{"id":2672,"date":"2022-05-25T09:49:09","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T09:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=2672"},"modified":"2022-05-25T09:49:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T09:49:10","slug":"an-afternoon-in-clapham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2022\/05\/25\/an-afternoon-in-clapham\/","title":{"rendered":"An afternoon in Clapham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One afternoon back in February I decided to visit a few pubs in the Clapham High Street area which I hadn\u2019t been to for a few years. Exiting the station I passed the Railway pub and, going under the railway bridge, headed to the Clapham North, which is, appropriately, opposite Clapham North tube station. This pub was previously called the Bedford and presumably refers to a local landowner, the Duke of Bedford perhaps, because there is also a Bedford pub not too far away in Balham or were the pubs just named after the roads they are on?<\/p>\n\n\n

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I had last visited this imposing two storey red brick pub six years ago when I had a very good glass of Young\u2019s Gold for \u00a31.95. This time however, as I approached the bar, I saw that none of the pumps were badged up. The barman said the real ales had run out and he didn\u2019t have any more in the cellar so I bade farewell and headed up along Bedford Road to the Falcon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This hard to miss two storey pub, just before the railway arches, is painted yellow all over. On venturing inside I found a large island bar of varnished wood, matching the floor. Around it is a mixture of seating, with a comfortable bench in the front window, some high benches and dining tables to the side and rear. The walls are a gastro greeny colour, while the ceiling is of pale cream squares. On the walls there are framed pictures of falcons no less.<\/p>\n\n\n

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For the better weather there is plenty of outdoor seating at the front. At the bar, this M&B pub was offering just two ales, Doom Bar and Dark Star Hophead. Usually there is also Tim Taylor Landlord but it wasn\u2019t on so I went for the Hophead at \u00a35.35; it was quite average. Seven years ago when I visited here there were four ales on, including Tim Taylor Boltmaker at \u00a34.15. It was fairly busy that day but this afternoon there were only a few customers in. It was however pleasant enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next I proceeded under the railway arches for a few hundred yards before taking a right turn which led me to a path through blocks of flats, which brought me out by the Coach & Horses. There was no real ale as far as I know so I carried on a short distance to King & Co. This is not its original name; it was first called the Kings Head (the side road gives it away being called Kings Head Lane) but more latterly it has been the Grey Goose, Smoke Room and 100.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The white painted building is quite inoffensive but, with two storeys, it is somewhat dwarfed by the newer adjoining building. Inside it is all very basic with a centre three-sided bar and an open kitchen to one side. The floor is wood and the seating is mainly steel tube wood chairs, like being in school. There are some high seats to the side and the wood framed fireplace has a clear mirror above it. The colours are mainly green and cream, with some yellow and some exposed brickwork, with the back wall covered with various mirrors. The pub is operated by Portobello and so it was not surprising to find on the bar Portobello APA and Market Porter, which I went for at \u00a34.40; it was good. Adnams Southwold Bitter was also available. I first came to this pub in 2016 and the ales were all from the Little Beer Co of Guildford, which no longer operates. Then I had a pint of Little Smooth Stout for \u00a34.10, so I suppose a rise of 30p in six years is not bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finishing my beer I headed up towards the High Street and on the corner is the Belle Vue. It is a fair size pub on a very busy corner, done out in cream and green. Inside it is all quite rambling with different seating areas all around the centre three sided angled bar. It is all green and cream with some exposed brickwork to the rear, covered by a lot of hanging foliage which spread to the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n

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There is a wood floor, lots of framed pictures on the walls and the ceiling features cross beams with plaster frieze designs. There was only one beer on, Adnams Ghost Ship, which at \u00a35.30 I went for and it was good. I first came to this pub nine years ago when there were three ales on, Doom Bar (have we grown to love it?), a Greene King house ale and Adnams Gun Hill, which I had for \u00a33.60. I think it was a dark ale but on referring to GBGs of the time there are no tasting notes, so didn\u2019t anyone drink it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was now 6.30 and was busy enough in this very ambient pub but I had to mind all the dogs lying about when stepping out to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning left along this very busy road, I soon reached the Alexandra, with its very ornate styled frontage and it didn\u2019t disappoint inside either. It is all very wooden and traditional, revolving around a large three-sided island bar.<\/p>\n\n\n

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There are lots of wood beams, various seating areas and a two-tone green colour scheme. It seems that green is very popular around here. There are various TV screens so it is obviously quite sport orientated but very popular at that. It is a GK pub with IPA and Abbot but I went for the guest ale, Sambrook\u2019s Drop Kick at \u00a35.30; it was good. I had also been in this pub nine years ago, it was GK then but with different ales on: London Glory and Yardbird plus a guest ale, Adnams Ghost Ship at \u00a33.50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I decided that this would do for today, so headed back to Clapham Junction. I stated walking but a bus turned up so I jumped on that. No, I didn\u2019t go straight home. The \u2018Spoon\u2019s at Clapham Junction, the London & South Western was too tempting so I popped in for an Oakham\u2019s Sankandar, just to finish off. It was an interesting afternoon in Clapham and there are several other pubs that I didn\u2019t visit, so another time maybe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clive Taylor<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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