden is where you want to be when the sun's out, with views across the Common and a steady stream of dog walkers stopping in. It's dog-friendly throughout, which adds to the village atmosphere. During the Wimbledon Championships it gets packed, but that's part of the fun — the pub leans into it with big-screen tennis and a buzzy crowd. Go early on weekends if you want a table outside.