please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Strange. Looks ok and nice back garden, off the road.
Very "local" went here for a quick drink last Friday night (about 6pm) before going out for dinner. Every head of the five or so people sat at the bar turned when we walked in. Music: ridiculously loud banging house music, given the time and the fact that there were about 8 people in the bar, eventually conversation became impossible, so we left.
Time before this, had some food which was surprisingly good. Drank Magners, so not sure about the draught beers. Although I seem to remember at least one of them was "off". Friendly staff.
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Went here last Week for alot of drinks with 6 friends....
The Hidden Garden is absolutely great! We spent the whole day and night there and were looked after well by the sexy staff! we also had some ribs from the great and reasonably priced bbq (5.00 per head)
Not sure why there is all this talk about there being no stock....we had all the full range of wonderful beers on!
Recommended and there are not many in Clapham with a Garden like the Circle Bar!
anonymous - 20 Jul 2007 19:15 |
This place has got a long way to go before it becomes worth revisiting.
1) Food - probably the best aspect. Half decent bar food and good sunday roasts
2) Drinks - at least one or two of the draughts are always off. Occassionally sold out of all wine.
3) Service - awful. Tables not cleared, tables dirty, understaffed on a w/e.
4) Decor - awful. At a guess was cleaned a long, long time ago. Loos are among the worst.
This place could have so much going for it. Good location, lot of flats going up around it, but it just does not make the effort.
anonymous - 7 Mar 2007 18:24 |
Thursday: Went in with a mate. All draught beer off apart from Stella. Managed to persuade my body to cope with a couple of these, then went for another round. Aparrently this was now off. As was the Guiness. The reason proffered was that they had been inundated with rugby fans for the England game. Hmmm. Presumably a modicum of common sense would have foreseen this eventuality?
Sunday: Second chance Sunday, decided to go with same mate and his lady (mostly because you're guaranteed a seat, the reason for which should really have been obvious after Thursday). We actually rang to make sure the draught was on before venturing out. On arrival, we discovered that one lager was off, and the coke flat.
The only good thing to come out of this last visit was that we have all agreed to never go here again. Shame, because it could be so much better. Plus, whoever mentioned the incompetence of the staff was spot on, plus those who mention their amusement at their's and the pubs inadequacy. Avoid.
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think they have sorted the staff out....has been a bit shaky last 2 months but is one of my favourites in the area. had my engagement here and was very well looked after.....
the owners are very hospitable!!!
anonymous - 14 Feb 2007 22:23 |
My gripe with this place continues came here last night with my missus ordered what I wanted !reply. weve run out! my next request!reply we've run out!
Got down to what have you got bottle wise?( the draught you will recall from my previous posts isnt great here)reply. Peroni or Corona! after very grudgingly odering the latter I dont think either are that good but thats what was left I then tried to order a glass of white wine for the woman in my life reply. we have no white wine tonight! to add insult to injury the incompitent bar person seemed to think this was amusing!I left before I strangled this extremely irritating person who wont be smirking when they dont have a job because people dont use the place and it shuts down I hold my hands up I was stupid enough to keep coming here not any more though and I give this place a big fat 0/10
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Just as I praised this place for improving it goes and lets itself down I was in here yesterday with a friend it was fairly quiet there was about 10 people in there understanderble being in between chrimbo and new year to be honest but in 3 hours of drinking we had 5 drinks and did not have our table cleared by one of the 2 extermely clueless and miserable bar staff who were on duty at a busy pub you can just about grudgingly understand this but without trying to sound like a up my own ar*e git I really think thats unacceptable it does have potenial if they sort the staff out and get some more interesting beers in
juzza - 29 Dec 2006 11:36 |
Scratch that comment went in there last night and back to its very best of being crap
anonymous - 14 Dec 2006 14:49 |
Has improved slightly in since I last came in just needs some decent beers and it would be on of the better pubs/bars in the area
juzza - 12 Dec 2006 10:52 |
Wine is dreadful here - choose beer, choose life
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I feel Ive got to comment on this place (a)I do appreciate that on a friday a bar/pub is likely to be busy.
(b)That despite drinking in here on a regular basis you dont have exclusive rights to getting served straight away.
(c)That staff will make a mistake with who should be served next.
HOWEVER I dont think that when it is steady that you should wait 15 minutes to be served while one of the managers/owners holds court with his mates on a self appreciation commitee Im not a complete berk I appreciate that sometimes you have to wait to be servred but not in these situations! this place has got to sort out problems like this or they dont stand a hope in hell of competing with the bars on the high street.
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Not a bad bar considering where it is very good selection of wines and spirits and has followed the trends of the other bars and pubs in clapham but the staff seem to be at a funeral sometimes still its 10 times better than the railway
juzza - 28 Mar 2006 11:40 |
A group of us came here for drinks on the Friday night. It was dead and the service was less than friendly. I made the mistake of leaving my bag there and despite calling them upwards of 20 times at varying times always got a voice recording. They never responded to messages or emails. Disappointing all round and won't be going again. Apart from to get my bag!!
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Really lovely Saturday night/ Sunday lunch chill out bar. Hidden gem.
anonymous - 9 Jan 2006 16:58 |
An OK bar that's trying it's best at the wrong end of Clapham Road for a fair few years now.
Bit of an outpost that's gets a good crowd and shows the football.
Nice beer garden and one of the tiniest party hire rooms I've ever seen upstairs. (apparently do pole dancing lessons up there an all)
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This place was good once but it now pants. It is overpriced has rubbish beers (over £3 a pint of Guinness and the lager option is Stella, Pilsner or Carling) and has been painted the colour of excreta. Add to this the music at such a volume at weekends that you have to shout to speak to the person next you.
All in all I think it is trying to be something that it shouldn't and take notice that other establishments in the area are so much busier.
This place now sucks, I guess the only way it still in business is the after work crowd that go in there for the sole reason that it is next to their work.
anonymous - 2 Aug 2005 11:07 |
Not bad but nothing special
anonymous - 20 Apr 2005 12:41 |
Wine and service can leave a lot to be desired
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Patronised by Mike 'the streets' Skinner (see April '04's Observer Music Monthly) who lives down the road.
Jim - 3 May 2004 22:14 |
Circle bar was much nicer before the summer revamp. And it costs nearly 3quid a pint. Still, the beer garden is ok.
suzyplum - 1 Aug 2003 16:46 |
Brilliant place, just had a complete revamp and has huge garden with excellent BBQs in the summer....all in all - fantastic pub all year round
Camilla - 5 Jun 2003 13:23 |
