<![CDATA[Greater London - Lambeth - Clapham Common - Eating, Drinking and Nightlife - Bars - Reviews]]> http://www.welovelocal.com Reviews from welovelocal.com en Party people http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-white-house-sw47eh.html#r32483 I've had many a good night in the White house the music always gets me dancing and they certainly know how to create a party atmosphere. It can get very busy and the drinks aren't cheap. It does get full of Claphamites and there's a fair few posers in there but it makes for a fun night.

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Thu, 15 May 2008 17:41:19 BST
Pepole's Republic adds some fizz http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-peoples-republic-bar-kitchen-sw47ab.html#r32141 The People's republic is a typical Clapham public house with typical Clapham people! A popular venue to visit if you want to have a boogie and sip on a £5 glass of champagne!

They also do cocktails but the place is too busy at the weekend so be prepared to queue....

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Thu, 15 May 2008 12:58:39 BST
Pretentious people's playground http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-white-house-sw47eh.html#r3182 I'm really not a fan of this place - it's got the sort of attitude and prices that suggest it's Jewel or Chinawhite, but it's The White House, and it's Clapham.

It would like to think that it's the Manchester United of Clapham clubs, lording it over the Rushden & Diamonds that is Infernos. Sadly they're both really languishing in the relegation zone of the Second Division.

Football analogies are quite appropriate - this place seems to attract footballer wannabes and the sort of women who like them.

Expensive entry, expensive drinks and a lot of posers - but hey, some people like that sort of thing.

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Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:26:39 BST
Please don't tell anyone.. good little secret http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/niksons-sw116re.html#r3130 I like this place, not often packed. Good for watching the rugby. Bar snacks are yummy, although bar food portions can be small and disappointing.

I've not checked out the restaurant nor been there for the live music on Sundays. - But am told it’s worth a look in.

Staff are a giggle and service I've always found to be good.

Nice place to take your parents/in-laws for lunch, after work drink, or chill and watch the sport.

Feel like it hasn't been taken over yet. There is a slightly older crowd, and at one point this place was branded a divorcees pick up joint. Perhaps it still is.

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Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:13:01 BST
If you like your drinks with "added extras" http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-peoples-republic-bar-kitchen-sw47ab.html#r2954 I've been a semi-regular at the People's Republic but I'll not be returning after my experience on Saturday night.

I was served two drinks both of which contained ants floating in them. Apparently ants had got into the sugar syrup and mint.

Not acceptable... this is basic health and safety - these items should be stored hygenically overnight - not left out in the bar.

The situation was handled very badly by the waitress on duty, who (rather reluctantly and very slowly) replaced my drink, twice, with no apology. When we asked to her replace my friend's drink (as her's also contained mint and sugar syrup, and she didn't want to chance hoovering up a bug) the waitress made me feel uncomfortable and I felt like apologising for the situation rather than the other way around.

We ended up paying for 2 cocktail and drinking half a cocktail and my friend's replacement beer and then leaving as very unhappy customers.

I have noticed on my last few visits that staff are less welcoming and bordering on rude.

Overall totally unacceptable service and totally unacceptable handling of food and drink. The health inspector should pay them a visit.

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Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:23:26 BST
Saturday night - thumbs down http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-white-house-sw47eh.html#r2950 I went here last night after the recent supposed refurbishment. Could someone explain to me what exactly has been made better from the refurb?

It seems they have just removed all the cozy booth-style seating with a long single 'bench' which runs down one side of the bar, a lot like something you might sit on at a train station.

The door policy was an absolute joke. A surly bouncer and some bit of fluff were wandering up and down the queue asking for *couples* to come to the front...! What is the rationale behind this policy? Why would somewhere want their place to be full of couples who presumably won't spend as much on drinks?

Eventually got inside to find - no surprise - plenty of capacity.

Generally a pretty boring crowd - very few dancing downstairs, and the upstairs bar was rammed such that nobody was really getting involved, which is a shame for a Saturday night.

A double Jack and coke was £9.60 and entry was £12. Please.

All in all a low rating for what was a great place having been turned into somewhere completely average. I give it two stars since it's better than Infernos.

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Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:23:24 BST
Reliable midweek drinking den http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-firefly-sw129aj.html#r2689 This place has become a bit of a mid-week staple for my crowd of friends. You can usually get somewhere to sit and the service tends to be friendly.

There's a bit of bare brick New York style decor going on, and some occasionally questionable artwork, but all in all, there's a really nice laidback vibe which turns what could be a thin, narrow corridor into a bar that's worth a look.

Food is good, not necessarily somewhere I'd recommend as a restaurant over a bar, but it does the job if you want something snacky or gastropub-esque to soak up the beers.

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Sun, 05 Aug 2007 19:47:20 BST
Retro chic for an older crowd http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-firefly-sw129aj.html#r2407 The first thing I noticed about this place is that everybody here seemed to be having grown up conversations - but once you get past that, this place is alright.

There's lots of funky lampshades and wooden cladding - feels a bit like a singles bar in 1970s Stockholm. Sticking with the 1970s theme, this place also has a reputation for doing good cocktails, though I have yet to try any.

Food is served most of the day and evening, with Sunday lunch a Firefly speciality.

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Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:13:22 BST
Retro chic for an older crowd http://www.welovelocal.com/en/london/lambeth/clapham-common/bars/the-firefly-sw129aj.html#r2407 The first thing I noticed about this place is that everybody here seemed to be having grown up conversations - but once you get past that, this place is alright.

There's lots of funky lampshades and wooden cladding - feels a bit like a singles bar in 1970s Stockholm. Sticking with the 1970s theme, this place also has a reputation for doing good cocktails, though I have yet to try any.

Food is served most of the day and evening, with Sunday lunch a Firefly speciality.

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Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:13:22 BST