It is possible to do a reasonable pub crawl, even if you don't start until 8pm. As I was in London that day doing other things, it was decided that a last minute pub crawl could be arranged on Saturday 10th August. After commitments were completed, I met Rich at the Lord Nelson in the area that should properly be called North Cheam. This was a pleasant yet unremarkable pub with quite a bright interior in an area that is otherwise devoid of any sort of watering hole. They had three reasonable ales including Greene King IPA and Doom Bar, and a third which was not noted but of a similar ilk. 'Twas only a flying visit for we had to get a 93 up to Wimbledon, thence onto Paddington to meet Avril from the Oxford train arriving 19.59.

We arrived a few minutes early and realised that we could sit in the newly refurbished Beer House for one and keep an eye on the impending arrival at platform 8. The beer house is a metal box and is much improved from its previous reincarnations. They seem to have a big of an emphasis on pissflow craft beer in a US style, but there are also proper offerings such as Greene King IPA and Doom Bar, and a third which I didn't note down, again. Once we three had met, it was time for a swift pint at the Pride of Paddington, just outside the station, a brassy pub that should be in the Nicholson's mould although isn't, with an extensive bar, people eating and flags suspended from the ceiling. Typical London boozer really. Beer was pretty good, with now ubiquitous Doom Bar, Deuchars IPA and XPA from the same brewery, which seemed not to be quite as nice as that which was sampled in the city the previous week.

Anyway, a plan for the evening was in hand and we headed via tube to Notting Hill Gate, and the first of the nearby pubs, the Uxbridge Arms. This would have been a lovely quiet boozer for a few pints, but the tone was set wrongly by some loud mouthed middle aged twat sitting outside at the entrance, as well as some other individuals who had decided to stable their horse drawn taxi type contraptions outside. A shame really, for I rather liked this nostalgic offering with small wooden tables and stools, red carpet and an interesting carpeted step at the base of the bar. Beer-wise, they had Tribute, Sussex and London Pride. The ladies' toilets were apparently immaculate too.

Just around the corner was the Hillgate, a pub in a much more gastro style with pastel green decor and chalk boards, but not at all disappointing despite several tables laid out for dining only. They'd managed to preserve enough of the pub for boozers like us and we got a nice seat in the corner although we could also have sat outside. Interesting beer this time - Tim Taylor Golden Best, Wandle and Doom Bar.

Award for the outstanding pub of the day goes to the previously undiscovered Windsor Castle. This was a real gem of a pub although perhaps it was helped by the fact that we sat close to the corner entrance in a 'snug' portion of the bar which contained just a couple of tiny booths. They were separated from the rest of the pub by some wooden dividers which had little doorways about five feet high and less than two feet wide. The rest of the pub was not quite so much of a time warp but was still very interesting and quirky with several rooms off of the larger two portions of the bar. There was also a definite feel of it getting a little foodier towards the back and indeed there was a splendid beer garden, complete with its own bar. This was full of ra-ra twats though because only lager offerings were available. Talking of drinks, the selection was excellent with around eight available: Great Grey Owl, copper Dragon, Summer Sup, Star and Garter, Summer Lightning, Landlord, American Red, Liberation. Condition of beer was good.

Another pub that is not too far away is the Churchill Arms which offers Fullers products (ESB, Chiswick, Pride, Discovery). This is also rather nice and cosy and there seems to be quite a rabbit warren towards the back of the pub, with the ladies' being pretty hard to find. I think though that they have overdone the tat aspect for the tourist trade as there appears not to be a square inch of space left anywhere with all manner of old utensils hang from the ceiling and County Clare shinty reports adorn the walls. Having said that, there are far worse places to drink and I would definitely return on a later date.

It was time to head back and after a break of about an hour for bus, tube and train, we arrived at Cheam and the Railway pub which has long been a favourite of ours after similar crawls. Once again, it was lively but not heaving, and the beer selection was good, with five on offer in total, including some interesting ones.

Drinking for the weekend had not been completed however and after a luncheon with the parents at the Derby Arms, which does excellent food and has a couple of good beers on (Green king IPA and Doom Bar I think, or was it Adnams Broadside), we met up with Rich for a warm down commencing at Ye Old Red Lion at Cheam. This is largely unchanged since my previous visit, and just as well, although a sandpit seems to have been put up in the beer garden. It's a good solid pub and a pleasant place to have a few on a Sunday afternoon though I was somewhat restricted as I was driving. They had five beers on in the end, including Thrasher and Snecklifter - which was excellent. Final pub of the weekend was the Little Windsor in Newtown, Sutton, another that has been visited in the past. This was perhaps our most favourite visit as we went to the beer garden, where there were precarious steps to the lower part, but well work risking life and limb for. A very tranquil experience. Four Fullers beers were on and as expected their condition was excellent. My only regret is that they did not have any non-alcoholic beer.