The Holy Drinker, Clapham Junction  

There is a certain chunk of Battersea/Clapham that is completely and utterly in love with the Holy Drinker to an almost X-rated degree. Virtually every night the tight interior is crammed with the trendy set who lap up the candlelit tables, the-ever-so-edgy décor that comes complete with battered cinema chairs and exposed brick walls, and the mêlée of expensive foreign beers etched on a blackboard above the central bar arch. And it would take a fairly miserable old soul not to concede that the Holy Drinker has a touch a class and deserves a pat on the back for offering a selection of bottled tipples that don't appear in your standard boozer. However, it is equally true that a touch of pretension hangs in the air, both in the form of the exceptionally trendy clientele and the overall arthouse atmosphere that falls someway short of being genuine. The staff could also do with concentrating a bit more on serving and a little less on adjusting the often throbbing music and winking at the female section of their customer base. This is not to deny that the Holy Drinker is a nice, fun place that makes an effort to be different and stylish. It's just not quite as fantastic as it believes itself to be.

reviewed:
16/02/2008

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)

2 TVs

table and chairs outside

no children allowed

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