The Alexandra, Clapham Common, SW4

This could be a great pub but falls badly short.The exterior is note worthy,fine detailing in marble with two original entrance doors ,a third original door is blocked off.The interior is refurbed into an old ale house vibe.Exposed brick to the side walls,metallic adverts attached,a multitude of old artifacts dotted about,a raised section in front of a front window,heavy beams seperating internal sections, an island bar,the pub extending to a rear area with a fireplace and lots of seating,again all looking very traditional.Here there is a staircase to a first floor room. The negatives are far too many sports flatscreens dominating the vibe,although once Utd had beaten City these were at least muted and muzak prevailed.Three handpumps stood forlorn and the keg selection was dominated by multinations with limited indie beers apart from Gypsy Hill Hepcat.I chose a Paulaner Munchen which wasn't great. With care and application this could become a destination real ale pub ,desperately needed in an area devoid of ale options.A real missed opportunity.

Dating from 1863 and executed with striking Italianate panache mated to a French Empire-style roof, this was originally the Alexandra Hotel, to the designs of Edward L’Anson (former president of the RIBA) before conversion to a pub around 1876. Aside from some vestigial etched glass, the interior has an intriguing woody theme, which certainly isn’t original, but probably dates back quite a few decades, with a wooden floor, then beams and some drinking areas delineated by balustrades; furniture is traditional yet mixed. Then there’s some bluish pastel hues along with a fair bit of bare brick, illumination from discrete downlighters; there’s fun to be had from the multitude of hanging knickknacks such as an antiquated wheelbarrow and cartwheels; also in abundance is a cornucopia of old enamelled tin company signs for the likes of Colman’s mustard; Rex’s ‘…Steptoe’s yard…’ sums it up well. Customers were young trendy types, with women imbibing from oversized chalices. The cask choice warranted little inspection, with two unused clips then OSH, a half of Oil arriving in exchange for three-and-a-half of my finest English pounds. This is quite a fun pub which greatly exceeded expectations, better than the Belle Vue and miles better than the miserable O’Neill’s across the road; a quality cask choice would get the score up, though apparently the place becomes more of a banging sports’ bar come the weekend.

Official site of The Alexandra - www.alexandraclapham.com

Official site of The Alexandra - www.alexandraclapham.com

Large pub with front room, bar to middle and rear, Back room with TVs. Four real ales including one at 4.9% ABV. Plastic glasses on the Bank Holiday Monday.

The Alexandra was busy with people watching rugby via Sky Sports on the many plasma screens and two projectors during a recent Saturday afternoon visit. The interior has the feel of an American frontier trading post, which I was very surprised to find in Clapham. In the right hand side of the pub is a dartboard and table football can be found by the left hand entrance. The gent’s toilet is located downstairs and there is an advertised courtyard at the rear for smokers. There are also four high tables with stools on the pavement out front. Upstairs is the President’s Room which has its own bar and is available for hire. Standard and premium keg products are available from the bar that also supports three hand pumps. These were drawing Greene King IPA, Sambrook’s Junction and Portobello Star. I saw no advertisements for food. It is often the case that pubs of this large size can feel more like drinking in a hall, but the décor and layout of the Alexandra are characterful meaning that I enjoyed my stay and would return.

As a building, it probably stands out more when viewed from a distance rather than close up (where only the sight of a few patio tables out front distinguishes it from the neighbouring retail units). The interior comes as something of a surprise, however, because it has thoroughly rusticated furniture and decor mostly comprising old enamel signage. The original multi-room layout has been largely opened out to form multiple seating areas. Two banks of three handpumps, offering Doom Bar, Truman's Runner and Sambrooks Pumphouse Pale Ale (£3.50). Overall, not a bad spot for a pint.

The Alexandra The Alexandra stands so proud At Clapham Common South The elegant tall stone doorways Greet drinkers like a mouth The tall windows on the upper floor Are like eyes with a steely gaze Looking out across the common Through the early morning haze The inside of this place of ale Is mostly made of wood If you venture through the door You'll agree the decor's good I won't comment on the staff Or the drinks they serve inside This will be a personal choice So I will let you decide.

There were two ales on when I visited at Wednesday lunchtime – Adnam’s Bitter and Sambrook’s Junction (£3.40 a pint). I didn’t see any menus and neither I, nor the other two customers in there, were eating. This is quite a large pub opposite Clapham Common underground station, occupying the sort of prominent high street position that you expect of a Wetherspoons. I’m not sure what to make of this pub. Inside it has a central island bar with drinking areas on all sides around it. It’s bare boarded and the furnishings are normal tables and chairs, and the bare wooden theme is accentuated by the solid wooden posts and beams that seem to have been introduced wherever possible. But the main feature of this palce that hits you between the eyes is the enormous amount of bric a brac that fills every bit of space on the walls and various ledges. The walls are exposed brickwork, and are covered with original 1940s a 50s metal advertising posters, and there’s a plethora of other miscellaneous bits and bits pieces such as horse harnesses, pitchforks, old sewing machines, oil lamps, stoneware jugs, a 70s space invaders type game machine, etc, etc. Even the sign to the gents was an ancient metal one, presumably rescued from a public convenience that is no more. There’s a bit of covered seating out at the front on the pavment, presumably for the benefit of smokers, but it seemed to be used by people waiting for buses during my visit. Personally I really don’t mind drinking in pubs that have the look of Steptoe’s yard, but I could have done without the overly loud music. It’s really quite a reasonable pub, and the Junction was just fine, but I doubt whether I’ll be going out of my way to visit again.