The Bobbin

Nice, and deceptively large pub down a back street – friendly, helpful staff (who else in Clapham offers to carry your drinks if you order a large round), and nicely kept conservatory and (walled, suntrap) outdoor areas. Nice array of hearty, and wholesome looking bar snacks – e.g. homemade-looking pork pies, whitebait, “proper” pork scratchings (i.e. crackling) By Wholesome, of course, I mean chunky, and suitable for a hungry beer drinker. A reasonable selection of real beers – the Wandle was a well kept pint on my last visit., good to see as it counts as a “local” brew. Highly recommended.

After a romantic stroll on Clapham Common – bracing in winter, leisurely in summer – head to the Old Town with your date for some delicious seasonal grub.

Hidden away down a smart residential side street near the Common lies The Bobbin, a little gem of a pub described as a “superior locals local”. It’s the perfect venue for an early date: part cosy and romantic, part friendly local.

If you’re familiar with the Lighthouse in Battersea (one of the two sister pubs of the Bobbin and a GDG favourite) then you’ll recognise lots of things like the tiles in the loo (!) and much of the menu, but where the Bobbin differs is in its cosy atmosphere. It is smaller and quirkier than the Lighthouse. Perfect for a romantic supper in the winter or a Sunday lunch that ends up lasting all day! It’s also a fantastic venue for a summer date with a spacious conservatory and a gorgeous enclosed garden.

The food is good quality and seasonal, with proper old fashioned dishes like bread and butter pudding to send you off on a trip down memory lane… When the GDG visited Miss Mary had soup of the day followed by leek and stilton tart (not too rich, just right) while Other Half went for the charcuterie board and then wild hare with (amazing) homemade pappardelle. The food was delicious and it’s worth mentioning that the charcuterie board would be perfect, and romantic, to share!

We didn’t have any but we have heard that the bar snacks are amazing. Other Half’s eyes were on stalks as a scotch egg walked by!

When we visited the staff were incredibly helpful, moving us away from a rowdy Christmas party to a more romantic table. It also turned out to be quiz night (Wednesdays) and they persuaded to join in as a team of two and make it part of our evening. Luckily it turned out pretty well as we came second (out of ten teams)! However, if you want cosy romance it’s probably best to avoid Wednesdays as the quizzing can get quite vocal…

The Bobbin is a great pub and our parting advice would be to request a table in the main part of the building, which has a bit more character than the conservatory, preferably by one of the two roaring fires.

When I first stumbled upon the Bobbin it had an air of something familiar. We figured out pretty quickly why that was: it's run by the same folks that own the The Lighthouse, our perennial favourite local down the road in Battersea.

Same quality food and friendly service and an atmosphere which is a step up from boozer, but still pub. Really liked it - just hope those braying new-Clapham-more-money-than-taste types who were sat near us last time I was there don't decide to make it their regular haunt.

Lovely local pub in Clapham Old Town, offering decent food, good service and a welcome change from the usual Clapham offering.... kepp it up!

Recently renovated. Good beer, good atmosphere, good mixed crowd.

Went here for a group pub lunch with high hopes having been recommended by a friend. To be honest, was not that impressed. The Sunday roast options were fairly limited and included pub grub cliches like bangers and mash and fish and chips.

There are better places to have a pub lunch in the area like the Stonehouse.

On the plus side there is a very cute beer garden and it is off the beaten track enough to avoid the hordes who flood the High Street.

The pub is out of the way but it is worth the effort for a great place to go. They have great beers and the staff are always pleasant. The food portions are very large especially the Sunday Lunches. When you see the other pubs in Clapham packed to the rafters it is sad that people do not walk a few feet more to this great pub.

I’m not very interested in pubs: going to them, talking about them or discussing them. But for the Tim Bobbin I’ve made an exception on all three points - it’s so great!

I needed somewhere to hook up with a friend last week so she could meet my dog, Benji, so scoured the web to find a dog-friendly, non-sporty pub in Clapham. Voila - the Tim Bobbin. We had to visit just for the name - childish but true. There is some historical significance to it but I just like that it reminds me of the bobbins off a sewing machine. Bobbins!

But I digress. The Tim Bobbin turned out to be a really lovely pub. It was showing the footie (boo) but it wasn’t full of sports fans and there was little cheering. There’s a restaurant area at the back - where dogs are not allowed - but you can eat their fine pub grub everywhere else too. We didn’t eat but I’d definitely go back for food, their menu looked great.

We all had a marvellous evening. Benji sparked out on the banquette seating as my friend and I drank cider the posh way - with ice - and laughed about old times. As we left the staff made a fuss of the puppy and said he’d be very welcome back. Apparently some days it’s “like Crufts” in there. I will definitely be back!

I’ve always found the name “Tim Bobbin” very agreeable. I had a terrier called Bobbin when i was a young boy, so maybe that has something to do with it! Even if this place was called “The naughty sausage club” it wold still be a great boozer. A nice sunday pub where i always feel comfortable taking friends. Come for sunday Lunch - portions the size of Volkswagens!

The pub is nice, not big, the staff are friendly but you have to make the order yourself and sometimes need to shout,lol. Drinks and food are not ok. The prices are great though, so great place for students as such. I might go down again only if I’m on a budget:)