Consistently outstanding: The Hope in Carshalton
The Hope on West Street, Carshalton, has been named London’s Pub of the Year for the seventh time. The Hope has only been operating under its current, community management for 15 years.
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has again named The Hope as one of the 16 regional best pubs in the country – it has won previously in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023.
The pub was under threat of closure in 2009, but locals banded together in an innovative co-operative scheme, clubbing together to create 48 West Ltd and taking over the lease in 2010. In 2015, the group bought the pub’s freehold, and it is now owned by 46 shareholders, none of whom are allowed to own more than 24%.
A quiet pint: there’s no muzak or television to interrupt pub conversations in The Hope
In announcing its 2025 winners, CAMRA described the last year or so as the toughest yet for the nation’s pubs, as they face rising costs, increased tax and burdensome business rates. The organisation has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to give pub managers “a fair deal” in her autumn Budget.
CAMRA said that in deciding on their winning pubs, their judges looked for “great atmosphere, décor, welcome, service, inclusivity, overall impression and, most importantly, quality cask beer, real cider and perry”.
The Hope fills that brief very neatly, with seven real ales on tap (at least: they often stage beer festivals), as well as ciders, lagers, and craft beers, bar snacks that include freshly made sausage rolls and pork pies, and some outstanding pub food, home-made, including the best bigos you’ll find outside Balham’s White Eagle Club.
Visit The Hope, and the only extraneous sound you will ever here is the noise of the pub’s regulars chatting and nattering: The Hope has no television, radio nor music. And the mobile reception isn’t up to much, either, so phones cannot be much of a distraction.
“It is a real pleasure to announce this year’s top 16 pubs, each of which has demonstrated exceptional quality, warmth and dedication to their communities,” said CAMRA’s Andrea Briers.
“These pubs are shining examples of what makes the Great British pub so special, from perfectly kept pints to a genuine welcome for all.
“Achieving this in the face of rising costs and other pressures is no small feat, and we want to see these pubs, and thousands of others like them, continue to thrive. That’s why we’re calling on the Chancellor to give pubs a fair deal in the Autumn Budget so they can keep serving their communities for many years to come.”
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Whatever they’re doing … it needs replicating in Croydon. Hope over adversity indeed
In its way, but with a different ownership model, it is: at The Oval and the Royal Standard, under Esther Sutton. And don’t forget, The Hope was beaten to the Croydon and Sutton Pub of the Year prize in 2024 by another with an “interesting” approach, the Claret and Ale, Addiscombe.
You need to get out more, Chris.
Unless a pub is independent it is all down to what the pub company or brewery that owns the pub allows the tenant to sell, or do with the pub itself. Most have a rigid list of beers that can be supplied from one nominated supplier that the pub company chooses. A brewery will quite naturally sell its own beers in its own pubs. Some pub companies are more enlightened and allow the tenant more independence, but this is rare.
It is about control. As what differnce does it make where a tenent gets stock from so long as a pub is making money?