The Ox, Clapham, SW4

Visited 27/11/24. Visited previously as Saxon on 24/05/22. Winter Nights (brewer unclear) and TT LL on handpump. Keg range was Camden Pale, Moretti, Lucky Saint, Backstage IPA, Guinness, and Aspalls cider. This place (formerly the Saxon) reopened about 2 months ago (at date of visit) and is in the same stable as the Rose & Crown in the Old Town. It has been gentrified and now positions itself predominately as a dining pub. The wood fronted and marble topped bar counter is on the left-hand wall and provides some seating on a tiled fringe around the bar on tall leather topped stools. Leather banquettes around the periphery of the front of the venue with small tables and chairs the other side thereof were occupied by diners on my mid evening visit. A mezzanine area up a small flight of well-lit steps was also well occupied but the back area (described as the restaurant) down a smaller flight of steps was not in play this evening. It is probably the plushest and most gastro of the pubs around here, but at least it maintains a cask offering and has survived so I hope it will be really successful for those reasons albeit it is hardly likely to appeal to hardcore cask beer drinkers when there are better venues for that activity in the postcode area.

Street corner pub with pic nic benches on the pavement and decent glazed tiles on the exterior,inside a modern refurb has given the pub a gastro feel with the bar to the left surrounded by banquettes,bench seating, brittania tables and some chesterfields,while up a rear stairway is a mezzanine terrace ,down a few steps a restaurant.The exposed brickwork to the left side continues the hipster feel. It's fine to just drink,the keg selection is mainstream but there are two handpumps ,with TT Landlord reversed leaving Ox Pale Ale ,provinence unknow although the barman thought it was brewed locally and although a malty brew it has enough balance for NBSS 3.5,£3.40 the half. The food will attract groups with small children so it's not on the list for a revisit despite the friendly staff.

Official site of The Ox - www.theoxclapham.com

Official site of The Ox - www.theoxclapham.com