please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Others have mentioned the interior but it really is architecturally superb and pretty well unspoiled. The huge curved bar purports to be the longest in the country, who am I to argue, I haven't seen one longer.I particularly like the snug by the entrance nearest to CJ station with its etched glass and half panelled snob screens, marginally messed with as now signed as a through route to the toilets to the rear. The rear room/area has dark ornate panelling and a feature stained glass window whereas the front area is brighter, has elaborate cast iron fluted columns, high ceilings and chandeliers, but with dubious aspects to traffic outside, although the former Arding and Hobbs (Debenhams now) building is of quality.
As for the beer, a good changing range of real ales, the current selection being Pride, Taylors Landlord, Harveys Sussex, Adnams Broadside, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Beartown Bear Ass, Batemans Falling Leaves, Okells Autumn Dawn and Everards Equinox, delightful by the way.
Food seems realistically priced with standard fare, sausages seeming to be a speciality.
A decent place, I note a few mixed reviews below but no complaints from me.
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I really like this pub. Went there for my birthday on Saturday before moving on. Got served quickly and had a laid back atmosphere and crowd. A good place to kick off a drunken evening
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What an incredibly impressive pub interior. It has retained all its original Victorian features – etched and cut glass everywhere; original and quite stupendous bar back; original panels and screens between separate drinking area; and what some claim to be longest counter in Britain. A very large pub, but because it hasn’t been turned into a drinking barn it has retained its essential character.
Relaxed music plus a range of real ales (I had the superb Jennings Cumberland Ale) make this a “must visit” pub. I shall certainly be back.
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Despite knowing of its whereabouts, a first time visit. Impressive architecture and interior and impressive beer range too. They just need to concentrate on keeping the beers a little bit better perhaps and this is an absolute winner and a good stop off to avoid overcrowded trains at the Junction!
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What a find! 10 or so real ales to choose from, especially pleased to find Harveys. Leffe and Erdinger on tap as well, and also a fine range of lagers.
Great pubby atmosphere, was in on a friday night and the atmosphere was great, not a chav in sight. Will return soon
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A quick one in here on Thursday night while waiting for a train. Nicholson's pub, worth looking in for the impressive decor. Had a walk round the central bar and I could only see 7 beers on: Harvey's Sussex, Black Sheep Bitter, Pride, Ordinary, Bombardier, Spitfire and Everards Tiger. I had the Tiger which was nothing to get excited about. Would come in again if I had a few minutes to kill.
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What a great pub.A wide selection of ales availible , 9 counted when visited. Good frienly staff and fast service. A good traditional english pub with great decor .Well worth a visit.
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I've been to the Falcon a couple of times and really like it. Service is always friendly and fast, and the pub has a really comfortable, interesting interior. I hope it doesn't get refurbished, and stays as it is; a good, traditional pub. Well worth a visit.
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Hmmm. Further to my positive review below, I was very disappointed last week to witness the mgr(?) using beer from the drip glasses to start, or top up, pints; not entirely convinced it was always the same beer either! None of the other staff seemed to adopt this scurrilous practice.
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This place is growing on me with each visit. Enormous island bar houses 16 handpumps in total, offering 10 different ales last week – Pedigree, Otter Bright, Harveys Best, Youngs Special, Jennings Cumberland, TT Landlord,Deuchars, Titanic Capt Smiths, Spitfire, and York Decade (cleverly named – I found myself asking for a ‘pint of the decade’, and v nice it was too). Unusually, each pumpclip offers brief tasting notes & the offer to ‘sip before you sup’, also there is a separate offer of a 6-ale sampler (third pints) for £6 – slightly dearer than indiv pints but seems an ok way to taste a few; well, you can’t ‘sip’ them all, … can you? The front area has a very high ceiling with polished chandeliers & huge windows to the main road and is very bright & airy but I prefer taking a left to lots of dark wood, comfy seating, wing-back leather chairs - a little snug with the feel of a gentleman’s club, thru a narrow ‘door’ in wood&glass partition to the rear bar area with impressive coloured glass-covered skylights and leather-backed settles & tables surrounding the room. Two high tongue-like tables (think breakfast-bar) jut out directly from the bar – handy if the walk from a regular table is proving tricky later in evening. Opposite these a blackboard announces award-winning sausages with mash & onion gravy (£6-7) supplied, according to the menu, by the butchers for Fortnums & Harrods, breakfast is served from 10am (£4.95). Good value wine range at £8-12 btl. The sport tv out the front seems to have been discontinued and that has removed some rough edges. They just need to fix the far left entrance door (leading to rear bar) as it SLAMS loudly every time anyone enters/exits.
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I was pleasently surprised by this place. It's too close to the station not to feel like it is full of people meeting briefly before heading elsewhere. However, the beer I had (Spitfire) was good, the staff were friendly and we got served quickly. The decor inside is interesting too - late Victorian. If this pub was a few streets from the station it would probably be a bit of a destination. The cheap food is poor, sub-wetherspoons standard, stuff though.
Mobey - 16 May 2008 10:09 |
There are 2 pubs next door to Falcon (The Slug & Lettuce and Revolution) and I wondered why they were so crowded whereas Falcon was empty. I went in with my friend and to my astonishment I was asked to leave after 15 min!
BE AWARE - A VERY UNFRIENDLY STUFF!
(If you can, go next door. You won't regret it!)
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Calling this pub grim is a crime. I think you've got your pubs mixed up!
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There's only one word for this place - grim
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who was it then?
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This pub has much improved I think the smoking ban has actually helped this pub and it is an honest enough London boozer. Does not seem to show football anymore for those concerned about this, well it certainly was not showing Liverpool v Arsenal last night.
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If you drink in this pub over 10 years, then you should know,that man he wasnt the landlord.
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I have been going to this pub for over 10 years but can no longer recommend it due to our experience of being threatened by the landlord last night. We were not allowed to consume the drinks bought just before last orders, at 11.55pm - being thrown out at 12:07. When we pointed out we'ed like to just finish the 2 drinks we had (as the law allows!), the owner said, and I quote, "i am going to take you both outside and rip your f**ing heads off". We were just 2 people having a quiet drink - the landlord was drunk and aggressive. How this pub stays in business is beyond me with such an attitude. This probably explains when everyone leaves the pub an hour before closing time!
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I must have come here on a bad day. I thought the pub looked fantastic, but was pretty average when I had a drink in there. The Guinness was pretty good though so someone knows what they are doing.
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Much better than its previous incarnation, but still very much a brisk station pub. Excellent Timmy Taylor's Landlord.
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God this pub has changed! I went in last night and was blown away by the difference. Good ales on tap and even though it was busy it didn't take too long to get served. (One more person behind the bar would have been perfect).
I'm overjoyed. Instead of having to meet friends getting off the train in the Slug and Lettuce (which always manages to smell of spew) I can come and relax here.
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lovely pub - and the staff i spoke to were very friendly - I often wonder if the people who say staff are unfriendly ever actually go to the trouble of initiating a conversation - great beer selection and decent quality.
the building is awesome - however the last time i was in there after work there was a wierd pickpocket/prostitute woman hassling people and a crazy/drugged guy walking around shouting to himself. not exactly waht you want.
shame its been taken over by nicholsons - although they do good beer selection - they really market themselves to tourists with their 'famous for...' food 'specialities' the food is generally shoddy not had it in the Falcon tho.
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Another enjoyable visit late yesterday afternoon - since coming under the Nicholsons umbrella, this has become a sports free pub and is much improved.
Neither the Timothy Taylors Landlord nor the Deuchars IPA - both very distinctive and recognisable beers - were on top form yesterday, and I think this pub may be suffering from having more real ales than they have the trade for. I counted 8 different beers yesterday.
This is however a fine traditional pub - note the etched windows and skylights in the back bar and the screens that create a mini - snug.
Pub is on CAMRA's Pub Inventory of Unspoilt Interiors
Well worth visiting
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Wondered in here to unwind after a shopping session and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
The staff were happy and 'served with a smile'
The food was excellent and the beers were also good.
Really great building and a good mix of punters.
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I've been into the Falcon a few times on week nights and it has been lively but not too busy. There was no problem getting a table and I always sit in the back bar and have never been asked to move (see below).
The pub itself is done up in a way which may or may not appeal, depending on your tastes, but the range of beers is pretty good. There are four ales, these are London Pride, Deuchars IPA, TT Landlord and Nicholson's. However, the Deuchars was far too cold on my last visit (as cold as lager) probably because it had been run through the chiller. I considered taking it back but I stuck with it (they do have the Cask Marque apparently, so I expected better). By the end of the pint the beer was approaching its normal temperature, but it should not have been so cold in the first place. The London Pride I had there a few weeks earlier was fine.
The best thing about this pub is that they have Leffe and Erdinger Weissbier on draught. Although it is quite expensive, the Erdinger was excellent! I wish more pubs carried great beers like these instead of the usual keg rubbish which is so popular in the UK (Carling, Stella, Fosters, the list of horror goes on...).
I'll be heading back to the Falcon if nothing else just for the Erdinger!
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This pub is fine the problem is the staff that totally ignore you, it makes you feel very unwelcome, its not very professional, especially when its seems to be the supervisory staff that are the worst offenders, please start smiling!!
anonymous - 4 Oct 2007 11:11 |
Used to love going into this pub on a Saturday after Palace, but snce they have "done it up" so to speak the staff have gone all up the own arses!!!!!
Whats happening to the old fashioned British pub!?
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seems to have lost its atmosphere of late, really empty at times, its got a bit boring i'm not sure the food is a great success, it doesnt look too appitising, still it may attract more customers when the nights start drawing in!
anonymous - 29 Aug 2007 21:52 |
Thank gawd that noisy postie with the stupid laugh is gone!!!!!
anonymous - 14 Aug 2007 17:16 |
Was in the falcon on sat, prehaps it's the ban on smoking? sorry 1 out of 10 and that's only because it sold alcoholic drinks, Even though it was hard getting one.
How can a lick off paint change a place so much?
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I popped into the Falcon last night to visit for the first time since the refurb. I was pleasantly suprised after reading various comments on here.
I used to run the pub with John & Pauline and then took over the licence when they retired. They would be impressed! M&B (or Bass as they were 10 years ago) tried to rip out half of the bar and all sorts of things. We opposed this then and proved that the pub was Grade 2* listed.
I like the decor, and the fact that they've not mucked around with the old woodwork and fittings. A really good choice of real ales and Tim Taylor's Landlord @ £2.85 (and a cracking pint too!) I was happy.
Live on the Falcon.
ps - they now only refer to the Longest Bar In Britain on the write-up outside!
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Falcon was closed last night, so ended up in revolution a very good bar with good people, from last nights visit got to give it 10 out of 10. The pear drop vodka is very very strange.
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As Someone stated , im no longer the manager here. When the company said they are taking sky sports out, I also decided to leave , haven't seen it in its new form, and if it isnt showing football, theres not much chance that I will.
Up in the west end now, running the green man in berwick st, a good pub with sky sports still in.
call in , have a beer and watch all the sports we can get .
cheers
Kiwi Phil
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Got a 'flea in my ear' from precious waiter/barman for daring to ask for a drink in the wrong bar, i didnt see the managers lovely wife perhaps she could train the barman to be a little more polite when barking at customers.
anonymous - 18 Jul 2007 18:43 |
if you cant order a drink in the back bar without ordering food,or you can but if someone comes in and wants to eat you will be moved makes it a resturant...as someone said below i have no idea who the landlord or his "lovely wife" is...i have drunk in the falcon for 18 years as have many of my friends and its sad to say but if we want to go to a "pub" we no longer even consider the falcon,and if we want to go to a bar its the slug or revolution....its such a shame but times change....i think crunch time will come when the winter starts and for example on a monday night man u are playing chelsea,we will have to wait and see...but as i see it now...no locals...moody staff that dont chat to you or make you feel welcome...no sport(landlady of the duck loving it!)....overpriced weak lagers(fosters nearly £3 a pint)....nicholsons trying to put a city bar outside of the city!
anonymous - 16 Jul 2007 18:57 |
The falcon has allways had a good mix of people with very little trouble. before the refurb a pint of carling was 2.27p they don't do carling anymore but simlar is 3.07p, 80p a pint extra. If it quacks and waddles it's a duck so lets call the back bar a restaurant? but on the up it is cleaner and the toilets both lots girls and boys have been done up and are a 1000 times better. Have not seen meny of the old lot bar a couple of faces, Prehaps it's the smoking ban?
anonymous - 13 Jul 2007 14:00 |
I don't know if this clarifies or muddies...
Went in 02/07 and as ever the front bar was full so decided to sit in the back bar and it does indeed appear that this section caters for eaters rather than drinkers...there were a few bods sitting that were intent on eating and a few (such as me and my good lady) who only wished to drink.
I was told (in a friendly way) that we might have to give up our seats if anyone wishing to eat needed them but by the looks of it did not seem likely that we would have to.
Maybe the management will revise this policy when they realise that The Falcon is not a "gastro pub".
Hope so...
Anyway, I still feel the refurb/fit is OK as they go and the place seems to have benefited from a "lick of paint". Cannot say if the die hard locals have been driven away, as it has never really been that place for me anyway although I am local (in the best League of Gentlemen sense).
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The two last post have to work for the falcon, I have been going in the pub on and off for 30 years and untill the refurb or holidays, no where else for the last 8 years and I have been in it 3 times since the refurb and I have not got a clue who the manager is. was in the place last night went into the back bar was told I could not buy a drink unless I was eating, So for me that makes it a restaurant well from 8am to 7.15pm anyway.
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Decided to go into the Falcon with my friends last week, have never been in there before because it just looked to rough, but its lovely in there now, we had a lovely dinner, food was great, we met the new manager and his lovely wife, spoke to one of the regulers who used to go in there before the redec, and he said it was so much better than before and that the new Manager was really nice and wanted the best for the place, which really shows. Will definately be going back there again.
anonymous - 13 Jul 2007 09:50 |
The John Bonser roadshow visited here last Friday. I agree that it has not been spoilt - in fact the refurbishment to my mind enhances the original Victorian features. In response to the comments about price increases, my pint of Pride was £ 2.50p which is the same price as pre-closure.
The pub is now aiming to attract a wider range of customers than hitherto and I don't have a problem with that
The back bar is NOT a restaurant as has been claimed
It's a good traditional pub in my view, well worth visiting if in the area
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Well as refurbs go it could have been a LOT worse. Been in since the smoking ban (I smoke myself) and I must say it was nice not to be surrounded by the "fug".
Not a regular drinker here by any means but at least it has not been ruined or spoiled. Not bad...
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Know what you mean, 9 at night on friday the back bar was full and made it a struggle getting to the toilets, how can 12 normal sized people fill such a big bar, Where have all the old faces gone? Jim and dawn, sean,that gormless one, the hadleys lot and I have not seen lynn and her friends in there, have only been in there twice since the destruction, No Carling, one freindly face behind the bar and that's only because she was there before destuction. On both occasions ended up in the Revolution, place was hiving with better value drinks and staff who new what they had to do. Saying all this, will still go in to check for the return of a fast moving local with a good mixture of people. The only thing famous about the fish and chips is the birds eye sticker at the moement the rating has to be 2 only for the one friendly face left.
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wheres everyone gone? wheres the carling gone? why does the back bar look like a timber yard? why does the manager look mystified?
why does reburb mean "pull the guts fabric and character out"
what happens when an important sporting event is taking place? even suits like non suit activity some times.
what happens to the locals?
anonymous - 9 Jul 2007 08:16 |
remember the good old days when it was a pub and you could go in and have a laugh with gabby,darsh,helen ausie kate? if your looking for a local this is not the place
anonymous - 8 Jul 2007 12:58 |
remember the good old days when it was a pub and you could go in and have a laugh with gabby,darsh,helen ausie kate? if your looking for a local this is not the place
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erm afc the back bar is now a resturant (opens at 8.0am for food) and its more bar than pub as far as i know its the only nicholsons(cater for suits) outside of the city....the increase in prices is shoking fosters gone from £2-£2.65 im one week...
anonymous - 8 Jul 2007 12:45 |
At least its still a pub! The rumours of wine bar/restaurant were thankfully only that.Beer range has improved, though I've to get a pint I'd describe as v.good
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no more sport...jazz music....beer up roughly 65p a pint....cant sit in peace without a candle being lit in your face....and britains 50 most famous sausages on the wall...what a joke this pub(wannabe bar)is ruined...happy atmosphere gone the new management/staff dont seem to have the ability to be able to smile....was nearly empty between 5-7 on a friday night, never thought i would see that! had one in the slug after as busy as ever then went over revolution couldn`t move....the falcon is dead R.I.P
anonymous - 30 Jun 2007 14:46 |
Was in there last night!! I wonder who's idea it was to fill the back bar up with wood? oh and where in the world is there fish and chips famous. Just a expensive weatherspoons now, what a dredfull place
anonymous - 30 Jun 2007 06:42 |
Re-opened tonite!! another pub gone to the dark side.
2 men that have been drinking in there 5 nights a week for the last 5 years asked to leave because they had their firms shirts on, whats it coming to? they dont even do a dirty job, total discrimination, I assume that none of us will be made welcome.
Hey M&B some of us have to wear shirts bearing our companies name to be able to earn money to drink in your establishments, why even your own under paid staff have to wear what ever outfit you provide, double standards or what. Wake up you management snobs,
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Yours truly managed to squeeze an early evening visit in before closure last Friday night. Most of the drinks had already run out - drinks on draught were limited to Guinness and London Pride. Ironically, because more customers were drinking the London Pride than usual, it was the best pint I've ever tasted in here.
The barman told me that the planned refurbishment was "not too drastic" - well I suppose he would say that wouldn't he ?
I shall keep an eye on the place and report again when it's re-open. In the meantime, let's just keep our fingers crossed
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rumour has it they are going to rip the back part of the bar out and turn it into another gastro pub.
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It would indeed be a shame if this pub got vandalised and the splendid stained glass windows and skylights in the back bar diasappeared - and also the mini snug bar with its wood pannelled screens. I'm not a regular - but I certainly won't come in again either if it becomes another Identikit Chain McPub type of place
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The Timmy Taylors seems to have dissapeared now. Although the pumps still there it's not been on for a while now. Its either London Pride( which for some reason is nasty here)or IPA. If the rumoured refurb goes ahead then I'm off! 25years drinking here, had great times and now the owners want to destroy it.
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Falcon is closeing for a refurb 8 june someone told us last night they intend to get rid of the bar and turn it into the slug. I so hope not.
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In case it isn't obvious from his comments, be aware tht "kiwiphil" is the manager of the Falcon (since Jo left)
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just an easy pub to use - bar staff always prompt and efficient and prices (although recently increased), still amongst the cheapest to be found on the manor.
As mentioned earlier, the large (rear) bar, has recently been made non-smoking and this has encouraged some new punters and frequently left many of us puffers unseated and forced to move up the road to the Windsor Castle.
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Much improved pub nowadays and now attracting a wider range of clientele than previously. The bar at the back is preferable to the bog standard pine floored bar at the front. First sighting of Timmy Taylors Landlord last Sunday in this pub.
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An old favourite of a pub. very convenient to slip into after a journey into Clapham Junction train station, also a good starting point for a swift one before your journey. A great all-rounder of a Pub for the weary train traveller. Boasts the longest bar, good beer and pleasant staff and If Gabby and Darsh were still there I'd never leave.
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TT Landlord and Deuchars IPA are both good beers, Phil, but at this time of year you want to ditch the Deuchars and put on one darker option. It'll sell. Just a thought.
anonymous - 16 Jan 2007 14:02 |
Heres an update on whats happening here.
2 new Ales now stocked timothy taylor landlord
and Deuchars ipa
new menu installed with new chef also.
back bar area / dining room is now fully non smoking.
still got all the screens and playing all the big games.
new extended opening hours starting in feb.
six nations rugby , super 14 breakfasts, tri nations, cricket world cup , rugby world cup , plus plenty of football as well. ( someone described me as sports obsessed in a review, well they might be right, I won company sports pub of the year for 2006).
please feel free to pop in , say hello, g'day, Labdein or any other greeting, our multi cultural staff will do their best to make you feel welcome and comfortable.
have a good 2007
cheers
phil
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Under new management, sports still to play a major part in the pub, new food menus and the dining room/ back bar is smokefree. new manager does support a football team , but is an old school rugby league supporter of Otahuhu Railway. ( The Whanau know!)
some changes in staff to happen but most of the old crew is staying. get used to seing more oval ball games on the screens and more Kiwis and aussies in the pub, will have early doors for super 14 and tri nations rugby.
dont be shy, come on in and say g'day!!
cheers
phil
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Nice enough to pop in for a quick one if your train is delayed yet again by whatever reason they dream up.
Marty - 31 Aug 2006 15:47 |
A decent town centre pub nevertheless.
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According to the current manager, this pub has
a) had 42inch plasma TVs recently installed
b) 16:9 pictures fed into their plasmas (i.e. not stretched out 4:3 pictures).
Can anyone confirm b) for me?
Find out more about my pub widescreen campaign at www.radiofeeds.co.uk/wide
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Despite previous comments, it HAS got the 'Longest Continuous Bar in Britain' - as awarded by the Guinness Book of Records. I know, I used to run the Falcon!
Trust me - cleaning 42 beer pipes every week (when it had more than it has now!) and working in such a lovely pub back at the end of the 90's was brilliant.
AND we fought off Bass and their plans to rip out half of the bar!
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Never had a problem with this pub the fosters is £2.00 a pint what more can i say
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OK, having seen the last few posts, I thought i would take a trip back. My heart fluttered when I was served within 2 minutes, and then positively hummed when i saw a seat available. Alas, it was all too good to be true. Yes, the ale on tap is fine, but the barstaff are still terrible, and i refuse to believe that this is more than a stop-off pub. Mediocre, but should be better.
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larger than you intially might think this pub can offer a good place to meet for one before heading on to more interesting places. Largely smoky and mainly full of football fans mean this pub isn't going to increase sales anytime soon.
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A pub that does what it says on the tin! good quality ales,the Bombardier was very good,very clean and crisp.
The venue is a large one, a bar that goes on forever and in the end joins up with its tail,lots of quirky places to sit, small snug,"yes a snug" large front bar with plasma screens with all the top football sky can offer,large back bar mainly food driven, steaks, all day breakfasts and the like, very clean throughout with the mandatory pictures of old Clapham.
At this point i have to disagree with some previous comments re the Eastern European bar staff, i have always found them very friendly and professional in their customer service, but i am more than a little bias because the girl in charge has a Strong resemblance to Davina McColl!and i have seen her put the footie boys in place when they get a little to boisterous.
On the whole a great pub, plenty of room for all, a nice mix of people,good beer,cheap prices,clean interior,and Davina watching over us all, that will do it for me every time!.
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Very good when I went in last night, excellent pint of Bombadier and quick food service despite it being 6:00pm
Decent range of real ale and nice interior, though it's quite often hard to find a seat and it can get pretty smokey.
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Hang about murgatroyd, us posties always get the mail delivered first. Then we come in and get pissed.We only come here cos the Windsor castle has gone crap. Nice bits of crumpet behind bar though! ( not the geezers, obviously.)
anonymous - 28 Mar 2006 12:14 |
Usually busy with a mixed crowd of all ages ranging from chavs to suits.
Beer is good and atmosphere lively without being menacing or riotous
Often seems to be have a fair number of red faced boozy types from the sorting office up Lavender Hill which may go some way to explain the state of the mail service in this country
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Claims to have the longest bar in Britain. But then again so does a pub in Winchester, who can be telling the truth? Good sized places very local to the station so worth a visit
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Further to my last review of The Falcon, it has now changed hands, and is, frankly, a truly awful pub. The staff have all changed and the new guys are slow and unfriendly. The beer isn't kept well, and the 'no smoking at the bar' policy is incredibly restrictive as the bar takes up most of the pub!
Sadly, there is no other pub worth going to near the station, as Edwards and The Slug are unspeakably nasty, so The Falcon is still the best place to meet in the Junction.
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was dong some buissness in the train area...
i think the place is awesome...huge food was not to bad either
on a monday i had pint ,chips,burger £3.99
doubble johnny walker 1.99
cant beat that,staff seemed polish?like the Itbox is fun for a few laughs,,daytime is great choice.
close to train,,many different beers,lots of room.
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It is the longest continuous bar you can stand in any bar and touch the one counter, as for service i get served ok but then when the bar staff go past me i ask them to serve me i dont stand there like lorddunabunk and expect the overworked staff to mind read. this pub has got worst the wage bill has been cut to ribons and the bar for its size and busyness is down at least 4 bar staff and 2 suppervisers that is top management. if it did not make as much money as it does i would think they want to close it and turn it into flats i find the staff very good but then im a roston type person have been in every pub in battersea and this is the best you get every sort of being in it and strange as it is we all seem to get on there is hardly any trouble.
anonymous - 30 Jan 2006 17:45 |
It *must* be the longest bar in Britain - how else can you explain the wait to get served?! Perhaps the barstaff are too far away to see you? No, no, no, it's because they're incompetent and couldn't care less. AND the management can't even take care of the beer!!
There aren't many decent places in CJ, but at least there are some, and they're worth seeking out, if only to avoid going here. Apparently the O'Neills is getting refurbed into an acceptable boozer soon, so keep an eye out for that.
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Longest bar in Britain? You what? Rubbish!!! Anyway, the pub itself is average at best and should only be attended if you have to meet someone in the locality.
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have been using this place as a meeting venue for a group of friends every couple of months for the last 6 or 7 years. it's definitely got worse over this period. certainly, it's now harder to get served as the number of barstaff has dwindled. london pride is usually ok but occasionally duff. still, it's location can't be beaten if meeting friends off the train and i've never had or seen any trouble with the clientelle or the barstaff. 6/10.
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Seems pretty rough. Apparently longest bar in Britain or something. If you are in this area you could do worse, but that's more of a negative about Clapham Junction rather than a positive about this standard procedure lowbrow boozer.
anonymous - 5 Jan 2006 10:15 |
It's all right in here. Decent meeting place OK beer and Ale not quick service though. The back of the pub is best.
anonymous - 19 Dec 2005 16:19 |
Cosy it ain't. A big, old-style city pub. OK for one around the corner from the country's busiest railway-station. Passing road traffic much in evidence. Sport on screens dominates; fine if you like that. Narrow range of crisp-flavours.
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The kelpie has failed love you lots good luck
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Good beer, vague east european bar staff, BIG screen.
Pint here, meet your friends and go somewhere else nicer. So it always gets on the plan for an evening out in CJ, but you try not to stay long.
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Serve a good selection of beers, but more of a chav element than most of Clapham's bars. Definitely much better pubs nearby.
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a good pub with a good mix of people, the top management of the company let it down you cannot even get served at one part of the pub because they have cut the wages bill.Dodgy Darsh is a kelpie tiger, allways good to see her throw someone out.The big wedding coming up congrats to Ewa and her man.
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Good boozer, been nipping in here for years and the re-fit a few years ago took nothing away from it. Good beer, top cheese sangers and ok service. It's a huge pub and has about 4 plasma screens for sport.
You can also sit and sup safe in the knowledge that you're not in the Slug and Fetish next door!
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Very decent station boozer this,...nice and big,..fair bit of atmos.
If you are unlucky enough to find yourself getting off a train in Clapham Junction with the intention of a night out in this neck of the woods, slip in here as you exit the station........down a coupla pints and formulate your excuses,...text em out,..turn the phone off,..One or two more pints for the frog,..and get back on the train.
"Dear Cam and Rup, cant make "tofu do" i'm fraid, points failure at Mitch Junc,..take care,..recep very bad here,..ciao"
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The staff work very hard, and you sometimes do have to wait, but 'standing' looking interesting isnt enough you have to try and communicate what you want.
Polish staff are great Ewa is excellent as is me 'little' mate Darsh!
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does what it says on the tin - station boozer with live sport.
since recent 're-decoration', some younger middle class locals have been using it, probably because the prices are staggeringly cheap for this area (£2.10 for Fosters, £2.30 for Amstel).
Service has declined since the Poles have been involved behind the bar.
evers - 29 Aug 2005 15:31 |
The Falcon is brilliant.
My friends and I often drink there. We love the friendly (mainly Polish) bar staff and the very affordable prices.
Ignore those complaining about waiting for service. the bar sraff may struggle, but after all it does have the longest bar in britain.
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Went there on Weds to watch the Champions League final. It was pretty busy, but not as packed as it gets for England games (or, I suspect, anything involving Chelsea).
It started off ok, we had room to stand at the bar round at the back. Got some drinks in after a wait of 5 or 10 minutes - not great, but bearable. Finished those, and attempted to buy another round. We waited, and waited, and waited. And waited some more. No-one seemed to be serving round our bit of the bar, which was confusing, since we'd been served in exactly the same place earlier. Considered wandering round the pub to somewhere else to get to where there were some staff, as it looked like some of the people next to us had done, but didn't want to fight through people when we had a perfectly good spot at the bar and had been waiting there for ages already. After more than half an hour, with no sign at all that we would ever get a drink, we gave up and went to another pub.
Service has often been slow here, but it was never non-existent before. (And it wasn't even a lucky pub this time - we saw the first half here, and were in the Windsor Castle for the second half, extra time and penalties.) I don't think we'll bother any more. It's sad, because this used to be our favourite footy-watching venue, but there seems little point in going to a pub where there's a huge section of the bar with no-one serving for half an hour or more. Unless, of course, you want to watch the game but you're a bit skint and would rather not buy any drinks, in which case I'd highly recommend it.
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Graet for a meeting plave to meet friends as it is near the station but it does get very smokey. Service is slow aswell.
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Claims to have the longest continuous bar in Britain, and still retains a faintly Victorian atmosphere. Also seems to be a favourite of locals smoking foul-smelling roll-ups, but I don't want to appear harsh - it's fine enough for a pint or two...
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Ok, bit of an old mans pub though.
JaneC - 13 Apr 2005 07:49 |
dodgy Darsh the falcon kelpie has gone over to the dark side and cheered against us at west spam on friday. but still the best bar in sw11, thank god for gabby and sarah and all the rest of the girls and the lad who is dazzled by diamonds.
anonymous - 20 Mar 2005 09:03 |
we know someone who waited 20 mins at the bar don 't we steviecee horse racing watching paint dry .............................ann the diference is ???? Gabby and Darsh and sarah .....famous ? well year, reasons to be cheerful 1,2,3.
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not enough horse racing shown really i mean its open for 12.5 hours a day and they only show the horse racing for 9 hours (sometimes little computer animated horses as well) i like the repeats of the old american racing thats always good to pass 4 or 5 hours....gabby and darsh are only semi famous heh heh
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gabby and dodgy darsh have always been famous. the pub lost another good bar person last night she will be missed its hard not being alowed to smoke at the bar but still the best pub fore me
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A woman tried to slit her wrist when I was in here last.
She wasn't very good at it and herself and her beau staggered off into the night.
anonymous - 13 Feb 2005 22:16 |
I've been here on quite a few ocaatons as I live locally and have never found visting this place to be a particularly enjoyable experience. It's alway exceptionally crowded, presumably due to it's location, and is one of the smokiest pubs I've ever had to endure. On certain occasions I've had to wait up to 8 minutes (yes, 8!) to be served at the bar. Also every time I have ordered ale from here I've found it to be of very poor quality.
anonymous - 24 Jan 2005 17:01 |
don't look at this place through rose tinted specs.
fact. Its not like it was. Bar staff its a big pub with a big bar work all of it not just one side. The racin crowd big spenders though you may be should leave its our pub (thats everyones) not just yours stop whinging. All that said, its still a good place to drink and meet people
Gabby and Darsh you're famous now !!!!!!!
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By far the best choice of pubs near the station, and the best pub in Battersea/Clapham Junction to watch football (usually an Arsenal/Chelsea mix, but very tolerant of others). It gets very busy on match days and some Friday/Saturday nights, but the staff are friendly and the wait is never long. The food is ok, but the beer is excellent (and good value). Because it's near a Yates' and a Slug & Lettuce, the Falcon seems to escape the presence of most of the local chavs too, so there is never any agro.
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Went there to watch the footy this afternoon. It's still a great place to watch games, but they could really do with a having some more people working at times when they know it's going to be busy. It would've been a nightmare getting served today if it wasn't for the fact that the few staff there were working incredibly efficiently. 10/10 to them for managing to remain friendly despite having to deal with the hordes of impatient customers.
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This pub at first sight seems to want to fulfil the First Rule of the Law of Pubs; 'If thou art by a Railway Station, thou must be shite'. It attracts the slightly chavvy sit-in-th-pub-all-day-every-day-though-of-employable-age element, it's overly smokey, the food is the usual short-order pap.. but the staff are friendly, there's always room at least to stand, and the beers are cheap and actually pretty good. If you're waiting for a train/a mate in the area then you could do a hell of a lot worse - you're probably better off here than trekking down Northcote Rd for the dubious pleasure of visiting All Bar Scum/the Fine Whine etc.
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Cheap, complete lack of pretention and top notch Slovakian bar maids.
Can get a bit rammed when there is a big football match on but the bar service in general has got a lot better since they started employing more than 2 people to serve 'The longest (continuous) bar in Europe
Benj - 15 Nov 2004 14:34 |
It is a bit of a dump but at least the ale is well kept. As a previous poster said, it's supposed to be the longest bar in Europe but think that may be an optical illusion.
John - 8 Nov 2004 13:25 |
was in there last night was packed staff over worked and under paid good bar.tip when at bar waiting to be served ask dont stand there waving a note or creddit card
P Haines - 7 Nov 2004 15:29 |
its a dump but i go there for the cheep beer. trendy westenders with little flats around the cornor mixed with chavvy locals.
mark - 5 Nov 2004 15:58 |
the best thing about the pub is the bacon and cheese melt girl you know who you are!
anonymous - 19 Aug 2004 11:21 |
The only half-decent proper pub in the area. Normally some sort of beer on special offer and sport on the TV. Classy it ain't, but I like it.
burnsy - 22 Jul 2004 12:40 |
Been in here a few times - good quality beer/pub.
I believe this pub has the longest bar in Europe.
PB - 2 Jul 2004 09:42 |
Quality old pub. Knows what it wants to be. Refreshing with so many tossy places nearby. Always good for sport on tv.
dan - 2 Jul 2004 09:17 |
lovely sofa's, good beer,interesting ceiling in back room, lively traditional pub in aplace where there are not many pubs
steve - 5 May 2004 15:52 |
Worst service I've experienced in ages. Not just slow but stupid. Not just stupid but proud of it.
Shane - 18 Apr 2004 23:13 |
Two or three good staff leave tonight one moving to scotland one to have a baby and i think one to get wed all good falcon staff good luck
P Haines - 6 Mar 2004 12:46 |
The falconey is the only pub in sw11 to have not realy changed in 20 years. Does not matter who or where your from there is a space you can meet your own type. Tip to getting served ask for one dont wave a note and say nothing or become a local
P Haines - 6 Mar 2004 11:15 |
Eh? bloke second one down, you sure your'e talking about the Falcon, A chain pub? you havin' a laugh or what? sure you wasn't in the slug and lettuice next door?
casualdrinker - 28 Jan 2004 14:39 |
best pub in cj..coz the bigfellaz say so....does take a while 2 get served
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It *could* be really good. But it ain't. There is still one nice little corner of the pub with carved wooden screens and etched glass, but the rest of the pub is a huge great over-lit barn, dominated by pumping techno ALL THE TIME. The Falcon is in a great location, right in the middle of Clapham Junction, but whichever Japanese Investment Bank or global property chain owns the pub has taken one look at Yates' across the road and thought.."well, if you can't beat them..." If someone could take over and do something interesting with the place, like they have with the similarly sized "Sir Richard Steele" on Haverstock Hill, this place could be fantastic. Unfortunately instead it's the kind of soulless chain pub that makes you wonder why you shouldn't just save £2 on the fizzy p*** that you're drinking by going to the off licence over the road and sitting on the pavement.
seb - 26 Jan 2004 13:27 |
best pub in clapham if not south london great staff altho it can take a while to get served
steffibizness - 24 Jan 2004 07:34 |
Physically its got good character. The bar presides upon the clientelle like some huge alcoholic rotary. Decor is nice and traditional. Possibly a little too big for it's own good. Never been there when football's been on and I sure as hell don't intend to. Not bad overall. Toilets did flood once mind but that was a year or so ago now, so we won't hold it against them. Was pretty rank though.
Good for: meeting up with a group before moving on to Clapham Common.
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Great football pub with good mix of people
David - 9 Jan 2004 08:08 |
Stopped in for a pint on my way elsewhere. Very crowded (but football was on so no surprise there). Got served quickly, despite the crowds. A good pint. No complaints.
Alistair - 23 Dec 2003 09:37 |
they've recently stopped having Staropramen on tap.
lost all reason to go anymore.
benji - 8 Dec 2003 16:17 |
The new seating is a bit disappointing but the new TV's are very good. A huge bar and a fine selection of beers. Tends to be full of Scousers when Liverpool are being humiliated in European Tournaments which makes for a great night...Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner I suppose. One of South London's finest public houses
Terry G - 20 Oct 2003 16:00 |
I love this pub!
10 out of 10 everytime.
Not sure about the new low seats but hey. The staroprahmn was off on friday but i forgive them. Had to get pissed on Apples instead.
gavin - 20 Oct 2003 14:14 |
beer is great
pub is full of nutters, just the way i like it!
mr.munko - 17 Oct 2003 16:54 |
A lovely pub full of South London geezers (some of whom may have dodgy pasts) and great beer. £1.50 for a pint on some nights. Get In!
Firm Handed Geezer - 17 Oct 2003 15:20 |
I love this pub. I went in there to avoid the madness of the powercut and found it very friendly and less than £2.50 a pint in London!
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Loads of gothic panels and a bit of stained glass but its not fake, its looked like this since time began. Nice mix of old and young drinkers, have`nt tried the food but they do all day breakfasts. nice place to watch the world go by on south Londons busiest junction.
casualdrinker - 15 Jul 2003 09:51 |
Good pub for watching sky sports, 4 TV`S in the bar and more in the back plus big screen, old fashioned boozer not a cafe bar.
peterbailey - 14 Jul 2003 14:49 |
A proper pub. Long live the Falcon....not this best class of birds but a great meeting/starting point for a night out in Clapham...
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What I imagine all pubs must have been like in the old days before All Bar One, Slug & Lettuce and all those other assults on the senses. Strangest memory was the pub being filled with scousers in suits, must have been a big trial somewhere.
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unpretentious, not a bad pint, but gets very crowded and they never have enough bar staff.
james - 28 May 2003 15:59 |
I used to have the occasional Bass there in the early fifties.Bit of a rough place at times.
Peter B. - 20 Feb 2003 20:36 |
used to be a lot better when it had a jukebox.
Jason Crisp - 19 Feb 2003 13:06 |
Not a bad place, the occasional tosser, but pretty much okay and unpretentious - rare for Clapham!
Steve - 22 Nov 2002 17:29 |
I'd like to extend my thanks to the clietele of the Falcon on the evening after the England v Australia for not either mugging me or beating me up. I fear I may have been obnoxiously drunk.
Olly - 20 Nov 2002 15:46 |
I like the long bar.
Briony - 8 Aug 2002 14:37 |
i am glad to say that i have never suffered from Falcon Ring. staropramen is best avoided on school nights.
Darren - 31 Jul 2002 10:42 |
Yes. The barmaid is a goddess. Finest pint of Guinness in S.London!
Anthony Tops - 30 May 2002 10:54 |
im happy to say that the best barmaid in south london has just started at the falcon-get in........
blokey - 24 May 2002 12:17 |
Save the Chuckle Brothers. Lets campaign to get him back. The greatest barman of all-time should be back in the greatest pub. The Junction Boys are back.
John Rusilton - 22 May 2002 15:59 |
yes i remember that chuckle brother bloke.possibly the best barman in the country.i was thinking about getting a "save the chuckle brothers" petition together!is anbody up for getting involved??
yappy - 22 May 2002 15:37 |
The longest bar in Britain and they used to have a barman who looked like the Chuckle Brothers. Service can be slightly slow at times and seats hard to come by unless you are one of the geezers. There can be a few too many Scousers down there as well for European games. I've also seen a couple of Charlton mugs.
Greg Emerson - 22 May 2002 15:11 |
10/10 for a lovely booze up
Freddie Fox - 21 May 2002 17:01 |
This place is the business! A load of South London Geezers drink in here. Nice pint of Guinness and a right load of sorts!
John Diddy - 21 May 2002 16:57 |
Quite often very rowdy in this establishment. I believe its the headquarters for the Barber Village firm. Best to avoid it(unless England are playing Germany..)
Mr M Uff - 17 May 2002 11:21 |
I lived by Clapham Common & this pub has been here forever. I used it alot about 1954 as a meeting place before getting on the train at Clapham Junc to where?
Loz's Mum |
