please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
They keep a nice pint here, and mix a pretty good drink. I've never had the food, but since this is a beer website, I figure that shouldn't really matter.
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Have to say begrudgingly, that this has improved immensely. not a fan of the group other than the Avalon, this is probably due to Laura. Without wanting to sound sycophantic, it would seem we have a manager that understands the drink side of the business is as important as the gastro. Hopefully the powers that be will recognise this as it is a common mistake by 'gastros' to ignore this core market. The roast dinner on Sunday has to be the most reasonable, but good, and therefore best value in the area. Thank you
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The reviews below all seem to be extremely critical of the food, which doesn't sound great as it's supposed to be a gastropub, but as I've never eaten here I can't really comment on that. However, it is a good place to go for a quiet drink if you want to chat with someone but don't want to have to shout in to their ear. The bar staff are a bit slow but it's generally possible to get a seat, even on a Friday and Saturday.
The beer garden, small as it is, is excellent and well worth the visit on a sunny evening.
Mobey - 14 Aug 2009 15:28 |
This is a lovely little gastropub, conveniently located for all that Clapham has going on, yet kept that little bit quieter by being off the main drag. I was really surprised to read the negative reviews on this site as the twice I'd been there before I'd had very pleasant experiences and it didn't disappoint when a friend and I went there again last week. They certainly must have sorted out any problems there were with rude staff as everyone we spoke to was very polite and attentive. The food was delicious and the prices reasonable. I'll certainly keep coming here.
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What can I say about the stonhouse without swearing or losing my temper? I had been recommended by a friend that their breakfast menu was tasty and set in a relaxing setting. After my friends and I had ordered our food we sat in great hope of a nice simple meal of eggs royal and eggs benedict.Two of the formentioned meals turned up with rock solid eggs, so after our complaint they happily agreed to remake the meals.Ten minutes later they returned with lovely runny yolk but alas so were the egg whites which were so transparent I actually thought they had just put the egg on the plate. As the chef was unable to cook an egg I declined any other meal.While waiting for my friends to finish a man sat next to us with his dog on the chair. After the man had finished eating his food he then began feeding the dog the left overs with the fork he was using while staff watched on.Great hygene for a classy public house.When the bill arrived they even had the cheek to put on service charge. I dont know how this establishment survives in this current climate. I doubt it will if their standards don't change.
mross - 24 Feb 2009 19:25 |
Can honestly say the worst pub I've ever been to.
Rude party going on at the time - Saturday 27 Sept 2008 - organised by Tristan - the ruddest boy I've ever met. Told us we were invading his party space area, that he owned half the pub and that he'd throw us out the window if we didn't move! He wasn't even drunk! Management were gob smacked.
Incredibly inefficient service. Two people behind the bar serving a crowd of people.
A waitress who hadn't an idea what was going on.
Ended up not leaving to eat elsewhere. It was stressfully chaotic.
Save yourself a bad night out - don't go.
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I've been here three times now as I was looking for a new local. The first two times, I couldn't have recommended it more to friends - we got great food and great service. You couldn't really ask for more. But both of these times were mid week.
I went back yesterday (Sunday) with a group of ten or so friends after raving about it for so long and I couldn't have been more disapoointed.
1. We sat outside and then moved inside as it started to rain. When we ordered some more drinks the girl at the bar was rude beyond belief about us not telling her that we had moved. I totally take the blame for not letting them know we had moved inside but was there a reason to be so rude about it?
2. She then proceeded to be rude every time we ordered a drink. Chip on should me thinks - maybe a career in bar tending isn't your call luv.
3. We then moved back outside and I promptly told little miss rude that we were moving back outside. Some of my friends then ordered food and they were told that they were not serving food outside anymore because of the "changeable weather". We mentioned that people had already been eating outside and they stuck to their guns with the "changeable weather" line. When their food arrived, they were told it was served inside. Approximately two minutes later the table next to us was served food. Charming way to treat your customers.
3. We then ordered more food and they took our order outside and served our food outside.
4. When I went to order deserts from the bar, I was yet again given the "changeable weather" excuse. I mentioned that we had just been served outside and the bar tender (not little miss rude but he obviously went to the same bar tending school for the hospitality retarded) replied that we shouldn't have been served. I went to another waitress, explained the situation and she explained why they had issues serving outside but said that if we didn't mind it getting soaked on the way outside if it was raining and if we would eat it inside if it was raining and if there was the room, then she would take my order. FINALLY - someone with manners and a sense of customer service.
It's such a pity as I really liked this place and I have been telling all my friends in the area about it.
They really should review their staff and attitude as places like this won't survive and don't have the right to survive in an area like Clapham.
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Do people in Clapham only go to PUBS for food?
I went in this afternoon about 4.30 for a drink (having found the place purely by accident)and was served by the most polite young lady.
The beer was good, and the bar and patio areas very clean and well kept.
I also went to four Clapham High St pubs today but the Stonhouse was definitely the one - as a drinker,rather than a restaurant goer - that I would make my local if I was lucky enough to live in the area.
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My girlfriend booked a table for Saturday night, and when we arrived and asked for our table, we were told by a very smug manager, that he didn't have our reservation.
More to the point, when my girlfriend challenged him, he said : "Can't you see I am busy here!?"
Needless to say, we left and spent our money elsewhere, at a friendlier establishment.
Will never go back, appalling service.
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I am really sorry I didn't read these reviews before I made my booking for the Stonhouse last week- when I turned up for by booking at 9.30pm I was told I had none!! No apologies- in fact I was made feel like a liar!! I was dismissed very rudely and told I could wait an hour for a table!! I cannot believe the attitude of the manager- in fact, the entire pub appeared to be filled with pretentious idiots and definately not somewhere I would like to spend an evening - there are polenty of alternative places in Clapham which are far more enjoybale (I eventually had a lovely meal at the Windmill that night!)
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I went for the 4th time last night with 3 friends. I�ve always found the manager a bit odd but on this occasion he was so unbelievably rude.
I complained about the dried out appearance of the boiled egg in my salad Nicoise, and he just smirked and explained that if all the ingredients in my salad had been prepared individually it would have taken 3 hours to create. I went through the cooking time for each item and came up with a total of around 20 minutes, and after much shrugging of the shoulders and more smirking, he agreed to boil me a new egg.
Then the waitress forgot to bring me my drink.
Then the manager guy swooped over and took my friend�s chair away when she popped away, meaning we had to call after him to bring it back.
Then the waitress dropped a dirty knife onto my friend�s jumper and laughed at him when he checked to see if any food had come off onto his clothes.
Then she brought the puddings, but only tea spoons and forks to eat them with. She said there weren�t enough desert spoons left (now I�m smirking at that!).
Then she didn�t say thank you when we paid the bill (God knows why we paid the service charge).
So I went to speak to the smirking manager (smirk, smirk, smirk) about how disappointed we all were. He smirked, then suppressed a giggling fit while the two customers sitting behind him at the bar openly ridiculed me. They were drinking together so I assume they were his friends. He may have apologised but I didn�t notice. I was too transfixed by his smirk.
Apart from the egg the food is very nice.
But I�m not going back.
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The most appalling service I've had in a while, even complaining to the manager yielded giggles from the waitresses and bar staff. Confirmed that we shouldn't have given it another go.
Food was great but service really let down what could have been a fantastic evening in a fantastic place.
tandt - 30 Mar 2008 23:26 |
I wish I had read some of the comments on this site before going to The Stonhouse.
This place is over priced and the food is rubbish.
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Dont be fooled by the nice interior - this place is rubbish!!
Booked a table for 10 on the Friday for 6pm Sunday. When we arrived they had ran out of chicken, beef, ravioli and VEGGIES??
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Seemed quaint on a pop in visit, had nice atmosphere.
The beer was good. Didnt try the food though
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I had a good experience at the Stonhouse on a Sunday afternoon with family. Sat in the terrace, served by a really friendly and efficient waitress, great bottle of wine, and really nice food. Would definitely visit again.
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Well this place is causing a bit of a commotion! I'd highly recommend it. I've been a few times and been really impressed. It's clearly not a local boozer - more of a steakhouse (looks great) - but I'm surprised by the negative views, as I've found the staff really friendly and efficient, and the food extremely good. As for bad wine: perhaps the bottle was corked?! Maybe it's just teething problems - hasn't been open long. Can't be doing a bad job considering how busy it seems to be!
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Wish i had read these reviews before last weekend!
Clapham has enough good pubs, bars and restaurants, so please do yourself a favour and avoid this one. Having lived in clapham for a while now, i have seen a few self obsessed, ignorant and rude bar staff and owners to last me a life time, but this place tops them all.
We had been once before, but thought we might have been unlucky, but after a second visit, a lot of the above comments resonate, but in my own words:
Bad beer, unpleasant wine (we tried a few) at huge mark ups (think �4.50 oddbins but being charged 15-18 quid plus service charge on top..) poor to average food combined with atrocious (v slow, wrong order etc)service and attitude.
please go somewhere else. the manor arms and the bread are just a few minutes away....
i think i preferred it when it was a dodgy watering hole, just a few months ago.
have a good summer
Shylock
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Always have a bit of a mixed bag at the Stonhouse. Food is pretty good, but at the high end of pubs in Clapham. Service can range from good to utterly shambolic...6 of us decided to go for Sunday lunch a month or so ago and it took over 90 minutes from ordering to get our main courses. The kitchen were apparently "hungover" which wasn't particularly funny. However, we did get a bottle of wine and all the desserts knocked off the bill. The most recent experience, on a Sunday night, one of our main courses was forgotten (this is basic stuff). Again staff very apologetic but they just seem a bit disorganised. Couldn't really comment on the "smug Clapham disease"...perhaps it's because (thankfully) they don't show football and have banned paint-splattered overalls?
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This was our third time here, but will not go back. We took our folks when they came to visit as we live down the street. We thought this would be a good place to eat and then have a few pints. Even though we had a reservation, were obviously not young fare dodgers, and the manager RECOGNISED us as repeat customers, we were required to leave a credit card at the beginning of the meal as 'security'!! When we received the bill, we noticed we had been charged for bread and olives. My partner complained saying that these items had been suggested at the beginning by the manager. We assumed these were complementary like most restaurants. The manager's reaction was 'we're a pub, not a restaurant'. What is that, a loophole?? More properly, this is a 'gastro-pub', and it's the most pretentious one I've seen. Sorry, the food and ambience here is not so special that we need return.
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(should explain it was my second visit in a week as I like to base reviews of new pubs, especially if they are local and convenient, on several visits) I'm not coming back here though and would advise anyone looking for a pub in the local area to go to the Manor Arms or Bread and Roses.
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Attitude of staff as described in previous review is reason not to visit this establishment and �20 for a bottle of wine in a pub is outrageous!
When I went recently with a group of friends we were very unimpressed with this pub - smoky, too loud and pretentious
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I had lunch here a couple of Saturdays ago and really thought it was fab, great service and fab fish pie. I have since been a few times for drinks and have found it so noisy with the rugby or football crowd fixated by the screen, which give it some credit isn't supersized. Last night (Sat) was a disaster! My boyfriend and I will never ever go back there and I will be sending a letter to the owner. After 1/2 a glass each of the bottle of wine we decided it was the worst bottle of wine we had tasted for a very long time (Riesling from Alsace at �20.50) When we tookt bottle and half drank glasses back to the bar we were told by the rudest barman ever that it was tough because it was our choice and he wouldn't change it under any circumstance. Well forgive me if I am totally barking mad but isn't it just good customer service to agree and exchange it for even a couple of glassess of house wine? It seems The Stonhouse staff would rather cling on to �20 rather than invest in good customer relations to keep them coming back. Such a shame because when it's quiet it is a really nice bar.
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Customers did seem to be suffering from the smug Clapham disease on a recent visit. Apart from that the pub does a reasonable job at what it attempts - upper end of price scale
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Full of Clapham chavs - all going rah rah rah. Dull dull dull
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In contrast to reviews below I went there today (Sunday afternoon) and had to shout loudly to communicate with my friends. Lots of smug 'rah' Clapham types (especially families) which is nice if you like that kind of thing Nothing special drink-wise. Why come here when there are so many other better pubs?
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I said exactly the same thing and had my comment took off its not a bad pub but its not the garden of babylon that several reviews have claimed all who have commented on this pub only
juzza - 12 Jan 2007 22:24 |
decent, bit expensive/poncey menu/drinks.
however it is suspicous that all the glowing reviews are from people who haven't rated any other pubs. i would guess they have a financial interest in the pub's success.
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Sublime....I shared the Chateaubriand with my partner. It was cooked absolutely spot on and accompaniments were delicious. Dessert menu was also good, a creme brulee with fresh raspberries was just to die for.Quality of ingredients was extremely high so I thought all in all it was very good value for money.
Large non-smoking area and a real log fire made it a cosy, relaxed place just for a drink but once you see the food come out I don't think you'll resist !
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been twice.....
first week of opening (one of four lunchtime customers) ordered foie gras to start, meatballs to follow. Well meaning barman ordered the meatball with spaghetti and a portion of fries instead of the foie. (english not his first language).
Second visit ordered the same foie gras (portion half the size now with stale brioche) and sausage and mash (overcooked sausages, inedible with soapy mash).
it is frustrating that operators put so much time & thought into design and how the menu reads (very similar to the soho house group's menus incidentally) but little into spelling and the how the menu eats.
Still i have high hopes for here (compared to the rest of clapham)
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Went here last night to see if I my sceptism was correct it was packed with drinkers and diners nicely laid out bar but the 2 guys behind the bar were clueless I have to admit it though it looks like it is going to be a sucess but it very much aimed at the infamous clapham locals
juzza - 17 Dec 2006 10:49 |
Went here for a drink with a mate the other night.
Really friendly staff who are very helpful.
Fantastic cocktail menu - can thoroughly recommend the cocktail of the week.......we ended up having 3 of them!
Good food. Great atmosphere - not too noisy, so don't have to shout to hear one another, but a good buzz and even early in the week there are enough people here so that you don't feel like you are sitting in an empty space. Good lighting and nice vibe. Would thoroughly recommend this place as a great pub to go to
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This place just opened about 3 weeks ago. Used to be a crumby old place but they've really spent some coin on doing it up very well.
Firstly for a drink it's just a really nice relaxed atmosphere. A pub to go to to chill out, not shout over people, or watch the football (they don't have a tele). There's plenty of loud pubs in Clapham so this was refreshingly different.
Went back last night for a meal and it was absolutely out of this world. The best steak (all Argentinean on the menu) and desert. Just an awesome meal. The pub is only 2 blocks off clapham high st but otherwise really in the middle of no where. I did think that the food had better be good or they will surely go under. Sure enough it was perfect. I hope they keep this standard up as I have no problem recommending this to everyone.
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