Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom

Bar Sia - Bar Sia by Nixon

Nixon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:41:28 +0000

Review by Nixon

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8540 8339

Website: http://www.barsia.com

Once upon a time Bar Sia was a Turkish Baths. Downstairs theyâ¬"ve even converted the baths into a romantic little multi levelled seating affair. Despite all the tiles and lack of windows it is actually very comfortable. Upstairs on ground level the bar is a lot more of what you would expect. A clean, modern place filled with comfy leather seats and well veneered tables. The drinks are over-priced but thatâ¬"s what comes a place with such lofty thoughts of itself. The patrons tend to the be young, wannabe trendies â¬not actually trendies because such reckless slaves to fashion couldnâ¬"t afford to drink in here. Itâ¬"s an alright place, this. Worth having a half in.Once upon a time Bar Sia was a Turkish Baths. Downstairs theyâ¬"ve even converted the baths into a romantic little multi levelled seating affair. Despite all the tiles and lack of windows it is actually very comfortable. Upstairs on ground level the bar is a lot more of what you would expect. A clean, modern place filled with comfy leather seats and well veneered tables. The drinks are over-priced but thatâ¬"s what comes a place with such lofty thoughts of itself. The patrons tend to the be young, wannabe trendies â¬not actually trendies because such reckless slaves to fashion couldnâ¬"t afford to drink in here. Itâ¬"s an alright place, this. Worth having a half in.

The Watershed Bar - Watershed by Nixon

Nixon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:40:26 +0000

Review by Nixon

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8540 0080

Website: http://www.the-watershed.com

Tags: live music, posh, cool

This place is a mainstay of late night Wimbledon. Up the road there is Po Na Na, which is equally naff but thinks oh so much more of itself. The Watershed is local club with no pretentions. Itâ¬"s dark and a little dingy but great place to go after youâ¬"ve been drinking and want to up the tempo. The music is poppy, hip hoppy, dancy stuff â¬nothing special. Something The Watershed plays host to a really good comedy club called Laughing Horse. You can see comedy and stay on for the club which is really very good value indeed. The Watershed is the type of local place you canâ¬"t help but feel very affectionate about.This place is a mainstay of late night Wimbledon. Up the road there is Po Na Na, which is equally naff but thinks oh so much more of itself. The Watershed is local club with no pretentions. Itâ¬"s dark and a little dingy but great place to go after youâ¬"ve been drinking and want to up the tempo. The music is poppy, hip hoppy, dancy stuff â¬nothing special. Something The Watershed plays host to a really good comedy club called Laughing Horse. You can see comedy and stay on for the club which is really very good value indeed. The Watershed is the type of local place you canâ¬"t help but feel very affectionate about.

Eclipse - Good things come in small packages... by QueenB

QueenB — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:02:53 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 8944 7722

Website: http://www.eclipse-ventures.com

Tags: dj, cocktails

Bar Eclipse - if you didn't know it was there you could easily walk past this place during the day (although in the summer they do outside street tables) and remain oblivious but at night the smart looking polite door staff give it away (although depending how busy it is or the look of your company you may be told it is too busy or a private function... pleased to say I've never been on the receiving end of this).

The staff are charming, informative, open to ideas of new drinks and are very sharp on the table service no matter how busy it gets - and they always have a smile on their faces.

I tend to get there early to ensure a comfy wall sofa seat and begin my people watching, which gets more amusing as the night goes on and the rich Villagers get their party on and my delicious cocktails flow steadily!
The drinks are worth a visit alone, with a huge selection of great quality spirits, these guys mix up some mean drinks that are discreetly mind blowing and yummy at the same time. Fresh fruits and delectable combinations keep you coming back. Average price is Â£6/7 a cocktail.

They have a DJ later in the night that generally plays house music of a latin/brazillian vibe and suits the mood perfectly - though you will be stuck for space if you wanna shake your thang to the music.

This bar is owned by the Ignite group who also have Boujis (South Kens), Volstead (Mayfair), Cocoon (Regent st), Bumpkin (Notting Hill) and the OQO bar(Islington)on their books - you know you are in good hands!

I love this place and have often missed dinner plans because I couldn't drag myself away! Bar Eclipse - if you didn't know it was there you could easily walk past this place during the day (although in the summer they do outside street tables) and remain oblivious but at night the smart looking polite door staff give it away (although depending how busy it is or the look of your company you may be told it is too busy or a private function... pleased to say I've never been on the receiving end of this).

The staff are charming, informative, open to ideas of new drinks and are very sharp on the table service no matter how busy it gets - and they always have a smile on their faces.

I tend to get there early to ensure a comfy wall sofa seat and begin my people watching, which gets more amusing as the night goes on and the rich Villagers get their party on and my delicious cocktails flow steadily!
The drinks are worth a visit alone, with a huge selection of great quality spirits, these guys mix up some mean drinks that are discreetly mind blowing and yummy at the same time. Fresh fruits and delectable combinations keep you coming back. Average price is Â£6/7 a cocktail.

They have a DJ later in the night that generally plays house music of a latin/brazillian vibe and suits the mood perfectly - though you will be stuck for space if you wanna shake your thang to the music.

This bar is owned by the Ignite group who also have Boujis (South Kens), Volstead (Mayfair), Cocoon (Regent st), Bumpkin (Notting Hill) and the OQO bar(Islington)on their books - you know you are in good hands!

I love this place and have often missed dinner plans because I couldn't drag myself away!

Dog & Fox - Foxy by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:42:36 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8946 6565

Website: http://www.thedogandfox.co.uk

Tags: beer garden, good food, posh

A huge place, smartly renovated and serving a quite interesting range of drinks. It's the only place, for example, I've found serves that hot Pimms which is lovely in the winter. The food, despite pretentions towards gastropubbery, is actually just standard pub grub, but none the worse for that. Recommended for an evening with friends, but get there early and grab a table. It is popular.A huge place, smartly renovated and serving a quite interesting range of drinks. It's the only place, for example, I've found serves that hot Pimms which is lovely in the winter. The food, despite pretentions towards gastropubbery, is actually just standard pub grub, but none the worse for that. Recommended for an evening with friends, but get there early and grab a table. It is popular.

The Fire Stables - Good stuff! by QueenB

QueenB — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:35:45 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8946 3197

Tags: food, traditional english

After our usual last minute dinner spots were too busy or didn't have a favourite dishes running that night, my noyfriend and I thought we'd try out the Fire Stables and I'm glad we did...

It was a Thursday night and it was heaving! From the bar to the main restaurant area, we luckily nabbed the last table. There was a great buzz and atmosphere to the place.
The wine selection is good as were the mix of fresh baked complimentary breads.

We order 2 starters to share, my boyfriends duck spring rolls were delicious - very rich and satisfiyingly filled with soft, juicy duck. Sadly, my starter never arrived - to which the friendly, smiling camp waiter suggested that we never ordered it - but if he had actually written our order down maybe this could of been avoided...

My partners pan cooked chicken breast wrapped in parma ham was nice but a little bland, my salmon on a bed of shredded crisp lettuce and spring onions with a hoi sin style drizzled sauce was yummy but would no way of been enough for a someone with a larger appetite.

Service was quite slow as there was only 2/3 people serving all night and as I said it was very busy.

I had the chocolate brownie with expresso ice cream - although the brownie was a touch too hard it was very rich and fudgy textured in the center and went superbly with the delicious ice cream that was perfectly creamly without the sickly, over sugared offerings from many coffee flavoured desserts.

I would def go back but maybe on a less busy night, in a hope the speed and level of service improved!After our usual last minute dinner spots were too busy or didn't have a favourite dishes running that night, my noyfriend and I thought we'd try out the Fire Stables and I'm glad we did...

It was a Thursday night and it was heaving! From the bar to the main restaurant area, we luckily nabbed the last table. There was a great buzz and atmosphere to the place.
The wine selection is good as were the mix of fresh baked complimentary breads.

We order 2 starters to share, my boyfriends duck spring rolls were delicious - very rich and satisfiyingly filled with soft, juicy duck. Sadly, my starter never arrived - to which the friendly, smiling camp waiter suggested that we never ordered it - but if he had actually written our order down maybe this could of been avoided...

My partners pan cooked chicken breast wrapped in parma ham was nice but a little bland, my salmon on a bed of shredded crisp lettuce and spring onions with a hoi sin style drizzled sauce was yummy but would no way of been enough for a someone with a larger appetite.

Service was quite slow as there was only 2/3 people serving all night and as I said it was very busy.

I had the chocolate brownie with expresso ice cream - although the brownie was a touch too hard it was very rich and fudgy textured in the center and went superbly with the delicious ice cream that was perfectly creamly without the sickly, over sugared offerings from many coffee flavoured desserts.

I would def go back but maybe on a less busy night, in a hope the speed and level of service improved!

Common Room - Not so common... by QueenB

QueenB — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:20:55 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 8944 1909

Website: http://www.hartfordgroup.co.uk

Tags: bar, wine bar, international

This is fast becoming a regular spot for my friends and I, it's great if the lads want to watch the sport while the girls gossip and drink lashings of good wines, or for really quite good food! Be quick tho as it gets very busy - the fish cakes sell out fast! The tapas style plates of dishes including chicken skewers, serrano ham with stuffed pepperdew peppers, crayfish tail bruschetta, and all the usual nibbles and sandwiches. There is always a tasty specials board that changes daily.

The clientelle varies of all ages and types but all are welcome posh or not. The staff are lovely, laid back, cheery and helpful.
The place has a relaxed, friendly vibe, with tables, sofa's by the window and TV screens or more suitable tables for eating and a bit of privacy in back of the venue. It also has a small beer garden that is open on warmer days.

If you plan to eat and use your Taste London card, you need to call and book ahead first but can do so an unlimited amount of times. This is fast becoming a regular spot for my friends and I, it's great if the lads want to watch the sport while the girls gossip and drink lashings of good wines, or for really quite good food! Be quick tho as it gets very busy - the fish cakes sell out fast! The tapas style plates of dishes including chicken skewers, serrano ham with stuffed pepperdew peppers, crayfish tail bruschetta, and all the usual nibbles and sandwiches. There is always a tasty specials board that changes daily.

The clientelle varies of all ages and types but all are welcome posh or not. The staff are lovely, laid back, cheery and helpful.
The place has a relaxed, friendly vibe, with tables, sofa's by the window and TV screens or more suitable tables for eating and a bit of privacy in back of the venue. It also has a small beer garden that is open on warmer days.

If you plan to eat and use your Taste London card, you need to call and book ahead first but can do so an unlimited amount of times.

Brewery Tap - ripoff! by Badgerbadger

Badgerbadger — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:47:20 +0000

Review by Badgerbadger

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 8947 9331

Website: http://www.laurelpubco.com

Tags: food, tv for sporting events

I was very dissapointed by this pub and shall never go back.I saw the (?)landlord add lot of water to our wine, and when I tasted it and said it was watery and could we have something else, he slammed the money we'd paid on the bar, was extremely rude, and basically kicked us out despite the fact we had been very polite!What a ripoff!I think he was annoyed he got caught!I was very dissapointed by this pub and shall never go back.I saw the (?)landlord add lot of water to our wine, and when I tasted it and said it was watery and could we have something else, he slammed the money we'd paid on the bar, was extremely rude, and basically kicked us out despite the fact we had been very polite!What a ripoff!I think he was annoyed he got caught!

Walkabout Inn - I'm going Walkabout by dizzle

dizzle — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:11:48 +0000

Review by dizzle

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8543 8624

Website: http://www.walkaboutinns.com

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

Big place, gets busy, long bar, very necessary.
My favourite thing is the wall to wall plastic lining, which is presumably there to allow for easy hosing down once the night zoo has left. Joy.
The above isn't a negative by the way, if that's your kind of thing. Don't wear your friday best, and bring a bib.
And I hear they do a bikini competition every now and then.Big place, gets busy, long bar, very necessary.
My favourite thing is the wall to wall plastic lining, which is presumably there to allow for easy hosing down once the night zoo has left. Joy.
The above isn't a negative by the way, if that's your kind of thing. Don't wear your friday best, and bring a bib.
And I hear they do a bikini competition every now and then.

Finches - by dizzle

dizzle — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:41:19 +0000

Review by dizzle

Rating: 4.00

Tags: closed down

Sadly, this place no longer exists, it is now the Chinese restaurant that was next door to it. And what was the Chinese restaurant has been eaten up by the Dog & Fox.
Finches was good because it was a bar, and you could have a dance, almost always busy, it will be missed. The Dog & Fox doesn't make up for it.Sadly, this place no longer exists, it is now the Chinese restaurant that was next door to it. And what was the Chinese restaurant has been eaten up by the Dog & Fox.
Finches was good because it was a bar, and you could have a dance, almost always busy, it will be missed. The Dog & Fox doesn't make up for it.

The Alexandra - The Alexandra by jennipenni

jennipenni — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:57:28 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8947 7691

Website: http://www.youngs.co.uk

Tags: live music, food, lively

This is an enormous pub. The pub caters for all, with a public bar, a large panelled smoke-free bar, another lounge bar, as well as Smart Alex, the wine bar and restaurant section.

Smart Alex is a lovely olive green colour, with black leather highbacked chairs, with dark wood tables.

Stylish and modern.

It is also non-smoking which is GREAT, but the smell of smoke does reach you from the other areas unfortunately.

There is an outdoor terraced area too, lovely for summer.

Food is average meal-wise, but is nothing to write home about. One leaves with a full belly, and one can have a lovely time here.

You can hire out the Smart Alex for private functions, it ceters for 70 people. You only have to put a £50 deposit down to secure your booking.

It is separate from the other parts of the pub, yet open plan too... so you dont feel cut off from everyone.

This section is the nicest section of The Alexandra we feel.
This is an enormous pub. The pub caters for all, with a public bar, a large panelled smoke-free bar, another lounge bar, as well as Smart Alex, the wine bar and restaurant section.

Smart Alex is a lovely olive green colour, with black leather highbacked chairs, with dark wood tables.

Stylish and modern.

It is also non-smoking which is GREAT, but the smell of smoke does reach you from the other areas unfortunately.

There is an outdoor terraced area too, lovely for summer.

Food is average meal-wise, but is nothing to write home about. One leaves with a full belly, and one can have a lovely time here.

You can hire out the Smart Alex for private functions, it ceters for 70 people. You only have to put a £50 deposit down to secure your booking.

It is separate from the other parts of the pub, yet open plan too... so you dont feel cut off from everyone.

This section is the nicest section of The Alexandra we feel.

Hand & Racquet - The Hand and Racquet by jennipenni

jennipenni — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:52:10 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 8947 9391

Tags: independent pub, modern pub, standard pub food

Previously known as Hogheads, this pub has undergone a few management changes it seems. Changes have been positive.

Decor is good (there's a lovely sunlight in the one section, and leather lounge suites to lounge about on) and there is a non smoking section - yippee yay!

To find that in a pub is a joy. Couches were comfy, and ambiance was good.

Service is personal and friendly, but not overdone.

We have watched a rugby game here, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

The food we did have was nice (we only had handcut hot chips), and the beer was COLD and good.
Previously known as Hogheads, this pub has undergone a few management changes it seems. Changes have been positive.

Decor is good (there's a lovely sunlight in the one section, and leather lounge suites to lounge about on) and there is a non smoking section - yippee yay!

To find that in a pub is a joy. Couches were comfy, and ambiance was good.

Service is personal and friendly, but not overdone.

We have watched a rugby game here, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.

The food we did have was nice (we only had handcut hot chips), and the beer was COLD and good.

Prince of Wales - Want to dine with the Prince of Wales? by jennipenni

jennipenni — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:47:10 +0000

Review by jennipenni

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 8946 5369

Tags: live music, traditional pub, food

... well you won't find Charlie here... ;)

The decor is lovely - old world and quaint, if not a tad shabby though! Dark and quite dingy. It is past due a refurbishment in my opinion.

The service is good as far as pubs go, but it is a VERY smokey pub, with atrocious ventilation.

Even smokers complain!

As a non-smoker I wouldnt go there again, it really puts one off their food! I would go there again once the non-smoking laws have come into being this year though, and see what a difference that will make in this old character-filled pub.

They make lovely home made steak and ale pies (I havent tasted one of them but a friend has). I had a beer shandy there and it was fine... hard to get a beer shandy wrong though! ;)
... well you won't find Charlie here... ;)

The decor is lovely - old world and quaint, if not a tad shabby though! Dark and quite dingy. It is past due a refurbishment in my opinion.

The service is good as far as pubs go, but it is a VERY smokey pub, with atrocious ventilation.

Even smokers complain!

As a non-smoker I wouldnt go there again, it really puts one off their food! I would go there again once the non-smoking laws have come into being this year though, and see what a difference that will make in this old character-filled pub.

They make lovely home made steak and ale pies (I havent tasted one of them but a friend has). I had a beer shandy there and it was fine... hard to get a beer shandy wrong though! ;)