The Crooked Billet Wimbledon in Merton

Delicious lunch, lovely atmosphere.

I have lived in the local area for many years and have visited the Crooked Billet countless times throughout that period. I have always had a pleasant experience, however, today whilst popping in for a quick drink with my wife and 3 month old daughter were approached by a member of the bar staff whilst taking a seat. He told us that “there is a new rule where children are not allowed in the bar area” and then quickly spun on his heels and returned to the bar. He did not offer an explanation or offer us alternative seats. We took that as we were not welcome and started to leave. Only when we got to the door did another member of the team offer us alternative seats, but we felt so unwelcome that we decided to leave anyway. I am not sure what the reason for the ‘new rule’ is but it certainly diminishes any claim that this is a child/family friendly pub. As for the owners reply to another review on this topic stating that it was due to the bar area being inappropriate due to the rugby being on - we attended on the weekend off of the six nations… it wasn’t busy.

Very rarely leave reviews, but this pub is fantastic. It was really refreshing to see a bar area...as just that, a bar area. Locally they have become a bit of an extended creche, so to sit at the bar having good conversation, excellent food on a Saturday afternoon after a long week's work...without being overrun by children was incredibly refreshing. Top marks to the staff too, always attentive and professional in a relatively unforgiving trade!

Came in on a whim to watch the rugby and boy are we glad we did! Great food, great atmosphere, bar was packed and great service. Delighted we popped in, will definitely be coming back!

The Crooked Billet for many years has been a wonderful family-friendly village pub. We have visited many times over the 14 years we have lived in the area. Well Saturday 08th February 2025, we went to the pub and found a table. After we had made ourselves comfortable, we were met by one of the staff to say, sorry but children are no longer allowed in the pub area. Apparently a relatively new policy. There are some tables over there and he gestured toward the back. We walked to the back and there were no tables for 5 of us, not that he tried to help us find one after moving us. We then saw an empty booth table and as we were about to sit down another staff member rushed over and said sorry but this has just been reserved we were about to put sign and clean it. I asked them, whether they could then please tell us where we can sit and where the pub began and ended (imaginery line) and they did not know and could not tell us (great I know) then went to find out from colleagues, they came back and said I have a table for you in the back of the restaurant area, which really does not have the same feel as sitting and having a nice drink at the local village pub on a Saturday afternoon. We sat and had one drink but at that point felt so unwelcome that we said we would rather go next door to The Hand in Hand and so we left. We were very welcomed at The Hand in Hand so will be going there instead in future. By the way, this was on a Saturday afternoon, and believe from a friend that they encountered the same the day before on a Friday afternoon even when the pub was completely empty.

We were at this lovely country pub on the edge of Wimbledon Common on Saturday and as the rugby was on it was packed! The vibe is very cosy,comfy & chilled. Lots of dogs in the pub which is really nice and they have their own water bowls and dog treats on a little stand. The service was excellent, everyone was extremely friendly. The food was good. drinks not too dear for london. We had to share a table as it was so packed but this just added to the atmosphere as you feel incredibly welcome and comfy just like a local. I was recommended this country pub by a friend who is from Wimbledon and it did not disappoint! We will be back again after a lovely walk around the common this place is perfect in every sense.

We had family lunch at Crooked Billet and whole experience was very positive: excellent food and service with good range of beers. Will definitely return.

Great food and an amazing pub. Best value for money I’ve had in London in ages, great size portions and tasted great

Quite honestly the best pub in south west London. No arguments.

Always an excellent meal at Crooked Billet. We both had a Beef Shin & Ale pie last night, tres tasty.

Lovely pub in Wimbledon village. Very cosy fireplace in winter. The food is consistently good.

Unfortunately, most of the food we tried to order was unavailable as we were told they had been very busy during the day. The food we did receive was good but felt embarrassed that I had brought a large group of overseas friends and family and there was such limited choice on the menu. It was a normal working day between Christmas and new year but still no excuse as not a large menu to start with.

Everything was great but we had to move tables to get away from a person having a loud meeting on his laptop. Maybe headphones could be suggested to such customers! Food and service excellent

Well done Crooked Billet, all were great yesterday dealing with power cuts and a few grumpy customers. Great pub with a great team.

Probably the best pub I have ever been to

Been to this pub a lot of times but first time I had the Sunday roast hear and must say absolutely lovely. Looking forward to my Christmas meal hear on the 17th.....👍👍🎄

Lovely atmosphere, perfect for a Sunday roast after a little walk in the rain!

Lovely pub in a beautiful location. The food was great. Would recommend.

portions a bit small, still felt hungry after the meal and desert.

I had a reservation yesterday but my friends were 50 minutes late, so I went in alone to wait for them at a table. Arriving at 7.00pm, I waited in the tiny queue behind a couple for one of the waiters to seat me at the table I'd reserved. The couple was taken care of, but I waited another 15 minutes in front of the waiters without anyone looking after me. I finally decide to ask to be placed at my table myself. It's now 7.15pm. Once at my table, nobody asked me if I wanted water? A drink, or to order anything? No cutlery either. On the other hand, the tables around me were well served and emptied, and the waiters came to make sure the customers had everything they needed. At 7.30pm, I decided to go and ask the waiter if I could have something to drink? I ordered a Ginger Ale. 7.40pm, I still have nothing to drink so I go ask again if I can have a Ginger Ale? 7.50pm, my Ginger Ale finally arrives (a carafe of water too), as do my friends. I was the only non-white person, and the only one who was completely ignored by the waiters. Was it a coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. I swallowed my drink in one gulp, and my friends and I decided to go to the pub next door rather than stay there. My heart wasn't in it at all... Before that, I wanted to let the Manager know why we'd decided to leave. He apologized and didn't charge me for my drink. That was my experience.

Came for a Sunday roast and Unfortunately this was the worst roast dinner I’ve ever had. Tough chewy beef, dry papery Yorkshires, rock hard potatoes… I could go on and it was all cold. I understand it was a busy Sunday but this was well below par. The poor staff looked absolutely rushed off their feet busy. No one came to collect the dirty plates of the people sat at our table before us till our food came. I have been coming here for years and this is such a shame!

Lovely setting for a pub & restaurant and went with friends on an autumn afternoon. Service was fine but the food was a real let down. For the price it was nowhere near where it should be. A chicken dish came swimming in some tasteless broth. I don't think that was the intent when it was put on the menu but that's what we got from the chef. Disappointing.

Food ok, service slow but they automatically add tip to your bill. Overall very pricey

Monday evening dinner, with only three other tables in an empty dinning room. Extremely slow service, waited for 1hr for food, no bread served with smoked salmon, almost had to beg for it. Kids pizza was something out of the freezer, inedible, sirloin steak was chewy and overcooked.

There is a new menu and it is excellent. Particularly recommend the stone bass and mackerel rillettes.

I went there for a lunch and the food was so so delicious. The service was also great and nice people working there. I will definitely go back again

Jess our waitress was brilliant! She gave great recommendations and was very attentive. The Sunday lunch was 10/10

We came all the way from Australia to this particular pub because we were told it is amazing. It absolutely is. Everything you could imagine for a traditional English pub with wonderful food, delightful, friendly, and professional service and magnificent ambience. Worth the visit to Wimbledon.

Lovely pub for lunch. We went on Sunday and the Sunday roast food was delicious. Service was solid but not the most attentive.

Slightly disappointing service and food this time round. Perhaps a booking at 3:30 is too late for a decent roast. Service was not that great as had to request everything including getting up to find menu. I will likely go elsewhere for Sunday Roast.

Actually a cozy pub, our waiter was friendly and also knew a lot about allergies. Unfortunately, the food we ordered is not recommended - not tasty and not lovingly prepared. We also found hair in the food on top of that. That’s a pity!

Not some pseudo nightclub portraying itself as a pub, nor is it reserved for grizzled men with a chronic squint. Everyone will feel welcome here at the Crooked Billet, and there is plenty of seating and a nice dining area in the back.

Great Fish & Chips and lovely Malbec. Waiter was charming and the pub had a lovely atmosphere

This is not the first time I have had a very poor experience at The Crooked Billet. I once phoned up to complain explaining that I didn't want to leave a poor review but to tell the manager directly. This Easter, my adult children urged me to complain, after the waitress just plonked the unopened bottle of wine on the table and brought the wrong food - twice. And left the dirty plates on the table until we asked her to clear them. But I left it. I love the venue and the location, but the service and the food are terrible. I have gone back occasionally because I love the area and the pub itself is roomy and cosy. Yesterday, my order was very late - I had to go up to the bar to ask where it was and was told by the manager, as he stood shining a glass, that it was on its way. How did he know I asked. Only then did he go and check with the kitchen. I ordered 'warmed bread and a speciality butter, expecting artisan bread - I was served shop bought thick sliced toast. My second course was meant to be Shepherd's pie with Cavelo Nero. What I got was a tiny serving of a grey, very salty, sloppy stew- like thing with a thin layer of greasy, cheesy potato topping, with undercooked white cabbage instead of Cavelo Nero. They charged me £22.00 for this! We have now made up our minds that enough is enough. Never again!

Fantastic Sunday lunch with the friendliest staff - very good wine recommendation as well. The atmosphere is always very good and we have a brilliant time here whenever we go.

We had a lovely meal for 8 of us. Food was really tasty and service was good! We will definitely be going back!

Best Bar & Restaurant on the common, great food , great staff, great Guinness! Specials menu always a treat , would highly recommend,.

Once a month a friend and I indulge in our guilty pleasure of a burger at the Crooked Billet and the reason why?Best for miles! (This extends down the A3 as well) We try and shake it up a bit so we can keep our comparisons up to date but it still remains the unshakeable victor. Staff are lovely too and very dog friendly. Ps don’t eat it on a first date, there is no way to eat it elegantly!

Great evening, food was fantastic, atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service with Kya was excellent.

Came in on Sunday for a roast it was delicious! Friendly atmosphere and staff, Connor served us he was lovely definitely recommend coming here

Thank you for your heartwarming hospitality guys :) Best pub in the area! Was there a few Sundays earlier and forgot to review, well, here I am.

Thank you for your heartwarming hospitality guys :) Best pub in the area!

Amazing service from our waitress Kya! Great demeanour, good service and such a lovely person to deal with! Made our whole experience a very pleasant one! Food was great and could not fault the staff or service! Thank you!

Looked after our dog as well!!!

Great service, been going to the pub for years. Would highly recommend!

Our group had great food and our server Jess was lovely.

Very good hearty food, great portion size!

Came in for a few drinks lovely place one of your staff jess was absolutely amazing helped out so much

Excellent lunch... everyone in our group of 9 enjoyed the food, and we had lovely service from Ruby.. we will be coming back for sure

Service was attentive to allergies and provided excellent accommodations

Nice pub and excellent service.

Nice enough. Lovely setting, Village Green effect with people on deckchairs outside. Food overpriced, burger and fries not the best buy, at £18, Not so tolerant of children inside, tables too close together. Giving opportunity to provide for as many customers as possible but it shows...

Went in on Tuesday lovely pub and jess was amazing

Lovely pub and atmosphere, Rhianne is a credit to your team very welcoming and helpful. made it very enjoyable evening

I had the best time coming here with my family 🤗Rhianne was so helpful and welcoming made us feel very welcomed and helped us enjoy our time here 👍🏼

Had a fantastic meal with my partner. Scott was extremely helpful and lovely throughout my experience. Will be back.

A great group serving us, really friendly and helpful!

Came in the pub yesterday and it was Brilliant, atmosphere was 10/10 felt very welcome the staff was amazing especially Jess made time there even more enjoyable will be coming back again very soon!!!

Lovely pub barmaid was very professional revisiting one of my old haunts

Fantastic place, nice and cosy with great service and knowledgeable staff. The food is fresh and delicious, quickly served, and you can also have it on the outside green area in the nice, sunny weather. Definitely will be visiting this place more often!

Lovely dog-friendly pub with great staff and board games. Sadly the food isn’t as good as next door ‘The Hand in Hand’ (which is also a Young’s pub with unbeatable food!). This pub, for us, is still a decent choice for a local catch up with friends or for warming up after a cold walk on the common!

Great place for a drink. If any sunshine!!!! Grab a deckchair plot on the green out front with a drink...Perfect! Pub itself is clean and fresh but still holds the feel of its traditional look and feel. Large open bar/restaurant area. Staff friendly

A disappointing visit, having been here many times before. The restaurant service was really not good - staff mostly very unfriendly and seemed not to want to be there. Shame as the actual food was great as usual. The ladies bathroom was also really dirty. We had taken overseas friends for an “English pub experience” so it was a shame - not even anyone to highlight this too on the evening

We are big regulars to crooked billet, but this was our first quiz night. Only about 18 people attended so few in the bar, despite that very sadly we ordered food for 7 of us and found our young long haired waitress looked very stresses and surly as we reminded her we needed cutlery. One dish went cold as we waited for cutlery which was only brought after she served all 7 mains. The quiz master was great, we had a good time. But we were a table of 7 who paid £2.50 pp to enter the quiz; each paid £16+ pp for mains and ordered at the bar. It wasn't an inexpensive mid week Wed so the cutlery, surly unfriendly service was not a norm, but nor was it appreciated. If we return, on quiz night, we may not order food...

Love this place. Quieter than Hand in Hand - who knows why. Perfect after a walk on the Common.

Friendly, professional, comfortable.. all you need in a pub.

Great pub, fantastic location 👏

Rhianne was so so helpful and made our night run very smoothly. We are very grateful to her.

Disappointing experience - fish (and chips) over cooked and Caesar salad tasteless. Inattentive staff - felt like it was understaffed. Would have returned the food but was with family so didn’t make a fuss. 12.5% tip automatically added (irritatingly) - would have removed that too.

We came here on a Friday night as the pub next door was so busy and so nowhere to sit. Found Crooked Billet very empty, very strange. Maybe the loud TV’s showing football puts people off?

We went to the cheese and wine tasting evening hosted by Berkman, Youngs pubs wine suppliers. The wine and cheese pairings were sensational, we discovered some great new cheeses paired with 4 delicious wines. The highlight being the Sauternes paired with the Long Clawson Blue. Would highly recommend - 5*

Best pub in Wimbledon. Kerrie and the team are a delight. Mitesh

Pleasant evening meal with my parents, the food was amazing and both Billy and Paige were great 👍

Lovely pub. Always a nice relaxed atmosphere and staff are lovely.

Amazing place with the best food and staff. Emma and team do a great job and was nice to meet Nikos.

Lovely visit to the Crooked Billet last week, Hannah is fantastic. Great coffee and delicious food, perfectly positioned on the edge of Wimbledon Common!

Haven’t been to my favourite pub for a while, but something has changed. The food was not the same high quality, which really let down our visit this time. The fish and chips, the batter was like rock, which I think was the intention, but not nice. The chicken Caesar just seemed like chicken with a blob of mayo. Maybe the chef was off as it was the back holiday?

We were a party of 7 and had a great evening at the Crooked Billet. The time/date/ numbers for our booking were changed several times and I appreciated that the folks at Crooked Billet took this in their stride. They had a good, reasonable wine selection and solid food fair - what you expect in a pub. The stuff were very friendly and attentive. I appreciated the absence of TV screens in the dining area. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that the lighting is terrible. All sorts of bright lights are right at eye level.

A lovely Wimbledon pub with a real country feel to it. The Crooked Billet, close to the Kings School is clearly popular and well loved by everyone. Plenty of families enjoying lunch and many a pint being savoured. A great place to visit.

Service slow but it was very busy

I’ve always enjoyed the traditional pub feel and location, but the menu was too restrictive; food availability particularly bad. it was quite early & Saturday evening.. and not busy. No mackerel special left (only 1 special main on the menu!). No trout, lack of olives, other items unavailable… Fish & chips was the only fish option - presuming they had it? As a vegetarian there was a choice of 2 mains, beetroot salad or veggie burger, or mixing starters which I opted for - but no side of veg or salad on the menu, only specific items such as carrots or a small portion of cold potatoes with anchovies. I think we’ll go for drinks next time & eat elsewhere. Disappointing.

Disappointing. It lived up to the reputation of British food. The burger quality was not there. It was just thick and tough and unpleasant.

Tough, bland, expensive and pour service: This was a disappointment. It lived up to the reputation of British food.

We were extremely disappointed with the customer service we received at the Hand-in-Hand pub. As a result, we decided to try another place to eat and came across this pub (run by the same group). We were greeted by Rhianne who was incredibly friendly and polite. She accommodated us instantly and made us feel welcome. We ordered the pork belly for our Sunday roast and it was absolutely delicious. It's funny how some people can ruin your day, but then you come across amazing people like Jess & Rhianne who make up for it. I would definitely rate this pub 5⭐️!

We always have a great meal here in the heart of Wimbledon Common. Lovely cosy traditional pub atmosphere too. Do ask Rhiānna to make your Irish Coffee - one of the best I've ever had 😊. Thank you Rhiānne!

Service could be a lot better. Food was excellent.

Shout out to Rhianne in particular. Excellent service all round but Rhianne gives special attention to our pooch Axel.

Great food and service! Dog friendly and usually easy to get a table. Will return.

Awesome service as ever from Rhianne - one of the reasons we keep coming back here… always makes us feel welcome and very friendly..

Roast beef was so dry sent it back and replacement was marginally better. Some undercooked roasties and veggies. Hard to comment on the service as well ordered through the app but the team were happy to help with changing the food.

Lovely spot for a drink after a walk.

Shared a lovely meal with friends. Our server was very attentive and helpful suggesting a non alcohol drink for the group. Food was great back to its usual high quality after a bit of a dip on previous couple of visits.

Lovely evening. Despite 3 of our main course choices not being available, food was excellent. Service was average but acceptable. Atmosphere was a bit flat as despite being a Saturday night pub was relatively empty, particularly considering the pub next door was heaving. Locals clearly have their favourite. This is a shame given how good the food was. People should give it a go.

Good food, pleasant surroundings and good service. The vegetarian option was tasty and all servings generous. Thoroughly enjoyed

I very rarely leave reviews but I feel compelled to do so by the quality of the food served to me last night. I ordered the fish and chips and the fish was so over-cooked it was incredibly crisp and dry, difficult to even cut without it falling apart. The mushy peas were also bad, cold (as if not reheated properly) and a tasteless lump with an unpleasant texture. I would have sent it back but my companion's meal was cold, so to get a fresh meal for me would have meant us eating in separate shifts. Such a disappointment, as when I came a few years back I really enjoyed it. The staff also seemed run ragged and the wait for even to place an order was a long one.

Great staff who were very attentive and as a result the service was excellent. The food arrived hot and promptly. Thank you.

Met friends for lunch. Really nice to have lots of space and not feel rushed. At the back in the restaurant area. Kids could roam and no one seemed trouble. Nice food and good service.

Lovely pub. Bit smoky with the coal fire going but nothing a chimney sweep can't resolve.

Came for lunch. Serving staff delightful but what a shame the food is so average (for the price) at Youngs pubs these days.

Was really looking forward to my Mother’s Day treat, unfortunately the meal was awful. The Sunday lunch looked appealing on the plate however the food was barely warm and the meat was very tough, and the vegetables were not the best The pleasant waitress got our dinner replaced to be given again a lukewarm dinner. We were given a refund for the dinner and an apology from the lovely waitress, but unfortunately the manager didn’t apologize as he took our payment for the drinks