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Detail Pages
The Bunch of Grapes, SW3
SW3
SW3 1LA
Pub Type
Greene KingReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
This street corner Greene King tied house has lots of heritage features and is rightly 3* listed by CAMRA . Not all the external doors work but the main two on Brompton Road are very fine,with glazed tiling,mosaic floors,plenty of etched glass and fine carved wood.The internal space still retains room dividers but sadly all internal doors have been removed taking away any snug atomosphere.The snob screens down the left side loose their meaning now that they arent situated in a private snug.At least the flooring is dark wood throughout and the chequered tiling around the bar a feature.
The interior front is the largest space and sits below a large curved window with modern glass making it less attractive.Past the snob screens there is a back section with restaurant tables,high backed armchairs and a fine roped off staircase.Walking around the island bar you then come to a small section with two closed doors marked with Bottles and Jugs so this may have been for off sales.
The dead hand of GK is never far away with boxes on each table containg corporate menus and condiments.The muzak was overloud and mindless and the handpumps were offering GK Abbot,IPA,Grapes Best Bitter (no doubt another GK horror show ) and a guest in Timothy Taylor Landlord (past it's best,NBSS 2).The pub is full of tourists ,but at least the bar staff quickly clear away empty glasses so that tables get freed up quickly.Some tables will be reserved.
Suffer a poor half and take a look at the features,but I would never consider a longer stay here.The points awarded are mainly for the heritage.
On 11th August 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
Greene King heritage pub (a rare *** on the CAMRA list) which I had down as being a new tick but it seems I set foot in it 16 years prior - which may have accounted for the faint glimmer of recognition I contemporaneously attributed to deja vu. There's plenty of etched mirrored glasswork and wood dividers separating up the horseshoe shaped interior and of unique interest are the carved wood bunch of grapes which act as a divider for those at the servery. All quite pleasant and it has been maintained to a high standard. Three GK stable cask, my half of IPA set me back 3 quid and was decent (NBSS 3).
November 2008
Not too bad Victorian boozer with some nice bits of interior interest, some old snob screens and etched glass etc. Not much else in the nearby vicinity so a worthwhile stop for a swift one, though getting a seat/standing spot is sometimes tricky. Ale selection OK though not much to write home about (Pride/GK IPA and Abbot/Youngs Ordinary). My Abbot and Pride were OK, if expensive (£3.25). Not one to go out of the way for but OK if you've just been to one of the museums on Exhibition Road or Harrods and fancy a pint. Rated 6
On 25th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
Given its location, its surprising that this type of old-fashioned (in the best sense) Greene King pub has survived without being gastrofied. Rather splendid Victorian interior with snob screens, open door partitions and chequer-board tiling around the island bar, engraved mirrors and some interesting art deco light fittings. The layout means that some of the furniture is a bit cramped but there is a also separate dining room upstairs. Three banks of four handpumps spread around the counter, with IPA, Old Golden Hen, London Glory (£5.00) and Abbot available on this long-overdue revisit.
On 5th June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
One of Len Deighttons recommendations from his 1960s Guide Book to London.
Not immediately obvious why it is in CAMRA Heritage guide - nice wooden central bar and ornate victorian mirrors around the walls - it doesn't feel that special inside.
"Greeted" by staff that only let you have a table if dining, you can sit at the bar and observe the lack of cask. GK IPA and that other one with Glory in the name the only two choices.
On 21st February 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
Situated in none-to-great area, the Bunch is a grade II-listed pub on CAMRA’s heritage site for being of Regional Importance, the same rating as the Paxton’s Head up the road.
I came here once before in the late 1980s but don’t really remember it and in any event, I’m sure GK has stamped its imprint on it. It has a very fine interior but again, suffers from its predictability, lack of ambience and uninterested staff.
Ales comprised GK IPA and Abbot and nothing else ‘real’ (at least the Paxton’s Head could manage this much), so I plumped for a Neck Oil which was also off, resulting in a Guinness at £5.25; cheaper than the Paxton’s and a lot less than many a pub in Hackney.
I’ve been here and memory refreshed, I doubt I’ll bother making a return visit.
On 27th September 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
A traditional boozer with an island bar, lots of original features and a good pub buzz about it. Draught beers were IPA, Abbot, Wimbledon Copper Leaf and Twickenham Naked Ladies. Real cider also available. Suitably fit for purpose.
On 14th June 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Bunch of Grapes
Greene King pub that has retained its original interior. Island bar served 6 real ales and food.
On 13th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about Bunch Of Grapes
The Bunch is listed in the Camra London Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors and has many original late Victorian features. The mirrors, etched glass and snob screens are particularly noteworthy. It's a competently run Greene King house doing a good job of looking after the mix of tourists, passers-by and local workers who make up the clientele though I doubt many take much notice of their surroundings. Beer is the usual GK mundanity priced as you would expect given the area. It's well worth a look but best go during the day - it can get very busy after work.
On 3rd August 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Bunch Of Grapes
This is a nice Victorian style pub with a central bar and different drinking areas partitioned off from each other with screens. I thought that the staff were very friendly, especially for a high street pub with a transient crowd of shoppers and tourists.
This is a Greene King pub so four of their ales were available along with a standard draught selection and Peroni. I plumped for the Guinness which was well served and on good form.
There is a large LCD TV which was off during my visit, but there was some very loud music playing. I put this down to it being the last Friday before Christmas and I have to admit that the seasonal songs did give the pub a very warm atmosphere.
I see no reason why I would not pop back in here again if passing.
On 22nd December 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5971 recommendations about 5937 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Bunch Of Grapes
This is quite a reasonable pub considering its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Harrod’s Store. But the Spirit Group pubco ambience is quite strong in here. They had Adnam’s bitter, GKIPA, Abbot Ale and Bombardier on. The Adnam’s was not particularly good, and at £3.10 a pint. On the plus side, it still has a lot of original Victorian features intact, with pride of place going to the series of exceptionally attractive back painted mirrors. There are also some snob screens, and next to them a large wooden carving of some grapes (what else?). It’s not a bad pub, but suffers somewhat from the pubco’s rather unimaginative ale selection. Nonetheless, I would be happy to drop in again for another pint if I was in the area.
On 8th April 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]