Dog-friendly Clapham: pubs, cafes and the Common
Where to walk the dog and where to take them after: the Common, a pub that does dog-friendly rooms, and the Old Town terraces that put the water bowls out.
By Clapham London Editorial
The most dog-friendly pub in Clapham is The Windmill on Clapham Common South Side: dogs are welcome inside and in the garden, it sits right on the Common, and it even does dog-friendly stays. Walk the Common first, then work your way round the Old Town and up to Abbeville Road. Here is the route, with the places that will put a water bowl down without being asked.
Start with the Common
Clapham Common is the reason so many people in SW4 have a dog. Lambeth Council puts it at over 85 hectares, one of London's largest and oldest open spaces, with three ponds, two woodlands and a long network of paths, and it is open 24 hours a day. That is a lot of room for a lap at seven in the morning before the football starts.
Be a good neighbour. The Common has two playgrounds, a paddling pool, sports pitches and three cafes, and plenty of picnics on a sunny weekend, so keep the lead handy near the busy bits and follow the signs at each gate. Lambeth's parks team answers questions about dog rules on 020 7926 9000.
The Windmill, Clapham Common South Side
The Windmill calls itself super dog-friendly, and it means it. It is a big Young's pub on the edge of the Common with a garden, food from breakfast to dinner and 42 bedrooms upstairs, which is why it is the one locals recommend to friends visiting with a dog. Opening runs from 7am on weekdays and 8am at weekends, until 11pm. Breakfast is served until 11am, and the Sunday roast runs from noon to 10pm.
Get there for breakfast after your walk and you will have your pick of the tables. By Sunday lunchtime the garden is full of people, and dogs, who had the same idea.
Around the Old Town
The Sun, 47 Old Town
The Sun has an alfresco beer garden, and DesignMyNight's dog-friendly round-up lists free dog treats and water bowls. The garden is the place to be on a warm evening.
Minnow, 21 The Pavement
Minnow says it plainly on its own site: we are dog friendly. It has a large heated terrace overlooking the Common, which is ideal with a dog at your feet. Brunch runs from 8am on weekdays and 9am at weekends, and happy hour runs daily from 3pm to 7pm, with classic cocktails at £8 and pints at £6.50. Note that it takes cards only.
No 32 The Old Town
No 32 The Old Town lets dogs in indoors, according to DesignMyNight, and it has a roof terrace for brunch and evening drinks. Weekend bottomless brunch is popular with groups, so if you want a quieter table with your dog, go midweek.
Up on Abbeville Road
The Abbeville at 67-69 Abbeville Road is a dog-friendly pub, and its own contact page says it will happily bring doggie biscuits and water bowls on request. It is a proper neighbourhood pub with an open fire in winter and a kitchen open from 12pm on weekdays and 10am at weekends.
While you are on Abbeville Road, the high street of the little neighbourhood locals call Abbeville Village, the shops and cafes make a good loop on the way back to the Common.
Staying over with a dog
If your dog is coming to London with you, The Windmill offers dog-friendly stays in its bedrooms, with check-in from 3pm and check-out at 11am. It is a five minute stroll from both Clapham Common and Clapham South stations, so you can do the morning walk on the Common and be on the Northern line by nine. Look for the dog-friendly stays option on the pub's own site when you book.
Our dog-walker's loop
- Morning: a lap of the Common, ponds and woodland, before the crowds.
- Breakfast: The Windmill on South Side, or brunch on Minnow's terrace on the Pavement.
- Afternoon: a stroll up to Abbeville Road and a pint at The Abbeville.
- Evening: back to the Old Town and the beer garden at The Sun.
A few house rules
Every place on this list welcomes dogs, but every place is also busy at weekends. Ask before you sit down, keep your dog off the seats, and if you are planning a big group with several dogs, call ahead. Policies can change, especially for dining rooms at peak times, so a quick check on the day saves an awkward conversation at the door. And on the Common, bag it and bin it. The Common is the best dog walk in south London, and it only stays that way if everyone does their bit.
