SW19.

Just five minutes walk from Colliers Wood tube station (Northern Line). This is the latest purchase for the Hop Back Brewery in its attempt to move out of Wiltshire and into the lucrative London market. On the outside it looks rather like a 'roadhouse' public house, typical of the suburban 1950's pub style. on the inside it's one of South London's hidden treasures. In keeping with the Hop Back tradition, the walls are festooned with awards won by Hop Back beers and pubs over the years. The Sultan was actually the South West London CAMRA Pub of the Year in 1995. The saloon bar is unique in being named after a living personality. Ted Higgins' name may not immediately spring to everyone's mind, but he was the original Walter Gabriel in Radio 4s The Archers, before giving up the wayward life of an actor for the sake of love. He is honoured not for his acting but for his 'beer fingers' and his life-long devotion to good beer. The Sultan is a traditional locals pub, with no loud music or gimmicky attractions to entice a rowdy crowd. In traditional London fashion there is a generous array of seafood out on the bar on a Sunday lunchtime and in the summer there is a barbecue in the walled garden on Friday and Saturday evenings, and if it does get too hot in the garden the ivy clad gazebo will keep the sun from warming one's beer. Wheelchair access is good, but no food or accommodation here.