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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Apollo Arms, Clapham, SW4
SW4
SW4 0JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Apollo Arms
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.
On 27th January 2025
- rating: 3
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Apollo Arms
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.
On 1st July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Jam Tree
A large rectangular pub which would be open plan apart from the rows of square pillars. The front windows open right up in warm weather and there is a large garden at the rear. Sadly still no handpumps.
On 5th August 2019
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Jam Tree
Large front room with bar to rear. The front is for diners. Also a back room with, for some reason, a table tennis table. No real ale at all.
On 2nd September 2017
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Jam Tree
I nearly walked past the Jam Tree during a recent Saturday afternoon crawl of the area because I thought that it had been hired our for some sort of reception. All of the tables that line the floor to ceiling front windows were taken up by young well-dressed people who were all drinking prosecco. I had a good look around and I didn’t spot one person having a pint, even though a range of premium keg products were available from the bar. I also spotted a lone hand pump on the bar that runs along the rear wall, but this had its clip reversed. Feeling like a gate crasher I decided to drink my beer in the garden at the rear that houses some picnic tables on a paved area and some covered seating and table tennis on some decking. On my way to the garden I came across another large seating area at the rear where there is also a small bar to save customers walking to the front for a top up.
In the main bar area is a television that was switched off, but there was some background music playing that was hardly audible over the chatter of 150 to 200 people. I’m still not entirely sure if I stumbled into a private gathering or not because I saw nothing here that I think would warrant this kind of popularity. The service was friendly, but I prefer a proper pub so I do not plan to return any time soon.
On 6th May 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Jam Tree
Nice smart and stylish pub.Pressed metal panelled ceiling.Liked the mural(print) of the Beatles (Sargeant Pepper era).Large glass cabinet as you enter the pub with a selection of rare jams. Now if you are a jam ticker you will be thrilled but as I am a beer ticker the one handpump with Landlord was like a stake to the heart.Shame as I liked this pub.
On 13th April 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about Grafton House
Very comfortable bar. No real ale. The restaurant is at the back, though food is seved in the front area. Wheelchair access is via a bell. Cocktails are available. Haven't tried the food yet.
On 5th January 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 759 recommendations about 721 pubs]