Where to drink in the Old Town, Clapham, and what each pub is good for
Five pubs and bars in the Old Town, SW4, from a roof terrace on the Pavement to cask ale on Old Town itself.
By Clapham London Editorial
The Old Town is the quieter, village-like part of Clapham, around the Pavement, Old Town, North Street and Rectory Grove, close to the Common. It still has a proper run of places to drink. Here is what each is good for, so you can pick the right one before you leave the house. Hours below come from listings that differ slightly in places, so check a venue before you go, especially late on a Friday or Saturday.
No 32 The Old Town: roof terrace and brunch
32 The Pavement, SW4 0JE. This is the one for a view. Its own site calls it an all-day bar and restaurant serving brunch and cocktails, with views over the Common. Estate agent Marsh & Parsons describes a main bar with an open fireplace that opens onto a roof terrace overlooking Clapham Common, and suggests it for a quiet drink or a place to start the evening. The Nudge puts it in its top five Clapham bars and mentions the fairy-lit terrace.
TripAdvisor lists it as open from 9am, closing at 11pm Monday to Wednesday, midnight on Thursday, 1am on Friday and Saturday and 10pm on Sunday, with DJs late on Friday and Saturday. CAMRA’s WhatPub listing gives slightly different closing times early in the week and on Sunday, so check first. It does breakfast, brunch and Sunday roasts alongside craft beer, wine and cocktails. It used to be the Frog, and before that the Cock Tavern. For its own details see the No 32 website.
Old Town Tavern: craft beer
29 North Street, SW4 0HJ. A refurbished local on a site that has had many pubs before it. Expect twenty taps with a rotating mix of local microbrews and collaborations, exposed brick, wood panelling and weekly events. The London Butler singles out the burgers, and notes that real ale gets less attention here than the keg lines. Check the current menu before you go, as older listings mention different food.
The Sun: garden and weekend crowd
47 to 51 Old Town, SW4 0JL. CAMRA describes a Victorian pub opened out in a restrained gastropub style, a landmark of the Old Town and the weekend circuit, with a young, upmarket clientele. It has a garden, takes group bookings and serves food including Sunday roast. Listings give Monday to Wednesday and Sunday as roughly noon to 11pm, Thursday to midnight and Friday and Saturday to 1am. Sunday closing varies between listings, so check. It is run by Castle, part of Mitchells & Butlers. Details are on CAMRA’s listing.
Prince of Wales: cask ale and quirks
38 Old Town, SW4 0LB. The POW is an independent corner pub with a neon sign at night. Inside you will find hanging traffic lights, old school desks and stuffed animals. The cask line-up is Harvey’s and Landlord plus a rotating guest, with Brixton and Beavertown on keg. It holds a 5 out of 5 Cask Marque rating, and CAMRA members get 10% off cask beer. There are a few tables on the pavement. Food is limited: pizzas are ordered in from a local takeaway.
WhatPub lists it as open 3pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 3pm to midnight on Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and noon to 11pm on Sunday. See WhatPub.
The Pig’s Head: Sunday roast and a proper sit-down
87 Rectory Grove, SW4 0DR. An independent “farm-to-fork, nose-to-tail” pub that Sotheby’s Realty calls one of South London’s most eco-friendly. CAMRA describes an open-plan room with a vaulted skylight and a dining area at the back. On the bar it serves Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter and bottled London beers, and there is a Monday quiz. Dishcult lists it as open from 4pm Monday to Thursday, from noon on Friday and Saturday (to midnight) and from noon to 10pm on Sunday. Reviewers on TripAdvisor say to book, with walk-ins taken on a first-come basis.
Which one tonight
- View and brunch: No 32, the Pavement.
- Craft beer: Old Town Tavern, North Street.
- Garden and a lively weekend: The Sun, Old Town.
- Cask ale and character: Prince of Wales, Old Town.
- Sunday roast: The Pig’s Head, Rectory Grove.
From Clapham Common tube it is a short walk to the Pavement end of the Old Town, so you can start at No 32 and work your way along.
