The Duke's Head Putney

There’s no better public place to watch the Boat Race than from The Duke’s Head’s glass-fronted dining room overlooking the river – although it’s a pretty fine space to while away an hour or two on any day of the year. Hugos and Fionas are as likely to be part of the staff as the clientele here (public-school accents dominate), but the service is prompt and polite. This is a proper pub serving four real ales on tap, while there’s also a decent wine list. There have been reports of a fall in standards in the kitchen, but a recent visit suggests that this is just a blip –  pub grub such as haddock and chips or sausage and mash with lashings of onion gravy are perfectly fine in an unfussy way.