Claire's reviews
Review of The Balham Tup
29 Sep 07, 16:37
Score draw 
As mentioned above, this place has made a name for itself as sports pub. It's particularly popular with Antipodeans and South Africans and the rugby always draws a huge crowd.
The accoustics are terrible so even on a 'quietish' Saturday night, you'll be bellowing across the table to make yourself heard.
Food is distinctly average, so unless you're a broad-shouldered boy with a gang of mates intent on seeing some sporting fixture, there are probably better places to splash your cash round Balham.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Falcon
29 Sep 07, 16:25
Decent boozer
They seem to have ditched the TVs here - maybe in a bid to smarten the place up. It used to be a decent place to watch sport, but now it's just an honest to goodness boozer.
I've never sampled the fare, but the extensive sausage menu in itself is worth reading.
Given its proximity to Clapham Junction station, it could very easily have become one of those grot, close to station pubs but seems to have escaped by a whisker, although you'll still find the odd 'character' in there.
On the whole though, not a bad place to while away some time while you're waiting for a train.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Goat
29 Sep 07, 16:13
This goat's no donkey 
An infinite improvement on its previous incarnation, and one of those places that's really benefited from the smoking ban.
It's a modern pub serving a good range of booze to young Claphamites in sleekish surroundings. Food is served throughout, but if you want to eat away from the seething masses, the dining room upstairs is mezzanine style so you get a table to yourself but can still soak up the pub atmosphere.
Grub is gastropub style and a cut above your usual. Cote de Boeuf for two weighs in at around £30 including a generous portion of mash and veggies, and it would easily have served three; there's roast pork belly, haddock risotto, slow cooked lamb - you get the picture.
It's strange there aren't more places like this in the area, but maybe that's why it gets so busy at weekends - get down early or expect to battle for space.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of The Falcon
06 Aug 07, 18:48
Al fresco boozing
For a pub that's not on the High Street, this place does a good job of pulling in the punters.
Service is variable and, while the Thai and trad food is decent enough pub grub, the reason people make a beeline for this place is the beer garden.
There are tables out the front, if sitting on the main road is your thing, but most make for the back garden and hover in the hope that they'll be able to dive in and claim some space as people leave.
Occasionally you'll have to speak up as the Eurostar rattles past, but if you want some al fresco boozing, it's a good bet, especially when it's quieter on a sunny mid-week lunchtime.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Duke Of Edinburgh
06 Aug 07, 18:16
The secret garden of Brixton
Right, from the outside, this pub looks like the sort of place that you really shouldn't go in unless you've got a bull mastiff and lots of tattoos.
But, as they say, looks can be deceptive. Inside they seem a friendly enough bunch and it's pretty publike with TVs to watch football, and pool tables to chase balls around.
However, the really exciting bit is the absolutely humungous beer garden out the back. Alright so it's kind of close to the railway line but it's massive - you just don't get beer gardens this big - especially in London. The added draw of a barbecue means it can get busy on weekends, but if you can't be arsed to heft a picnic hamper to the common, this is a good place to be.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Hope
05 Aug 07, 20:06
Trading on its location
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.
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Review of The Moon Under Water
05 Aug 07, 20:00
Don't 
If someone says they'll meet you in the pub opposite Balham station - dissuade them and suggest that they walk the extra hundred metres to either The Bedford or The Tup or The Firefly.
This is one of those cheapo pubs with the sort of drinks promotions that the Daily Mail rail against and accuse of being responsible for the collapse of our society. They may have a point.
The clientele seem predominantly composed of people who don't have to work during the day - old codgers, young geezers and anyone else who wants to pay as little as possible for a pint and doesn't care about the surroundings.
It's a step up from drinking a can of Special Brew in the park, but not a very steep step.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.