The London and South Western on Lavender Hill: what to know
A Wetherspoon in a 1930s furniture store on Lavender Hill, a short walk from Clapham Junction, with a serious real ale line-up.
By Clapham London Editorial
Short version: The London and South Western is a Wetherspoon at 276 to 288 Lavender Hill, SW11 1LJ. It is Clapham Junction rather than the Common, and technically Battersea, but it is the pub people mean when they search for it. Go for the real ale, a train-change pint or a cheap breakfast. You cannot book a table.
What it is
It is a big, spacious Wetherspoon, open from breakfast, at the foot of Lavender Hill. Wetherspoon lists the address as Clapham Junction, Battersea, Wandsworth. A reviewer on TripAdvisor describes it as a few minutes’ walk from the station. CAMRA’s note says it is a good place to pop into if you have time to spare when changing trains.
The history
The building is a distinctive c.1935 build, originally the flagship store of Hastings Ltd, furniture dealers, according to CAMRA and the pub’s own menu. It later became a Yates’s Wine Lodge in 1999, then Revolution, before opening as a Wetherspoon in December 2020. The local blog Lavender Hill says the Hastings logo is still visible on the mosaic doorstep, so look down as you walk in.
The name is a nod to the railway. Wetherspoon says the first line opened in 1838, run by the London and South Western Railway, and that the first station did not open until 1863. Clapham Junction station opened on 2 March 1863 as a joint venture between the L&SWR and two other railway companies.
What to order
- Real ale. CAMRA says there are two banks of six handpumps, with the regular Wetherspoon beers plus up to four guests. It has a Cask Marque Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating of 5 out of 5. One TripAdvisor reviewer singled out the Jaipur.
- Thursday curry. Wetherspoon’s Thursday offer is Curry Club: a curry, naan and poppadums at a set price. Check the price in the Wetherspoon app, as prices are set pub by pub.
- Breakfast. It runs 8am to 12 noon, and the main menu runs 11.30am to 11pm. There is a children’s menu.
Reviews are mixed. TripAdvisor averages 3.4 out of 5 from 21 reviews, and one reviewer warned against the chicken burger. Pubs Galore reviewers describe it as busy and sometimes understaffed, so expect a queue at peak times.
When to go, and booking
Wetherspoon’s own hours are Monday to Thursday 8am to midnight, Friday and Saturday 8am to 1am, and Sunday 8am to midnight. WhatPub lists Sunday differently, so check before a late Sunday visit.
There is no table reservation. Order through the Wetherspoon app using your table number, or at the bar. One reviewer got a drink within a few minutes of ordering by app. Weekday daytimes are the easiest bet for a seat, and evenings and Fridays will be busier. Prices are standard budget pub pricing, but check the app for the current pint and Curry Club prices.
Details are on the Wetherspoon pub page, and CAMRA’s listing has the ale and history notes.
For after
Walk up Lavender Hill to the Scratch Bar at Battersea Arts Centre, SW11 5TN, in a Grade II* listed former town hall. CAMRA describes it as a daytime café and evening theatre bar, open since 2014, serving bottled and canned beers from local breweries with keg on draught. Check bac.org.uk for current hours and opening status before you go. More background is on CAMRA’s Scratch Bar page.
