Octoberfest Pub

Fulham, London –

A rowdy pocket of Bavarian beers, mammoth schnitzels, and dirndl-clad madness lies within London’s residential Fulham neighborhood in the form of Octoberfest Pub.

Wilkommen!

It’s not unusual to find many of the pub’s regulars in costume, complete with pigtails, lederhosen, and less-than-hosen, to the point that it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish the beer maidens from the beer drinkers. The free shot of Schnapps given to anyone who dresses up probably helps.

Patrons must temporarily forget the UK location, as the sparse décor of Deutschland bric-a-brac and scattered benches is purposefully kitschy and reminiscent of a German drinking haus.

Daily activities involve lots of themed drinking games, including trying to take down Das Boot (literally) of beer, with everyone chanting “eins, zwei, drei” and chugging steins faster than one can say schnitzel – itself a signature item that can, of course, be found on the Munchen-inspired menu.

Like at any festive but casual watering hole, the priority here is good, drunken fun, which includes yodeling sing-alongs to a costumed oompah band on Fridays and Saturdays during the official Oktoberfest season (September 1st–Christmas), as well as on varied other Saturdays throughout the year.

The happy mix of college kids, rollicking tourists, unpretentious Fulhamites, and red-faced old blokes dance to traditional German tunes and old-school renditions of random bands like Queen and the BeeGees, or partake in poker nights, friendly pool competitions, and lots of soccer and rugby on the many TVs.

It’s always sad to miss out on the real Oktoberfest in Germany, but Octoberfest Pub might just be the next best thing, and it’s open all year long.