The Rose & Crown, The Polygon: what to order and when to go
A terracotta-fronted pub on The Polygon with a bar downstairs and a dining room upstairs: here is how to do it well.
By Clapham London Editorial
The short version: The Rose & Crown is at 2 The Polygon, SW4 0JG, in the Old Town. Drop in for a pint at the bar, or book upstairs for dinner or the Sunday roast. Dining is by reservation, and the bar is the place to turn up on spec.
What it is
Two pubs in one building. The ground floor is a traditional pub with a dark panelled walnut bar, a fireplace and board games. The first floor is a dining room with sage panelled walls, antique mirrors and parquet oak flooring, according to SquareMeal. The pub calls itself a Public House & Dining Room, with food and drink served all day.
It is dog friendly, and there is a front terrace for sunny days. Clapham Common Underground (Northern line) is under five minutes on foot, and several buses stop nearby.
The building
Look at the front before you go in. CAMRA describes a locally listed Simonds terracotta façade: a broad arched window flanked by arched doorways, with a band above reading “Rose and Crown” between a Tudor rose and a crown. CAMRA dates the tiled front to the early 20th century, while the pub’s own copy puts the building at 1870. Simonds was the Reading brewer that once owned it, and the pub appears on the brewery’s 1958 list.
What to order
- At the bar: the Keens cheddar Welsh rarebit and the lamb sausage roll, which CAMRA also picks out as a nibble to go with a pint.
- To drink: Timothy Taylor Landlord is the regular cask beer. SquareMeal also notes an extensive wine list.
- Upstairs: burrata with British pea purée is named as a signature starter by listings site Thatsup.
- Pudding: the cardamom sticky toffee pudding, or the Rose & Crown trifle.
- Sunday: the roast, with the menu running all day. Eating in London describes British rump, free range chicken and wrapped belly pork.
There are a couple of plant based dishes and some gluten free options too.
Prices
SquareMeal puts the average at £30 to £49 a head. The one itemised price in the reviews we have seen is a porterhouse steak to share at £85, reported by Roast Dinners in London. Check the menu on the pub’s own site for current prices before you go.
When to go
- Sunday: the roast is the main draw and people arrive early for it, so book. Roast Dinners in London reported a long wait for food and a time limit on the table on its visit, so allow plenty of time and do not book it as a quick stop.
- A sunny day: the front terrace on The Polygon is the obvious seat for a drink.
- Colder months: take a seat by the fireplace downstairs.
Opening hours
On the pub’s site, Monday and Tuesday run noon to 11pm, and Wednesday noon to midnight, with the kitchen open from noon to 10pm on those days. Thursday also starts at noon. Weekend hours run longer and include brunch, so look at the pub’s site for Thursday to Sunday.
Booking
The reservations page says the pub only takes dining bookings. For groups of more than ten, email contact@roseandcrownclapham.com or phone 020 3011 5155 during opening hours. The first floor can also be hired privately.
If you only want a drink, treat the ground floor as walk in. If you want a table to eat, particularly on a Sunday, book ahead.
