The Falconbrook, Battersea, SW11

Visited 03/03/26. Visited previously as JDW Asparagus on 24/06/24. Cask here was six handpumps, all dispensing and providing Twickenham Grandstand, Abrahalls Vintage Cider from Celtic Marches, Sambrooks Wandle, two from Portobello - the Star British Bitter and the Market Porter and the Pride & Joy APA from Vocation. Extensive keg range of Off-Peak IPA and the London Pilsner from Portobello, Blue Moon, Pravha, Aspall, Guinness, Jubel peach lager, Madri, the Lazarus nitro stout and the Session pale ale both from Sambrooks, the Crush hazy pale ale from Drop Project, Hepcat, the Mama session IPA from Supercute, the Road Soda pale ale and the Dennis Hopp'r IPA both from Mondo and the Orion premium Japanese lager (a new one for me). This is the re-opened JDW Asparagus and it is indeed a plush venue. The venue remains a long rectangle with entrances on both roadsides. The bar counter is along the rear wall towards the rear right-hand counter and has a small amount of tall stool seating on a tile skirt. There are some tall tables with tall unbacked stools on a modern bare board flooring opposite the bar counter and backed by a head height wooden bookcase along its length. There is a seating area in the front right-hand corner with some booth tables and some benches serving regular tables, this area by the outside partly covered seating area on the right-hand edge of the venue. There is a seating area with regular tables served by a mix of regular chairs and benches the other side of the bookcase dividing the bar area and in the front to the right of the entrance on that side. The only carpeted area is to the left of that side with some rather fancy leather benches or armchairs serving regular tables. There are some screens, but all switched off on my visit, the sound on a quiet early evening visit provided by a low-key music soundtrack. Very stylised but can't knock the decent beer offering in this part of the world.

Official site of The Falconbrook - thefalconbrook.co.uk

Official site of The Falconbrook - thefalconbrook.co.uk

This opened as an item of cutlery in 1998 beneath offices, to be taken over by the Portobello brewery in March 2024 and only visited because the Woodman can’t decide whether it’s open or not, closed last night at 9.20pm. The interior is small by ‘spoons dimensions and despite the takeover, nothing has changed to what is in effect a by-the-numbers ‘spoons apparition, with patterned carpet, white and burgundy faux Victorian/Edwardian interior with Art Nouveau-inspired stained glass infill to the windows; naturally, the ugly games machines are extant. Customers were young, exuberant studenty types, a far cry from the spooners I encountered when I explored the area back in September. With Portobello banishing the gang of four, Abbot, Pride, GK IPA and Gloom, though retaining ‘spoons pricing policy, the cask selection amounted to Wandle, Portobello Star and Westway, By The Horns Heatwave and Naked Ladies, just £1.90 a half and very nice, served by a friendly barmaid. This is a welcome addition to the cask scene in SW11 – in fact it’s the best by far – but the drinking environment leaves a lot to be desired; I’d still prefer the Fox & Hounds.

Previously visited under JDW ownership on 13/10/2020 whilst skirting lockdowns and restrictions. This is now a Portobello Brewery Pub Co pub. In fact nothing feels like it has changed much since the JDW ownership. Essentially a large rectangle with tall circular tables and high stools in front of the bar which greets you as you enter from the busy main road. There is a tiled area in front of the long bar and the rest is carpeted. The other side of some half height screens is the conventional seating area which wraps round the left end of the bar. Good beer range. Six hand pumps, four dispensing Five Points XPA, Portobello Westway Pale, Twickenham Naked Ladies and By the Horns Stiff Upper Lip. The latter was selected by me for a light intro. There were 21 taps in 3 banks of 7, albeit the sets at either end doubled up Madri, Staro, Pavement Press Hereford cider, Guinness the Portobello Notting Helles and Prava, with the unique ones to each of these sets being Blue Moon and Pravda. The middle set was much more crafty, with the London & Black from A&H, Portobello Stiff Lip (not Upper so less classy), Dennis Hopp’r, Block Party and Saucery, only for the batting average of that set being brought down with Jubel Peach and Aspall cider! If that wasn’t enough, there were 2 sets of 2 taps providing Portobello keg quaffs Vespa and Rainbow Pilsner. Think this place is a decent quaffing option in the area. Quiet on my mid afternoon visit and the cask beers continuing to be economically priced. Almost notched to a 7 but the place lacks a bit of charm and the music turned up way too high for the time of day for me!