The Apollo Arms, Clapham, SW4

Another pub new to the 2025 Good Beer Guide and another disappointment. If I was to walk into a pub in Herefordshire, I'd be perturbed to find just Butty Bach. Maybe it's a novelty in the capital. A second handpull had a HPA clip turned round and a third was unclipped. I thought I would resort to keg again, but wasn't going to resort to lager, Guinness or Stowford Press. This place appears to be a bit too trendy for me. It is mainly for diners. There is an open kitchen in the rear room which can be found up a couple of steps. As the previous review says, there are also some tables in the front windows also reached by a couple of steps. There were lots of staff, but they can probably to afford to employ plenty given the prices being charged. Music was playing. Cocktails were advertised. The place seemed really popular amongst a trendy local set. I was still drenched from the incessant rain outside and didn't really fit into the customer base for the pub. It's not my kind of pub either. 2025 Good Beer Guide - what on earth! After 3 disappointing pubs from the Guide and with the lousy weather, I was on the verge of calling it a day. Luckily for me I persevered.

Think I have visited the premises back in April 2022 when this was then the Old Town Clapham branch of MeatLiquor. Now a nicely furnished gastropub with a raised front part to the left of the entrance door more laid out for diners (none present on my visit early evening). The larger bar area has some green leather banquettes down the right hand side and some high tables as you approach the bar that runs along the far end of the bar area. There are some high tables and chairs between the pillars that care up the length of the room and a do semi-circular green leather seating around some high tables on the left hand side of the room. There are a few wing-back leather chairs (brown, not green) in the corner opposite the door. I was hoping for a pint of cask here on venturing into the venue. Two of three hand pulls had clips for Butty Bach and HPA but both were off. Two identical sets of taps offering Guinness, Stowford Press, Hazy Days From GK, Estrella, Hawkstone lager (apparently from Jeremy Clarksons brewery - never knew he had one) and another lager called Lunar (apparently brewed for them by Belhaven). Venue had potential to be above average but both cask beers being off just because it was a Monday for a venue that opens 7 days a week is somewhat poor. Will try again at some point to see if they can tick their score to above average. Were advertising spaces to watch Eng v Swiss at the weekend - would have to be chucking in free beer to watch after the performance against the Slovaks yesterday.

Official site of The Apollo Arms - apolloarms.co.uk

Official site of The Apollo Arms - apolloarms.co.uk