Beth G.
Balham
15 reviews
Quizteama Aguilera
22 Apr 08, 21:25
As expected
The Hope has picturesque views over Wandsworth Common and erm, the station, and is the pub to be seen in in the area, mainly because it’s the only pub in the area.
It’s a triangular affair, which looks much bigger from the outside than it actually is, and has just been subject to a long makeover, which has made it look like a shabby sitting room, as is currently the want in pubs at the mo (someone older and considerably less hip than myself might say that it’s the interior design equivalent of paying loads of money to get rips in your jeans).
It’s (just about) on two levels: the lower one seems to be the sitting/drinking area (all low settees, chandeliers and Granny rugs), and the upper bay lends itself more to gnoshing. It’s full of Wandsworth Common’s trendiest – that is, people who aren’t really that trendy at all, but can more than afford the clothes - has good food and a wide beer selection, and a smallish outside seating area which unfortunately overlooks two roads (in the summer, people bypass the garden altogether and take their drinks across the road to the common).
A couple of plus/minus points (depending on what tickles your fancy/gets your goat) are the tiny telly and coldish welcome offered to children.
The Hope has really got two jewels in its crown. The first is its Christmas drinks menu, which is peppered with really lovely and imaginative wintery delights (we had a brilliant Christmas Eve afternoon there, sampling all of them), and the second is its ace Monday night quiz. Now, I’ve spent a lot of time in a lot of pubs doing a lot of quizzes, and this is one of the best. What makes it special is the brilliant rounds, which change each week (no lame Sports, Music, TV and History here. Nope, it’s Famous Cats, TV Detectives and Georges) and the great host, who has severe, amusing issues with pronunciation.
Maybe I’m being a bit of a meany, but The Hope is a pub which seems to try very hard but doesn’t quite get there. Who said a pub was like its punters?
Claire C.
Brixton
43 reviews
Trading on its location
05 Aug 07, 20:06
As expected
The Hope ticks all the boxes but predominantly does the roaring trade it does because of its plum location smack bang next to Wandsworth Common on Bellevue Road.
It's relatively spacious and has a decent amount of outdoor space, if you don't mind the fact that you're practically sitting on a road junction, and inside it's got that whole leather sofa, chunky wood tables mod gastropub thing going on.
But, realistically, it's got no competition. It's about the only place in the area that actually seems geared towards grown ups rather than parents with kids in tow
It does passable food in the gastro mould, but service for both food and drink can be super slow, especially on a summer's day when groups spill in from the common for jugs of pimms.
Loos are poorly maintained with at least one invariably out of order. A small point, but a noticeable one, especially with the volume of customers that passes through.
You're better off picking up something from the off license up the road and taking it to the common.
