Vlad 's reviews
Review of The Eagle
08 Aug 07, 12:49
The original Gastro Pub? 
A fantastic place with a deservedly good reputation. Allegedly where the gastro-pub movement started. Rubbish or not this is definately worth a lunchtime visit.
The single room contains the bar and the kitchen and the sitting area. Standard drinks and the like but people mainly come here for the food which is utterly fantastic.
An eclectic mix of styles and dishes from huge steak and ale pies, racks of lamb with cuscous, steaks etc. No mass produced dishes or burgers here. Main course for two and a coffee and two beers will cost you around £30+ but you will come here again and again.
You can while away the time waiting by watching the chefs beaver away or simply relax in an environment that looks like it has been decorated with the contents of a old school.
It is crammed at lunchtime though so get there before 12.30 if you want to get a table. Service is quick, speedy and polite but you'll be waiting around for sometime otherwise.
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Review of The Ship
07 Aug 07, 14:06
Shipshape 
You wouldn't find this place unless you were told about it. If you find it, tucked away on the river, you'll love it.
So here goes.....
An all round great pub and definately worth a visit but the location is both terrible and great at the same time.
Good because its great for the summer, it has an extensive beer garden that looks directly onto the Thames. You can eat inside or at lunchtimes and during the early evening they hold a BBQ on the weekends. Great value and good tasting food at under £5.00. It is generally heaving on sunny days.
It terrible because its cut off for any real transport links - asides from bus - unless you walk or come by car in which case, parking can be a bit difficult as it is restricted. The Traffic wardens know this and are often on the prowl around here.
It's very popular with those that live locally - Wandsworth, Clapham Junction and Wandsworth Bridge road etc.
The inside is light and airy and the bar staff are helpful. They do cash back which is great as there isn't a cash machine for miles.
There is also a larger dining area where the food is actually very good. The smart end of the gastro-pub market and worth going to for an evening in the summer or winter.
Oh, quick word of warning. There is gravel processing yard or something next door so on occasion - and only on occasion - it can be a bit noisy but not enough to interupt!
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Review of The Railway
06 Aug 07, 14:01
Good pub 
Part of the group that own the Sun and the Falcon in the same area. The concept is the same: Gastro pub with the emphasis on good cheap Thai food. Plenty of seats outside on the high street but otehrwise nothing extrardinary. Well decorated, large bar with attentive staff, popular as a pre-night out haunt.
It's what you want from a pub.
Tip: Careful of your bags when you sit outside. There is a bit of street crime at the Clapham North end of the high street.
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Review of The Clapham North
06 Aug 07, 13:55
Rather good
2 years ago, your feet would stick to the 1970's lino when you entered this place.
Post refurb, its now funky, dark and full of young beautiful people in the evening when it takes on a more club atmosphere. Agree with Daniel H - being served can be a problem in the evenings.
During the day it morphs into its second personality - a smart gastro pub. During sunny days the front of the building opens up - there are limited tables at the front on the main road - giving the place a nice open feel. The food is above expectations and above normal gastro pub fare. The breakfast is particularly good but you can have snacks and full on meals as you please.It is relatively expensive.
Hint: The Bloody Marys are great.
It has a TV screen at the back for those football fans and you can also hire out the back part for a private function (Well, you could a year ago).
A evening venue in its own right.
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Review of The Sun
06 Aug 07, 11:17
The SUN has got his pad thai on.
The popularity of the Sun I think dates back from when it was one of the first pubs in Clapham to be revamped for the burgeoing non-stabbing population. Or maybe it was popular due to the novely of the pub / restaurant movement. Maybe its the bright exterior? Or something.
It's a bit over rated now, IMHO. Or rather....It's just a pub, serving Thai food and beer. Simple as that.
It's owned by the same group who own the Railway and the Falcon (At the Clapham North End of the High Street) so does good cheap Thai food if you fancy it.
In the heart of Clapham's Old Town, has a beer garden and space upstairs and downstairs. Nice for a pint pre cinema or whatever.
That's really it. Nice pub, good decent food. Can't go wrong.
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Review of The Windmill On The Common
06 Aug 07, 10:23
Clapham's Summer Pub
...OK. The title is a bit over the top but this one has it all.
Perfect for those lazy weekends afternoons lying on the Common having a pint. Or even better - a good place to go before any of the regular festivals and events (Chinese Circus, Urban Games) that take place in the area.
Mid way on the common between Clapham Common and Clapham South tubes stations, this pub has undergone a bit of a transformation in the last few years. Refurbished recently it managed to avoid the standard bland pub look and combined functionality with good decor and thankfully, plenty of staff so there is not much delay in being served.
You can't got wrong if you're looking for somewhere to hang out on the common with friends. It's a huge space - by pub standard. Asides from the ample beer gardens at the front (but sheilded from the road) there the common about ten yards away. Its part of the scenery to see hundred of drinkers lounging on the grass next to this watering hole. The environment is relaxed and friendly. On sunny weekends, it will be packed.
The pub is also child friendly with a smaller gated children's beer garden to prevent rogue children escaping while the parents enjoy a quiet drink. And suprisingly, its possible to park outside the pub for those driving their spawn. There's often an ice cream van in front of the pub as an added bribe if needed. The pub is a short walk from the ponds too.
Inside the pub is very spacious and since refurbishment looks pretty good. The plastic lino and threadbear sticky carpet has gone to be replaced by something that wouldn't look out of place in any urban 20 somethings flat.
The inside area is large and opens out into a larger much more spacious room which again leads onto a restaurant. Can't comment on this as we haven't eaten there so would appreciate anyone elses view. On Friday (and saturday?) nights that have DJ etc who play while the pub's clients slip into alcohol fuelled oblivion.
Definately worth a visi if you have some time to kill.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Falcon
04 Aug 07, 10:31
Beer Gardening
This pub has space. This is a slightly pointless comment as its generally very busy. Unmissable in its bright yellow painted exterior it has a beer garden at the front and much larger one at the back.
There is a cash machine inside so if you're caught short use it. Its a 7 min walk to Clapham common otherwise.
Quite empty during the week, it comes into its own during the weekends and in the summer. Its part of the same group that own the Sun and the Railway.
Like them it serves good Thai food. I've also heard that it has a BBQ on occasions but haven't had experience of that.
Small warning, and very small, if you sit in the front, just be careful of your bags. They have been known to go walk about.....
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Review of The Landor Theatre
03 Aug 07, 13:16
Thank God - at last a nice original boozer
So. No Buffallo Mozzarella, Sun Dried Tomatos or Ciabbatta in sight. The sort of pub that you want to go to when you want to have a nice chilled pint with a mate, play a game of pool (thats a rare thing to find nowdays) and just sit and drink. Hope this doesn't make it sound crusty as it isn't at all. Well decorated, slightly olde worlde feel but not in a bad way and has the added bonus of an indoor theatre so it does get a bit busy somedays until the audeince empties into the theatre. Haven't been to this so can't comment on this side of things. One of my favourite places in South London. Just because it has no pretentions.
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Review of Bread and Roses
03 Aug 07, 13:02
Give me bread and give me roses....
Bit of a bizarre one as it caters for everyone but does it really well. A really really great pub. Quirky, niche and great for people who hate clone pubs. A good outside space if you have children with lots of seating at the back and they do make them welcome here but also a great place to go if your out for the evening. Serve good food here on a Sunday often accompanied by live music - jazz, blues - and last time we went they held a real ale day with a selection of 15 different niche beers.One of my favourite pubs. Just always suprises you.
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