Asparagus, Battersea, SW11

Official site of Asparagus - asparagusbattersea.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.

Official site of Asparagus - asparagusbattersea.co.uk

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!

It was a morning start for me yesterday at this branch of Wetherspoon's in Battersea. The interior is fairly typical 'spoon's, spread over different levels and with plenty of carpet. At the bar, the usuals Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best were on. Although, one Abbot clip was turned round and the remaining one may well have been a red herring. Two guests were Twickenham Naked Ladies & Exmoor Exmas. However, I was more drawn to the ciders - Mr Whitehead's Toffee Apple Cider & Weston's Old Rosie. I hadn't seen any Mr Whitehead's for a while, so plumped for a pint of this. Service was good, despite them being a little short-handed. Having caught the bus here from Sloane Square and along the King's Road and having been amongst the London rich, it was quite a contrast stepping into this pub and drinking amongst a much more working class customer base. A few upmarket punters were scattered around, but customers were mostly builder types or general local layabouts! Toilets are upstairs, whilst a lone TV was on in one corner. Not sure what it was showing, but probably something to do with Covid. Nobody seemed interested.

Pretty standard but seems well cared for Wetherspoons