The Arab Boy

I was bragging to my friends about the fantastic roasts dinners at the Arab Boy and they said I should share! Even better the menu said the meat is from local butcher Parsons Nose, love to see local buisness supporting each other. See you Sunday !

We live next door to this pub and it was so exciting when we moved in to be next door to a pub as we dont mind a drink it just doesnt work. They have a great outdoor area, some covered. inside is lovely walls and beautiful lounge chairs in vintage covers. Its clean, The bar staff are friendly, they serve food (not great) Its a boutique pub. The quiz night on Thursdays with Phil is sooooooo hard its not fun and the customers are uni students taking it all just a bit too serious. Its boring at this pub. very rarely is it busy, whats missing here is atmosphere. there is none. A big screen TV is not enough. Background music would be nice, a band might be pushing it. Good place to meet up with people though because there are no distractions and it is comfortable. I think thats whats wrong with it. Its too proper

Well, I preferred it before the refurb but I still quite like it. Staff friendly enough, food not bad, a bit lacking in atmosphere maybe but it’ll do for a local.

The Arab Boy recently underwent a renovation, and reopened last Thursday. I’ve been in twice since then for a drink, and both times found the atmosphere friendly, and the interior relaxing and attractive. They have a big plasma screen TV near the bar for showing sports. The seating varies throughout the bar, with standard pub style tables in some areas, but more cosy armchairs and coffee tables in others. The pub is pretty large and is well laid out as mentioned by the other reviewer.
The beer range is a bit limited: only two real ales, and just the big name lagers on draft, including Becks Vier, Kronemburg (3.30 a pint which I felt was a bit expensive) etc. The standard range of wines and spirits are also available.
I’ve not yet tried the food but will give it a go and report back.
On my two visits it certainly wasn’t packed, but still had a reasonable number of customers for a Sunday and Tuesday night. It is the only pub for a fair distance, so should have the potential to be the local for thousands of people.
As you can see from the photo I took — it’s ‘probably’ the oldest pub in Putney. If you’re in the area and fancy a drink, pop into the Arab Boy and you shouldn’t be disappointed.

It’s hard to review a pub that seems to survive on very little custom. On th e hand full of times I’ve called in, normally Saturday evenings there has been very few customers and still I’ve had to wait to be served whilst the bar person has finished a converation or popped into the back– little wonder the place is empty.
It’s fairly nicely furnished and well laid out with what looks like a decent pub food menu, perhaps it’s busy at lunch times. The beer is ok including a range of Real Ales but lack of service and atmosphere lets it down. Curiosity makes me continue to call when in this neck of the woods but for how long I don’t know.