retiredmartin

May 2025. Putney. London

The best remedy for monotony is a trip somewhere you don’t know, or know well, and by Monday afternoon even Putney seemed enticing.

It was the journey from hell. The train stopped short of Finsbury, the District line gave up before Earls Court, and finally at Putney Bridge the barriers were dead,

giving me two uncompleted tube journeys and a £17.30 TfL charge I spent an hour fixing.

But let’s not blame Putney for that, eh?

Putney has barely featured on this blog, or much in the GBG, and I always think of it as “too posh to pub”.

In fact, it took me a minute to realise that the oysters at this kiosk,

weren’t the sort you get at Sinclair’s or Ma Boyles, but a travel card I assumed was long gone.

Anyway, this is my chance to say “Sorry, Putney“.

The High Street isn’t much, but Lower Richmond Road is gorgeous, and our new Guide pub sits next to a lovely, unfussy common near the Thames.

The Spencer Arms greets you with an invite to the Monday quiz,

and stereotypical West London open plan dining pub.

Pleasant young staff, a soundtrack of Stevie Wonder and Hall & Oates “Maneater“, and a very foamy pint of Pride in a handled mug.

I so confidently said “Glass not plastic, please, I WON’T be sitting on the Common” I forget to say “Straight glass !!!”.

Some will moan about the lack of £ and p on the prices,

but I applaud the snack menu for a) being on the beer mat and b) a model in simplicity.

Not bad at all, with the bonus of a lady the age of my lads singing along to “Maneater“.

“Watch out. Watch out.”

When did the Hall & Oates revival start ?