HILL STREET BOOZE

Location: Alma Road is just off the South Circular Road in Wandsworth, South West London. Nearest railway station is Wandsworth Town.

Wandsworth is one of the better areas for pinball in London. Out of the station is The Alma pub which has a Who?Dunnit pinball, although it's currently broken. A 2 minute walk up the hill and you reach 21 Alma Road, the pub.

The original reason for visiting 21 Alma Road was to review their rare Cactus Canyon machine. Although it has a non-registering drop target, it was still a fun game to play.

One step inside the pub and it was clear that changes had taken place. The bar was in the midst of redecoration and there in the corner where the Cactus Canyon used to be was a...

Yes, there is now a Sega Goldeneye in its place. It's a good position as it doesn't get too much in the way of non-players and there's a handy shelf next to the game to place your drinks. It is slightly in the way of the cigarette machine.

Priced at 3 games for £1, the game is in good condition with the exception of the satellite dish which doesn't capture or register the ball. On Goldeneye this isn't too much of a problem as multiball can be started from the right ramp instead. It does prevent you scoring many points during the Satellite Hurry-Up or getting to the wizard mode though.

Before that, however, the most immediate feature that is noticable is the total lack of sound. The noise from pinball machines is a common complaint in pubs and bars, but even so, it was disappointing not to have any game sounds at all.

All the other components work fine and the only bulb out was an intermittant one in the upper rollovers.

The game is quite tough to play with the outlanes being particually hungry. The right outlane is the only one that's adjustable and it's set to maximum width.


The pub itself is a spacious, roomy affair with a large central bar surrounded by many tables. The range of drinks available is fair with 2 beers from Adnams (regular bitter and Broadside) plus Marstons bitter, draught Becks, Strongbow, Kronenburg 1664, John Smith's, Fosters and Guinness. Prices average £2.30 per pint. It can be difficult to get served at times due to the semi-circular shape of the bar and the divider halfway round.

There is also a good range of quality food served in the pub. Prices range from £3 for starters up to £7.50 for an entree.

And if, after all that, you're in need of a taxi, just down the hill towards the town centre is a handy mini-cab office. It's made all the better by having a Bram Stoker's Dracula pinball in the waiting area.

 

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