The Rookwood Village

Just what London needs - another gastropub masquerading as your friendly neighborhood watering hole. The Rookwood Village wants desperately to convince us it's both a proper boozer and a culinary destination, which usually means it fails spectacularly at both. At least, that's what I thought before being dragged there on a dreary Tuesday evening.

Let's address the elephant in the beer garden - and speaking of which, The Rookwood Village in London actually has a rather lovely outdoor space, though I'm loathe to admit it. The sort of place where you can sink into a surprisingly comfortable chair while pretending to be interested in whatever your friend is prattling on about. They've even added a ping pong table, because apparently that's what passes for entertainment in 2025.

Inside, they've managed to walk that precarious line between "cozy pub" and "Instagram backdrop" without tumbling too far into either extreme. The space feels lived-in rather than manufactured, which is refreshing in an era where most London pubs seem decorated by someone whose only reference point is a Pinterest board titled "Rustic Chic Dreams."

The beer selection, I must grudgingly report, is actually quite decent. They've got your standard lagers for the unadventurous, but also maintain a rotating cast of craft options that wouldn't feel out of place in one of those insufferably hip Shoreditch establishments. The Love Story IPA, in particular, is dangerously drinkable - though I won't tell them that to their faces.

Now, about the food. I approached their menu with the same enthusiasm I reserve for dental appointments, but here's where things get awkward - it's actually good. Not "change your life" good, but "consistently satisfying" good, which is arguably more impressive. Their pizzas emerge from the kitchen with properly blistered crusts and toppings that suggest someone in the kitchen actually cares about ingredient quality. The Monster Meat pizza, while tragically named, delivers enough savory satisfaction to make you forget you're eating in a pub.

The burger situation deserves special mention. In a city drowning in mediocre patties, The Rookwood Village somehow manages to produce ones that are actually worth the calories. Properly seasoned, cooked to order (and they actually know what medium-rare means), and accompanied by chips that achieve that mythical balance between crispy exterior and fluffy interior.

They do that modern pub thing of offering two-for-one cocktails during certain hours, which initially screamed "tourist trap" but turned out to be a surprisingly decent value. The cocktails themselves won't win any mixology awards, but they're competent enough to justify the regular prices and an absolute steal during happy hour.

Service can be hit or miss, ranging from charmingly casual to casually indifferent, but that's almost part of the appeal. It feels authentic rather than rehearsed, though during busy periods you might need to channel your inner traffic controller to catch someone's attention.

The crowd is a refreshingly mixed bag - young professionals pretending their job in finance isn't slowly killing them, local residents who remember when the area was "actually interesting," and the occasional group of tourists who stumbled in accidentally and decided to stay. Dogs are welcome, which adds an element of chaos I surprisingly don't hate.

Look, I didn't want to like The Rookwood Village. These middle-of-the-road, trying-to-please-everyone venues are usually as exciting as unseasoned mashed potatoes. But somehow, this place has managed to create something that actually works. It's not pushing any envelopes or reinventing any wheels, but it delivers exactly what it promises - a solid pub experience with food that's several notches above what you'd expect.

If you find yourself in this corner of London, wondering whether to give The Rookwood Village a shot, I hate to say it, but you probably should. Book ahead for the garden if it's sunny - apparently, I'm not the only one who's discovered this place. Just don't tell them I sent you. I have a reputation to maintain.