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Submitted on Saturday, 28th October 2023
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Detail Pages
The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon), SW11
SW11
SW11 1LJ
Served areas
Reviews of The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon) (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon)
Visited on 18/06/24
Not sure how I had missed visiting this expansive venue, but which is definitely isn't one of the architectural gems in the JDW crown! It is indeed a long rectangular pub with a long bar along the back wall. Tilled area in front of bar, obviously not trusting of punter capability to avoid spillage on picking their chosen quaff up on the expensive JDW carpets! Lots of tables packed in including a row of circular copper topped standing tables on the border between the tiles and the wooden floor throughout the next section of pub before it becomes carpeted in the slightly raised area along the glass front of the pub. Small flight of steps up to another carpeted area on right hand side presumably more for "diners". There were a lot of people sitting out the front on a pleasant evening, but generally the venue was heaving during my early evening visit.
I don't think i have ever seen so many taps in a single venue. It felt like they had every lager under the sun - the only one i would say that don't see with some regularity was the Stiegl Goldbrau from Salzburg. Add to that about half a dozen mainstream ciders and about the same keg pale ales / IPAs, albeit nothing too exciting, your abacus is already malfunctioning totting up the choice before you get to the hand pumps! There were 12 hand pumps (amazingly only one for each of the JDW staples of Abbot, Doom Bar and Ruddles Best), with the others offered being Valkyrie from Rudgate, Ranmore from Surrey Hills Brewery, Pumphouse from Sambrook's (the Valkyrie, Ranmore and Pumphouse each being doubled up), Knight of the Garter from Windsor & Eton (my choice and drinking lovely) and finally Red Sky and Naked Ladies from Twickenham.
Not a particularly interesting Spoons and hardly one to have a modestly quiet pint in, but saved from being just average by a perfectly reasonable cask selection that based on my sample seemed to be doing just fine.
On 27th June 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 475 recommendations about 475 pubs]
Pub SignMan left this review about The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon)
A return to Clapham Junction revealed that this formerly dismal drinking barn has been nicely made over by the Wetherspoons team, who have added plenty of partitioning, moved the servery and set out seating across a split-level interior. The main bar space benefits from the large front windows that allow plenty of light in, whilst the notional side room provides a cosier space that wouldn't look out of place as a dining room in your average chain pub. Aside from the handy departure boards for the nearby station, there's not much here that stands out from any other recent 'Spoons opening - the muted TV screens showing rolling news channels, the local history boards, lots of dark wood panelling, flashing slot machines - it's all present and correct. The staff seemed friendly, certainly by 'Spoons usual standards, although they could've done with a few extra hands during the busy post-work period in which I visited. There were three regular 'Spoons ales and three guest beers on the handpulls, and I tried what turned out to be an excellent pint of Redemption Fellowship Porter. A massive improvement here - for all their faults, 'Spoons usually tend to improve upon whatever went before them and that's certainly the case here.
Original review as Revolution Bar on 18th January 2016 - rating: 2
This is part of a nationwide chain of bars with a vague cocktail/vodka theme, doubling up as a restaurant in the day and club in the evenings. Situated in a former Yates's, just outside Clapham Junction station, the place is well positioned to attract plenty of customers and we found the venue absolutely packed when we foolhardily arrived late on a Friday. Entry was a complicated affair, with rude arrogant doorman demanding photo ID from all customers, irrespective of age, with one of them manhandling me when I thought I had been given the go-ahead to enter, pulling me back and barking at me to wait my turn. Charming. Inside, there is a single, enormous room with the bar running along most of the rear wall, assuming you can fight your way through the crowds to reach it and get served. The servery has a wood panelled counter, mirrored bar back and a large, high gantry with cabinets perched on top displaying various ornate teapots and other such bits and bobs. High tables and stools can be found opposite the bar, where a few large pillars help break up the vast space a little, and further into the room there is a mix of seating, mostly padded benches, some of which are formed into low backed booths. A DJ was set up in the rear left corner, playing some dodgy tunes throughout our stay at a loud volume to a crowd of wasted youngsters and the occasional local 'character'. The menu includes all your pub favourites, plus a few unexpected extras such as lobster risotto and the dishes seem slightly better quality than the usual pre-cooked chain bar rubbish.
No ale at the bar, which can't come as much of a surprise. A wide selection of standard and premium lagers can be found on keg and in bottles, whilst cocktails seem to be a speciality, as does vodka, with posters and flyers just about everywhere you look urging you to sample their range from around the world. Happy hour is 5-7pm Monday - Friday when you can get 2 for 1 on cocktails.
This was a pretty dreadful experience, starting before we'd even crossed the threshold and not really improving from thereon in. I'm sure a daytime visit would find a much more enjoyable bar and I can imagine this makes a convenient spot to grab some food in passing, but I genuinely hated just about everything about this particular visit and will do my level best to avoid a return.
On 17th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3219 recommendations about 3219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The London & South Western
On the ground floor of a curved office block and opposite the Falcon,this is quite a modest sized 'spoons with a raised section to the right and lots of high tables opposite the bar which runs around a rear wall.Popular but not rammed prior to a Twickers rugby international,at least we found a free table here after searching in vain in the Falcon.
It's totally unmemorable,the ale selection dominted by the trio of Doom with guests Thornbridge Jaipur,Oakham Bishops Farewell (NBSS 1.5) and something I failed to note.Had either the Jaipur or the Bishops' been in good nick that could have saved the visit,but my pint was cloudy and tired and the food arrived at suspicious speed and was flabby.One to avoid.
On 12th March 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2835 recommendations about 2835 pubs]
View more reviews of The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon) (8)
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- Official site of Revolution - www.jdwetherspoon.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The London & South Western (JD Wetherspoon) - whatpub.com
Clapham Junction, 0.2 miles, 3 min walk (show)
Clapham Junction, 0.2 miles, 3 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : No - pavement tables - last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- CAMRA Discount : No - vouchers - last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Car Park : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Darts : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : No last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Live Music : No last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Micropub : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 18 January 2016 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : No last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Real Cider : No last updated 17 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 September 2021 by Graham Coombs
