The Sun, Clapham, SW4

When you see a pub painted lilac, with an awning advertising Estrella lager, you do not expect to have found a traditional pub, and of course you would be right here, as this is a gastropub. This pub has been knocked into one room now of course, but the unused doors to the street show how it would have been subdivided in Victorian times. The servery is now a central horseshoe shape, with the eating/drinking area wrapped around it. The furnishings are the usual mix of tall tables with tall stools and benches, some banquette seating, but with a few normal tables and chairs which of course I made use of. This is the sort of place where they have thin vases on the tables containing a single flower, and with a couple of large vases of flowers on the bar counter, as well as a potted fig tree against the wall. There’s nothing left of any original features, although some of the window glass is green banded, suggesting a previous incarnation as a Charrington’s pub. There’s a small courtyard garden to the side of the pub, as well as an upstairs bar. There were four handpumps on the counter – three had clips reversed (but with ales about to be put on I was told) and the fourth was dishing out Acorn Brewery Sorachi Ale IPA (£3.80 a pint!), served in a handled jug rather than a straight glass. There were daily printed menus on the tables. Main courses were upwards of £8.50 – the adjective rich “homemade west country beefburger, mature cheddar and smoked bacon with chips” was £9.25. Sandwiches, that come with a small bowl of chips, are between £5.25 to £7. In the gastropub way my sandwich was served up on a block of wood for some reason, rather than a plate, but I’m not too fussy about that sort of thing. This is a London gastropub with prices to match. But both my pint and sandwich were of excellent quality. I doubt that this is the sort of place to which I would return. If there was a choice of four ales then that would be an enticing feature, but a pint pushing the £4 barrier is a bit over the top as far as I am concerned.

I did'nt like the look of the Sun from the outside but once inside i was surprised to see four handpumps on the bar i had Sharps Doom Bar this was a decent drink the other beers were Taylor Landlord,Marstons Pedigree and London Pride this pub was nothing special but at least there was a choice of beers to drink.