please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Great anytime from early afternoon till about 7pm then, if like me you are getting old, put your earmuffs on or get out the megaphone. Otherwise nice relaxed gaff, urban chic and truly independant, decent choice of ale in bottle, but after 15 years could do with a change of choice. Only freehouse for miles.
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Good for a winters Sunday afternoon next to the roaring fire. Can get completely rammed at weekends in the evening, but if you are ther early enough to get a tabla a nd a good crowd, has a great atmosphere. Bar staff can be up themsleves a bit, but are lively to serve and there's ony draft Guinees and bottled lagers, but have had some great long nights in there and liked it so much have even nursed the hangover there the afternoon of the next day.
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This place is a lucky packet - but i have had more good times here than bad times.
The best time to really appreciate this pub is when the late afternoon / late evening. Best for me is in winter on the weekdays before it gets busy - grab a beer and sit around the fire.
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Went to Clapham Junction last night on a recon mission to find the most appropriate bar to go on Friday night with friends over from Ireland. I had a shortlist of 6 bars and had high hopes for The Holy Drinker as it had good reviews and a really good website.
We didn�t choose it in the end as it was too small (bordering on pokey � the cinema seats were tiny), too expensive (�7.40 for a beer and a whisky/soda), not much in the way of draft beer (Guinness only) and closed too early for us (midnight).
On the plus side it was pleasantly quirky and the more fashionable girls in my crowd would have loved the atmosphere and music. Staff were amiable enough.
Overall I�d say it was fine but not quite the religious experience I was hoping for
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its a nice looking pub/bar, I'll give it that, but the atmosphere is killed by the rudest staff I've come across in months. I work in the bar business so I'm a courteous customer, but damn, this crew hate the fact that they have to look at you. Unpleasant stuckup bartenders who can't make a drink and make snotty comments to customers -- what a great place! We left after one.
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Not a bad place for a school night, interestingly decorated and nicely lit
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I was here tonight for the first time and I had a really good time. service is definitely an issue but the staff are lovely and the atmosphere is really cool, everyone seems to be nice. A cool vibe to chill out too even if there are loads of people there.
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Horrible. Full of braying idiots and costs a fortune if you don't want the house swill of a wine. Staff are indifferent at best and contemptible as standard. Look in the window as you walk past for a taster, and imaging paying �4 and up for a beer as a nonse called Tarquin elbows you in the head telling his mates of his yachting exploits... Pretension by Calvin Klein.
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I agree with Jeslife - a welcome addition to the area. Let's face it Battersea needs a kick up the arse. Re Guiness comments below - Stonch don't be so condescending, not all of us can spare the time [life] to trawl from bar to bar commenting on their every move!
anonymous - 23 Nov 2006 23:55 |
By "two types of Guinness on tap" I assume you mean - normal and extra cold. What next? Fire? Running water?
News for you - they come from the same keg. One passes through a cooler.
anonymous - 23 Nov 2006 15:12 |
Live locally, and sometimes go in for a drink. Best during the week when not too busy - staff lovely, but manageress a bit scary. Great selection of bottled beers and wines. Two types of Guinness on tap.
anonymous - 23 Nov 2006 13:24 |
Midweek it�s a great place to meet a few friends and have a quiet drink while catching up. It�s only a small place with limited seating so either get there early or be prepared to pull up a pew on the stairs. Some good tap beers, not tap ales but the bottle selection is impressive for the size of the place. The big screen showing black and white movies makes it a good place to kill time while waiting for your friends to show up.
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superb. in an area characterised by a depression of useless bars, this is a welcome exception.
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great bar, get there early to find a seat. love the bottled beers selection
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can't get my head around this place not impressed with the staff, smoking behind the bar and then making my drink !!!.. place looks a little run down confused funky music but still once i got away from the bar and found a seat not that bad.... school report would say " could do better"
anonymous - 26 Jun 2006 14:26 |
Decent beers, chilled atmosphere make this a pretty good place. Could do with an update though - it's beginning to get stale.
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Everyone is entitled to their opinion but please - don't listen to him, this place is hopeless. If you live round here (I am afraid to say I once did, when I first moved to London) you might like it though. If you are just passing through Clapham - well, put it this way, just pass through.
anonymous - 4 May 2006 17:21 |
Top notch atmosphere with great staff and some good beers in the fridge though not too many on tap
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Typical of Clapham and environs - lazy and self satisfied
anonymous - 23 Feb 2006 17:13 |
Very funky music at the weekends. Friendly staff and cosy layout. Ice cold chunky Grolsch bottles (500ml) very refreshing of an evening...
Also would make a good pit stop on a hot summer's afternoon, but you want to clear out before it get's too busy.
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This is the only decent bar to drink in on Northcote Road. Granted it gets busy at weekends, but the music is cool and the selection of bottled beer is great - I have been known to (attempt to) make my way through their collection of real ale... A real gem in a chain-bar area.
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Not a bad bar. Slightly too many 'too cool for school' trendy types, who fortunately are being driven out as a result of increasing house prices.
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Probably the only place worth visiting on this street. Infinitely better than Fine Whine, Babel etc.
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Decent place to drink and nowhere near as full of chino wearers as other Northcote Road boozers. Good place to meet early evening before moving on.
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I often drink here in the week - bit full of sub-Fulhamites at the week-end. Staff are very pleasant, and they'll even give you water if you have a dog.
House wine a tenner a bottle.
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Overcorwded, plenty of gorgeous women...
Good drinks but yeah go for one of the many other bars on Northcote Rd
JaneC - 13 Apr 2005 07:35 |
Beer selection is pretty limited but they do swing-lid Grolsch which is enough of a cheap thrill for me. Fairly small and dark, and yep gets full of young people with money. So?
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yup - but it's the only place that plays pretty cool music - but I agree they should probably cut down on the amount of people they let in - the overcrowding kinda ruins this otherwise great bar
alx - 29 Aug 2004 22:56 |
...but no fit women
and it is overcrowded
Alex - 12 Jan 2004 17:39 |
This pub is full of fit blokes!!
Lubylou - 17 Apr 2003 15:03 |
If you like to wear you sweater round you shoulders and are more concerned about knock-ons than free headers then this is the place for you. It is chocker with hurrays and sloans and over-priced wines. I like it!
Oliver - 14 Apr 2003 11:35 |
