This is the pub you wander past on your way across Wimbledon Common and wish you'd stopped at. A Young's house since 1888, the Crooked Billet sits at the edge of the common like it's been waiting for you — all cosy fires, cask ales, and a kitchen that punches well above typical pub grub. Head Chef Billy has turned this into a food destination, not just a drinking spot, and the Sunday roasts have a serious local following.
A historic Young's pub on Wimbledon Common with roaring fires, award-winning ales, and Sunday roasts that locals plan their weekends around.
Book ahead for Sunday lunch — it gets packed, and during Wimbledon fortnight the whole area heaves with crowds.
The common's best-kept pub, with a kitchen that means business
If you're going to one pub in Wimbledon, make it this one. The Crooked Billet sits right at the tip of Wimbledon Common, far enough from the village high street to feel like a proper escape. It's a Young's house — and a historic one at that, with a building dating back to the early 1700s — so you're getting award-winning cask ales, craft beers, and a genuinely well-curated wine list. But what sets it apart is the food. Head Chef Billy has built a reputation for exceptional cooking that goes well beyond standard pub fare, and the Sunday roasts are the stuff of local legend — arrive hungry and expect to stay for a second pint.
The atmosphere is exactly what you want from a country pub on the edge of a common. In winter, there's a roaring fire that makes you want to cancel the rest of your day. In summer, the location on the common means you can roll out of a Sunday lunch and straight onto the heath. Service is warm and friendly — Squaremeal described it as a bit "goofy," which honestly just adds to the charm. It's dog-friendly too, so expect a few wagging tails among the Sunday crowd.
Reviewers on TripAdvisor (over 540 of them) consistently call it "outstanding" and praise the quality of ingredients. One recent reviewer summed it up perfectly: "This is exactly what a pub dinner should be. Great proper food, quality ingredients cooked properly." The only thing to watch is that it gets busy — especially on Sundays and during Wimbledon fortnight, when the whole area heaves. Book ahead if you're coming with a group.