Clapham Tap, Clapham, SW4

Tucked away down a side street, just off the busy Clapham Road, this is another London venture from the successful Craft Beer Co chain. This place differs somewhat from their other venues, in that it occupies a former back street boozer (The Manor Arms), giving it more of a traditional pub feel than its sister venues. The interior is U-shaped, with the bar positioned directly in front of the entrance, creating a limited space with room for a few high tables and stools along the front wall. There is a drinking ledge down the left hand side of the room, leading eventually to a nice padded banquette which runs around the rear corner. Over on the right hand side, there is a much cosier looking space with a few comfy seats along the side wall and some beer themed books on shelves to the rear. The whole pub has bare floorboards and plain walls which have been decorated with a few bits of breweriana. Both sides of the pub have doors leading out to a fairly large rear garden, the first half of which is sheltered under an enormous umbrella. Beyond this is an open, split-level area with lots of metal chairs and tables, flowerpot ashtrays and Astroturf grass. A few enamel beer signs complete the look of a very pleasant garden and I enjoyed relaxing out here as the sun set behind the surrounding trees. A smaller, sun-free garden can be found to the front of the pub. The usual strong ale line-up was available, although perhaps with fewer handpulls in operation than in some of their busier branches. The range on my visit comprised Tiny Rebel Goldie Lookin’ Ale, Weird Beard Dark Hopfler, Marble Ginger, Great Heck Powermouse and Blonde, Craft Beer Co Pale, Thornbridge Lilith and Gadds Common Conspiracy, with two unclipped pumps at the end of the row. The usual vast keg and bottle range applies, with a board behind the bar listing their regular keg offerings. I tried a pint of the Powermouse, which was in great condition, as you would expect. This is an interesting venture from the Craft Beer Co team – perhaps their biggest risk yet, although there seem to be enough beer tickers and hipsters in the Clapham area to suggest they will do well. I thought this was a very good pub and comfortably the best that Clapham has to offer.

The interior of this one has remained largely unchanged since its Manor Arms days. They basically have banquettes and normal tables and chairs around a central horseshoe bar. If anything its a little less pretentious than it was – which is obviously a good thing. It’s like chalk and cheese in comparison to the mightily comfortless version of this chain in Brixton. It was only moderately busy, and thus very comfortable, when I dropped in on Saturday afternoon. They seem to have linked up with “Forty Burgers” for the provision of food, as an advert for this chain was the only indication I saw regarding the provision of food. All the tables had on them a beer menu, listing the cask ales with prices plus strengths, plus an amazing range of bottles. Some of the prices for the bottled beers are also absolutely amazing and need to be seen to be believed – many in excess of £20 a bottle. I can’t imagine paying that sort of money for a bottle of beer, but I suppose they reckon some people are going to, otherwise they wouldn’t stock them. They had the full complement of ten ales on, which makes it a winner in my book - I’m sure to visit again.

Located at the end of a quiet residential street, the place didn’t look too inviting from the outside, what with its black painted frontage. It was packed on my visit so I couldn’t discern a vast amount about the interior beyond the carpeted floor and dodgy red painted walls. Four ales, the selection was decent but I found the quality a bit hit and miss – still always good to see Westerham on though. The Stone Roses on the jukey turned up against the football made my head hurt. Maybe I caught it at a bad time but I struggled to really find much love for the place.