Pub gardens in Clapham
The big garden on the Common, a tree-shaded yard with its own bar by Clapham North, a patio in the Old Town and a fairy-lit roof on the Pavement. Where to drink outside in Clapham, and how to get a table.
By Clapham London Editorial
The best pub garden in Clapham is at The Falcon on Bedford Road, by Clapham North, and the best pub on the Common is The Windmill on the South Side. When the sun comes out, Clapham moves outside, and the good tables go fast. Here is where to drink in the open air, from big beer gardens to rooftops, and how to get a table.
The Windmill, Clapham Common South Side
The pub on the Common, and the oldest of the lot: CAMRA dates it to 1665, and the Grade II listed building was greatly extended in the 19th century. The Windmill has a garden and drinks out the front, with the grass right there, and in summer the Burger Shack opens outside. Order a cask Young's and settle in. It is open from 7am on weekdays, so a coffee in the garden before work is an option too. When it gets cold, Max's Shack is covered and heated, so the garden season runs longer here than at most pubs. On a hot Saturday, arrive by noon.
The Falcon, 33 Bedford Road
Near Clapham North station, The Falcon has the garden people travel for. There is a large enclosed back garden with mature trees for shade, a barbecue, its own outside bar and a big screen for the sport, plus a front patio. It is busy with families during the day and a younger crowd at the weekend. There are three changing cask beers, and the pub opens at 11am every day, staying open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. This is the summer afternoon, start to finish: arrive for lunch, find a table under the trees, and let the barbecue do the rest.
The Sun, 47-51 Old Town
In the Old Town, The Sun has a side patio and garden, food all day and London Pride on cask. It is a weekend circuit favourite, so the outdoor tables go early on sunny days. Stay on into the evening: it is open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Alexandra, 14 Clapham Common South Side
Along from The Windmill, The Alexandra has a garden and pavement seating facing the Common. It is a sports pub at weekends, so if there is a big match on, expect a crowd outside as well as in. Thai food comes from The Pepper Tree a few doors away, so you can eat outside too. It opens at 11am, and stays open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Abbeville, 67-69 Abbeville Road
The Abbeville's terrace is the summer meeting point for Abbeville Village, and it fills quickly in summer. Come early, especially on a Sunday, when people stay on after their roast.
Drinking on the Common itself
- Common Pizza, Rookery Road. On the edge of the Common, by the skate park and basketball courts, with a terrace, pizza and live music from Thursday to Sunday. It opens at 4pm on weekdays and noon at weekends.
- Pear Tree Cafe, Windmill Drive. Right beside the bandstand, with tables outside. More coffee than pints, but the best seat in the middle of the Common.
Up on the roof
- No 32 The Old Town, 32 The Pavement. A fairy-lit roof terrace above the Old Town. The one for a cocktail at sunset. The bar opens at 9am every day and runs until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, so the roof works for brunch and for late drinks.
- Mimosa, 64 Clapham High Street. A rooftop garden with planting and a retractable roof, so it works whatever the weather. It opens from Wednesday, with weekend hours starting at midday, and runs late into the night.
- Vagabond, 4 Northcote Road. A covered roof terrace, pavement tables and a secret garden at the back that is open all year, five minutes' walk from Clapham Junction station.
For winter evenings outside
Venn Street Records on Venn Street has a heated garden, and its two-for-one cocktails from 5pm to 8pm count out there too. Add The Windmill's heated Max's Shack and Mimosa's covered rooftop, and you can drink outside in Clapham in every season.
How to get a garden table
On a sunny weekend, the gardens on the Common and in the Old Town are the first places to fill. Go before noon, or go on a weekday evening, when you can usually walk straight in. If you are a big group, ring ahead and ask what they can do. And if every garden is full, take a picnic onto the grass instead: the Common is about 220 acres, and there is always room.
