The Grapes, Wandsworth, SW18

Dating from 1831, this is a late Georgian pub, somewhat hemmed in by large buildings; the interior can be seen on their website. Arriving at just before 10.00pm last Friday, I encountered flashing disco lighting and thumping music; the windows were obscured by sweaty condensation dripping down them. Tentatively sticking my head round the door revealed young customers, possibly students from South Thames College next door. A return last night and what a massive contrast: a few mixed older locals, some venturing out into the highly visible ‘secret’ garden. As the only cask options were London Pride and London Original, I decided not to stay, making off for the magnificent Spread Eagle and a lovely drop of Naked Ladies.

Facebook page of The Grapes - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Grapes - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Grapes - www.thegrapessw18.co.uk

Official site of The Grapes - www.thegrapessw18.co.uk

This is a rather simple Youngs pub located no more than a stone’s throw away from their former brewery site. Like most Youngs pubs around these parts, the place has been opened out from an old multi-room layout, into a simple single L-shaped room, with the old corner entrance now out of action, which is a shame because it boasts some impressive etched glass work on the internal door. The room is bare boarded throughout, with low wood panels on the walls beneath plain painted upper sections dotted with blackboards, mirrors and a TV screen to the right showing a pub menu and another to the left screening Italian football. There are some high tables and stools to the right of the entrance and a row of comfy banquettes to the left, along the front wall. The far left side of the room had several more high tables and stools and another fine etched glass door, whilst to the rear, there is a drinking ledge, with a few books on the shelf and some attractive art prints either side of a large mirror. The bar has a modern dark wood panel counter front that turns ninety degrees to the left and then again to run back behind itself. All of this is topped with an intricate metalwork gantry lined with fairy lights to create an attractive feature, but the bar back is essentially non-existent, having been stripped out when the room was opened up. A door to the rear seems to lead out to a beer garden, but I didn’t explore this in the dark, and there were some decent indie tunes playing sensibly in the background. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much excitement at the bar, with two handpulls double clipped with Youngs Ordinary and two more left unclipped. My pint of the Ordinary was maybe a touch past its best and a little too warm, although I kind of enjoyed sitting supping it, as the pub’s clientele were endlessly entertaining, offering some top quality people watching/eavesdropping opportunities. This is quite a nice, attractive pub that hasn’t suffered too badly from the remodelling and interior design of the Youngs pub-wrecking crew. The pub offers a nice traditional drinking environment with decent service and an entertaining customer base, but the lack of any decent beer means this will probably remain a one-off visit, although I wouldn’t wish to deter others from giving the place a chance.

A small Young's Pub surrounded by seemingly perpetual traffic. Inside is a single U shaped room wrapped around the central bar.Furniture-wise there is some banquet seating along with some normal height tables and chairs, also a couple of loftier perches at one end, the floor is carpeted. It's very much unchanged from my previous visit some seven or eight years ago as is the beer, just Youngs Bitter and Special, I had the Bitter and for what its worth nowadays it was in decent nick reasonably priced at £3.70 a pint. This is a good no frills, proper boozer , and as such is worth a visit.