please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Used to rate this place as the best boozer that side of Clapham (you'll have to head down past the Old Town for proper pubs), but swiftly fell out of love with the place when they started randomly deciding to be an Over 21 establishment. I used to come in here with my father very often to watch the GAA and rugby, even before I started drinking, and then afterwards by myself to watch the soccer. However when I go in there with two friends my own age, all of us sober and all of us with valid ID, we're told it's Over 21s.
Refusing people service based on their age, with the piss poor (and false) excuse that 'under 21s cause more trouble' is discrimination. You wouldn't refuse a black person because you think more black people carry knives so how a pub gets away with this is beyond me. If I ran this place and wanted to filter the clientèle, I'd be taking a look at the loud Australians or the suit & tie Cityboys, rather than your one-time regulars.
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I share the feelings of whiskybob. This place has changed in the last 6 months, and I can claim to be a 10 year regular. It was always our football and gaelic pub, and at least 5 of us would be at least once a week to watch whatever football match was on, and have a fair few pints. But on Monday when we went in to watch the first round of the Lge 1 Play-offs (Leeds v Carlisle) the Eastern European bar maid didn't even know if there was any football on. After consulting with her fellow barman, they agreed that it was in the back, and at the side. There were approx 50 footie fans all sat in the back waiting the start - at which point these same "wonderful" bar staff, refused point blank to put on the volume. There was absolutely no-one else in the pub (Monday night, v hot), but for no reason, they said no volume - it wasn't their choice apparently, but they had been instructed .......It wasn't just the lack of volume, it was the way they didn't tell us prior to the start of the match (we were all sat waiting, many in football strips), and then just turned plain rude and nasty, when we queried the reason (oh, but i musnt forget - they did put on the volume in the tiny tv at the side, so the whole bar squeezed in to watch that, while the rest of the bar emptied). I was shocked at how abrupt and unpleasant the staff were, and certainly they've lost our custom
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This is a good pub and i've consistently drank in here for the 3 years i've lived in Clapham. Ideal for watching the footie, especially if you are a Man Utd fan as the landlord is a Red and always shows them over Arsenal on Champions League nights. Unfortunately though i've fallen out of love with the place and that's mainly down to the rude & miserable Eastern European bar staff that work there. I'm really not being racist but in a busy London pub it would go along way if a barmaid knew that serving a flat pint of lager is totally unacceptable. It would also help that when you politely inform them of this you didn't get a load of attitude back and a flat refusal to do anything about it. I even had to explain to one of them what Pork Scratchings were.
It's quite sad to see the place go this way, also the recent addition of a Thai food menu now means you have toffs crowding the bar to order chicken satay when you're trying to get a pint.
If you want a drink you should try the Firefly up the road. More a bar than a pub it's great in the summer, shows the football and the bar staff are friendly and really can't do enough for you. The Alex could learn alot from this place.
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Have been in a few times and have always enjoyed it. Personally I think there's a bit too much cr*p up on the walls but other than that it's pretty good. The Thai food I've had there was tasty and reasonably priced. The service was good and even though it felt busy enough to create a good atmosphere I could still easily find a table.
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A completely unpretentious place, which is saying something for Clapham. Quick service even when busy, and always a good chilled atmosphere. My favourite place in the area.
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Have to agree with earlier posts. This pub is one of the best in Clapham, happily free of the worst elements of SW4, such as PR twats and coke mongs.
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Unbelievably arrogant and unprofessional management. Got served a 'pint' of Adnams by the Eastern European Manageress which was about 3/4 pint of beer, some froth and an inch gap between said froth and top of glass. Asked for a top up..you'd have thought I'd questioned her parentage, sexuality and right to work in the UK all rolled into one. Basically it was 'that's how we serve beer here, so if you don't like it fock off'. Poor, poor, poor. Was recommended this pub by a friend but will now go out of my way to tell as many as possible the truth. It gets 2 for the vaguely ironic but still annoying decorations.
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By far the best drinking establishment in Clapham being the only proper pub. Good atosphere, good for sport and a good selection of old school bar snacks. The bar staff are fairly attractive to, which makes it a winner all round.
gumbo - 12 Dec 2007 13:41 |
Great friendly pub. Busy when the sport is on but generally able to find a table. Not pretentious, just a cosy pub with character. Cash only-doesn't take cards.
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One of the livliest pubs in Clapham that are actual pubs. Used to be an Irish pub and it still attracts the younger Irish generation as well as the Claphamites (read: Australians and city workers). Can get very smokey but that's all set to change now :) Can get very busy so avoid it if you don't like crowds and their noise, otherwise it's great espeically for the Man Utd games.
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The best 'pubby' pub in Clapham I've found, with friendly staff and a very relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of tvs means its great for watching the football however it can get quite crowded. Drinks prices very reasonable and all in all a great place to stop in for a pint any day of the week.
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It's an OK pub. Packed on a Saturday night, as you'd expect from being so near the tube. A big downside was the state of the gents' toilets. Terrible! The bit needs a refit, stat. They might want to cut down on the amount of stools at the bar during peak times. Pretty frustrating obstacles when it's heaving.
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I always enjoy myself here! It's a great pub for watching the football and the staff are always friendly. The upstairs area is great for catching up friends because of the big tables and more space.
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Never been at a weekend but on a week night, in winter, with candle light and the gothic windows, the often fairly empty upstairs is a good place to meet a few friends if you want to chat rather than stand in an overcrowded, loud Clapham pub. I can't speak for the downstairs.
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Comment by TheIrishC best pub in Clapham er dont think so unless the only other pubs in clapham you've been drinking in are the Railway and the Sun theres much better pubs in Clapham.
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Not a bad pub with fair service, good for meeting up with large groups due to it's size. Be warned though , that the 'open till at 1am Friday's & Saturdays' statement on their chalk boards can be changed on a whim.. i.e. When the staff want to go home early ! Was there on Saturday when they rang the bell at 12, and the barmaid said there's not enough people to make it worth staying open...actually there were loads of punters still there with just orderd drinks!
anonymous - 17 Apr 2006 17:33 |
Best pub in Clapham to my mind. Great range of people but very few who are objectionable. Manages to have a good atmosphere for a quiet afternoon pint and more riotous Friday and Saturday nights.
Would much recommend going here rather than the poseur's places round in the Old Town
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Erm, reminded a bit of the Kings Street Run in Cambridge which is also a pretty tired looking theme pub. However the staff were at worst pleasant and at best very attractive indeed so after a couple cooking lagers (no decent ales here) I was happy as larry (you know Larry).
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I still think this pub is the best one - by far - in clapham. The staff are all great and know exactly what they're doing. The atmostphere is always warm and friendly and there's very rarely any trouble; given how busy it can get on a weekend, that's pretty impressive. Very few wa*kers make it past the first set of pumps - they're usually politely ejected by one of the ever-observant bartenders! On reading earlier reviews, i don't think it is an Irish-themed bar, there just happens to be an Irish guy in charge. Always bring my friends here when they visit, and they love it too.
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went here for the first time last night nice to see minimal city boys frequenting fairly good range barmaid needs to be a bit friendlier though
juzza - 28 Mar 2006 11:08 |
A star of the Clapham pub scene - casual and friendly, not too many posh kids, not too many scallies, good music - and lots of nice men too us discerning female drinkers have noticed
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Ahh yes, the Alex a splendid establishment and a leading light in Clapham, Sunday afternoon supping, especially during the football season, and especially if you are a Liverpool fan. It never fails to amaze me how there are always so many Liverpool supporters compared to those of London teams when there is a Liverpool versus London team game going on. The place is always good to meet fellow, exilled Northerners, in a chav free environment.
The downside is the crap array of standard tap beers on offer, maybe the addition of Leffe blonde/brun would liven up the otherwise mediocre selection, although some might argue that it would attract identikit 'yuppy' types such as can be found elsewhere in the area. All in all well woth a lost Sunday afternoon.
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Clapham seems to elicit the same reaction as Bruce Forsyth: people either think the man is a national treasure or believe that his longevity is pretty clear evidence that Satan has got the planet very much by the balls.
As a resident of the area I can certainly understand the “Jesus Christ, someone get me a yuppie shotgun” sentiment, as there are quite a number of bars/pubs that are so slimily pretentious I’m stunned they don’t slide off their foundations.
However, as the Alex demonstrates, there are a lot of real top notch boozers in the area that contain a wealth of character, choice and atmosphere. Admittedly part of the Alex’s charm is the invisible tosser repellent that combined with the absence of pink tulips, £40 liqueurs and bar staff called Moondust tends to stop Clapham’s git set getting much farther than the front door. Its therefore well adjusted people who enjoy the décor of the large two storey (and two bar) interior that is strictly earthy (worn wooden panelled) boozer throughout, although a slightly different aesthetic experience is generated amongst the multitude of oldie world hangings downstairs (pictures, signs of all sorts) compared to the vague saloon affair upstairs, complete as it is with sober pictures of early century Prime Ministers lined along all the walls. The atmosphere though is the same on both levels: laid back, fun and generally agro free.
A good contributor to this relaxed environment, are the staff, who despite the comments of some reviewers Ive always found to be a friendly and sharpish bunch. True I have witnessed the odd eviction, but considering that the Alex`s close by tube location attracts London’s charming pillock fraternity this can be excused somewhat. And anyway, those who are thrown out can enjoy the truly cracking Jeezels chip/kebab takeaway a few doors down, a fatty heaven that is not only one of the finest fast food outlets in the capital, but also another bonus of a few jars at the Alex.
The Alex is therefore a hugely enjoyable place to drink, yet I have to admit it does just fail to get full marks thanks to a lacklustre tap selection. There is a fairly wide range of lagers at affordable London prices, but this is offset by a second rate ale and bitter selection that includes Guinness, London Pride and feck all else.
On most other pubs this crucial blemish would knock a couple of points off at least, but the overall ambiance is so strong that I`m going to take a restriction of choice and award a very, very good 9/10.
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Great place this, suprisingly free of trendies, wankers or chavs, which is amazing considering its in Clapham. Not been in during a football/rugby game yet though but can imagine it gets a bit loud. Still,
a great proper pub.
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As an earlier comment said "does exactly what it says on the tin". Great for watching sport - went there for the Ireland vs Australia Rugby a few weeks back and everyone had a great time and had generally had good service.
Watched a few other games there upstairs. Only big issue is that it gets REALLY smokey, beyond the point of tolerable for some reason.
Have to go agree to another comment - have a mate and his wife who will only drink with me there. None of us can remember the end of our first night out there, and none more since. Strange as we remember all the other nights out
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Is it supposed to be Irish? Gerroutovit! It's alright. I tasted some old speckled hen smooth - nothing too special - didn't see any real ale. Shame. The bar staff were Polish I think...
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Lots of good things about this pub. The best pub in the area to watch sport. It's a proper boozer. If you don't like that sort of thing then there are plenty of 'bars' down the road. The bar staff are great and appear to be almost exclusively French, which is strange for an Irish run/themed pub.
anonymous - 3 Nov 2005 14:53 |
Wandered in during a big match and was lucky to find a table. Not sure if the decor is supposed to be American Wild West or Green Acres. Wanted to make it upstairs as understand that bar is more interesting but couldn't make it thru the masses. Nothing of interest on tap.
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Just an average pub. Nothing fancy, nothing too bad either. Less poncey than the rest of Clapham High Street, but definitely better pubs to go to nearby.
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Decent boozer crammed full of your usual pub tat (old radios, tin signs etc) Handy for the tube and serious drinking in the shadows
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Great, great boozer.
Gets packed for the big games so get there early to bag a spot upstairs.
Not full of freaks and posers which is unusual for a pub near the Common.
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I recently entered this pub, walked to the bar, looked up at the screen to see the football score and a bald midget told me to buy a drink. I queried what he meant and he said he owned the bar and told me to buy a f**king drink. I managed to remain calm and instead laughed at the macho midget. I can only ascertain that this is standard operating procedure when you own a bar and have chippy little shoulders just three feet from the floor. Nice pub though.
anonymous - 13 May 2005 17:27 |
one of the best boozers on the southern branch of the northern line...not too many c0cks....usually a seat at the bar and the juke box has got ``some justice'' by urban shakedown and mickey finn
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Like the Alex in summer where you can sit upstairs with the windows wide open and watch the world go by. For some reason though, I always seem to get incredibly pissed there, which I know is the point of the pub, but as a hard-core seasonsed drinker I find it quite disturbing that I get as drunk as I do. Highly recommended though there are lots of little flies downstairs - has anyone else noticed this?
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Not a terrible pub, but for the England N Ireland footy last Saturday they didn't turn the projectors on upstairs until 3 mins before the games started and turned them off at half time as they were "overheating".
Couldn't then turn one back on for 15mins so 50 irate customers missed 3 goals! Staff didn't care! Muppets
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Now this pub is one of the best in Clapham. It has a good old traditional feel and is agreat pub for watching the footy.
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I'd totally agree with the comment that stated "One of those annoying places that looks as though it's going to have great beer but doesn't."
A very typical pub, which is also hindered by the fact it's right by Clapham Common tube station, where you'll find some of the loudest, most unpleasant people hanging around on a Friday and Saturday night.
anonymous - 22 Nov 2004 21:17 |
I LOVE this pub. The landlord knows exactly what he's doing; there's no need for bouncers when you have such clued-up and friendly bar staff. No fuss no nonsense pub with a great atmosphere
Claire - 1 Oct 2004 12:16 |
Depressing reviews. Before Clapham got QUITE so hot, this was one of the best pubs in the area, well maintained, good beers, getting to the bar was pretty competitive...
Phil - 15 Sep 2004 20:15 |
dave- there are no bouncers at the alex and its always busy. in an area of a thousnd bars thats not bad. its a great place for watching footy and drinking lager. if you want to mince about theres plenty of bars in clapham to accomodate you. if you want real ale. go up north
antony - 8 Sep 2004 13:53 |
Pretty unprepossessing place, dark and dirty, with poor quality beer - no ales on pump (just London Pride on keg), and the Guinness I had tasted decidedly dodgy. Wood-pannelled upstairs room overlooking common with portraits of PMs on the wall suggests better days once upon a time.
Edward - 28 Aug 2004 18:11 |
I hate this place. The bar staff are okay but the bouncers are have no brains and no place being there in the first place. I would spit on the floor before drinking a pint there. Go to the coach and horses on clapham park Road - 5 mins walk. thats a good pub
Dave - 3 Aug 2004 13:41 |
OK boozer. Does excatly what it says on the tin.
John - 29 Jul 2004 12:12 |
One of those annoying places that looks as though it's going to have great beer but doesn't. Good atmosphere, though, and has some good acoustic sessions upstairs.
Scarf - 4 Jun 2004 12:36 |
FYI the photos of former prime-ministers are there because during WWII sessions of parliament were held upstairs in what is now the alex. so i'm told.
wes - 2 Mar 2004 11:54 |
Horrible dark and dingy pub.I would suggest meeting friends there, as it's right next to the tube .... and then moving swiftly on. There's loads of space upstairs, if you don't mind sitting on uncomfortable benches. The ladies toilets are dreadful. I think it's good for watching sport on the big screen TV though.
becca - 24 Feb 2004 11:55 |
i went there to watch the england .v. italy six nations championship last sunday and had a fantastic time. beer served quickly and plenty of lovely ladies to watch while the ball wasn't being thrown about. only downside is lack of notices next to butcher's scales in basement - I managed to fall off this a few hours after the game - since its 5ft off the ground and quite small I would suggest a sign is erected advising people not to use it.
Henry - 18 Feb 2004 21:05 |
The upstairs bar is good, it's true. Spacious, plenty of places to sit, and in summer the windows can be thrown open wide with a view of the Common. The walls are decorated, bizzarely, with lots of rather unsettling photo portraits of former Prime Ministers, none later than the 1950s. So if you ever wondered what Andrew Campbell-Bannerman looked like, you know where to go.
Gav - 19 Dec 2003 11:06 |
The Alexandra is always busy when there's sport on, very friendly staff, one canadian bird who seems to be sponsored by Paul Frank and the landlord bears an uncanny resemblance to a simpsons character-excellent smithers!
Jeff - 10 Jun 2003 21:49 |
If you just want a 'normal' no fuss pub and you happen to be in Clapham, this is the place. I like it too.
Tx - 5 Jun 2003 13:51 |
This pub is very dark (great place for ugly people to date) and has an enormous amount of tedious, dust collecting 'pub memorabilia'. But, you can usually get a seat, the bar staff are efficient and upstairs is a nice little 'well kept secret'.
Oliver - 14 Apr 2003 10:46 |
Non entity pub - average beer (John Smiths - why?), average decor and average clientele.
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Situated opposite Clapham Common, there's an upstairs bar that nobody seems to know about - it's always easy to get to the bar. They have comedy nights, and two jukeboxes. Their prices are reasonable. I like it.
Briony - 8 Aug 2002 14:41 |
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