ROAST SERIES: Brew and Barrel

Though you might think of Brew and Barrel for their brunch (and fantastic espresso martinis), there’s another string to their bow that you shouldn’t miss out on. Their Sunday roasts are the dark horse in their roster and this ones a little different to the plethora of boujee gastro pubs that make up clapham old town. Don’t get us wrong, we love those too, but here’s a refreshing change from some of the classics.

Ambience:

Brew and Barrel is trendy and chill. It’s the friendly neighbourhood joint that’s the kind of place you’d feel comfortable rolling out of bed and rolling straight into. If you’re hungover on a Sunday and ready for a slothful roast (and the best coffee in Old Town) then this is your place. It’s always packed with lots of dogs, groups of friends and couples here, giving it a cosy, convivial atmosphere- especially on the weekend where the roasts are available from 3pm-7pm, giving you plenty of time for a lie in. If you can brave the cold then whack on your winter coat and enjoy their outdoor terrace for some prime people watching.

Food:

This is a really traditional Sunday roast. It’s no fuss and no frills but it is proper good grub. You’ll get all the trimmings: carrots, roast potatoes, braised red cabbage, and a fluffy Yorkshire. We got our usual order, the roast beef and the vegetarian option. But we have to recommend that you start your meal as we did- with the very crispy, very juicy, pork belly bites. Get these to keep the hunger at bay whilst you wait for your roast. It’s something we’d not seen in Clapham and we thought they were a lovely little addition to the meal. The beef was cooked well and we loved that it came with a surprise XL pig in blanket which was, again, something we haven’t seen before in the neighbourhood. The vegetarian roast was a flaky mushroom, spinach and tomato wellington which we really enjoyed, the size was impressive and we loved the tangy tomatoey flavour which cut through the richness of the rest of the plate perfectly.

Standouts:

It’s the casual vibe that we really loved here. Sometimes a big roast can be a bit daunting (especially when you’re feeling fragile from the night before) and this one felt about as comforting as being at home… without the wash up afterwards. Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Brew and Barrel without a coffee. The coffee here really is some of the best in Clapham so we’d recommend getting an espresso at the end of your roast to perk you back up again before you reface the world.

Price:

Beef: £18, Vegetarian: £16, Pork belly bites : £5.50.

This is the most affordable roast we’ve had in Clapham, and we love that! The place to come to after a big night out at Venn Street Records when you’ve spent too much of your weekly budget on tequila rose shots… but still want to spoil yourself with a fantastic roast.

THE ROAST SERIES: We are on a journey to discover some of the very best Sunday roasts in Clapham. Each will have remarks 4 categories: Ambience, The Food, Price and Standouts to make it clear what it is we loved about each one. We will aim to order similarly in every place we try to give you the clearest indication of how it compares to the rest of the neighbourhood.  Stay tuned to find your favourite.