Tim Bobbin, Clapham, London

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!