The Alma
Wandsworth, London
Young's managed house
The Alma lives up to its Victorian heritage. It is packed with classic furniture and fittings such as solid mahogany panelling, a carved fireplace, and decorative mirrors and tiles. It has few trappings of modernity - no music, no quizzes, and no games machines. About the only concession to today's world is the screening of rugby internationals.
"Rugby is the only sport we will show and we have built a name for being a rugby pub," says manager Daniel Bragger. "We were voted one of the four best pubs in London for watching last year's Rugby World Cup."
Bragger and partner Anna Pickersgill have been there for two years and have seen the food side of the business flourish. It consists of "modern British gastropub" dishes for the 42-cover dining area and traditional pub fare on the bar menu.
Items on the bar menu include sausage and mash at £8.95 and Young's beer-batter cod and chips at £9.25. One of the favourites on the main menu is grilled salmon and warm cous cous salad with a tomato and chilli dressing at £13.95.
However, the biggest seller is the pub's signature dish - the Alma burger, an 8oz burger with brie, bacon, salad and fries, which is priced at £9.95 on the main menu and £1 cheaper on the bar menu.
As a Young's house, cask ale is a mainstay of the drinks offering. Four or more cask ales are always available including three permanent fixtures - Young's Bitter and Special, and Charles Well's Bombardier. Wet sales account for around 60% of the turnover.
Bragger says the Alma mainly appeals to the affluent, 25-to-50 age group that lives in this expensive part of London, but adds: "We also get builders in on Friday evenings."
Before the Alma, Bragger worked for the Hard Rock Cafe and Pickersgill worked for nightclub operator Luminar, allowing them to bring their expertise to bear on training staff to engage with the clientele.
Trade is helped by the pub's location - it is next to Wandsworth railway station and thereby attracts commuters on their way home. But above all, Bragger notes: "It's a nice pub with nice staff and nice customers."
