The Stonhouse is tucked away at the end of a side road just off Clapham High Street. Formerly known as The Windsor Arms, it was transformed into its current incarnation in 2006. One of several Renaissance Pubs, which are scattered across south London, The Stonhouse is a quality neighbourhood gastropub with good food and fine wine.

The Venue
Located in a well-heeled part of Clapham, The Stonhouse’s stylish and clean-cut exterior is matched inside by warm vanilla walls, polished wood fixtures and exotic pot plants. It’s low lit with a modern European feel and clearly distinguishes between the bar area, to the left, and the dining area, to the right. In fact, once you’re seated, you could easily forget you’re in a pub. Outside there’s a lovely garden with covered patio heaters and plenty of seating for the warmer months.

The Atmosphere
Early evening on a Thursday evening in late January, it feels a little sparse, with only a few post-work drinkers perched at the bar but lo and behold, by 9pm, the place is packed with Clapham’s City working residents and there is a warm murmur of chatter amongst the well-dressed diners. Staff are friendly, attentive and informative, running down the list of specials with ease and checking back without being intrusive.

The Food
Food is definitely the focus at this establishment. Starters range from a crispy halloumi salad with quinoa, roast butternut squash and pomegranate dressing priced at £6.50, to a wildly indulgent chicken liver and foie gras parfait with brioche and homemade chutney for £7. A generous portion of the former is delicious, with the nutty quinoa juxtaposed with juicy, sharp pomegranate and salty slabs of halloumi, though sadly the butternut squash is a little too refrigerator cold.

Mains are divided into pasta & rice, meaty mains, pies, steak/grill and fish, with a generous list of sides for around the £3-£4 mark. Choose adventurously from braised ox cheeks (£14), slow cooked pheasant (£12.50), venison shank and date tagine (£15.50), or go for the (sustainably sourced) fish menu, which offers everything from traditional fish and chips to mussels in cider cream, both £12. Make sure you check the specials – a caper-garnished plaice with butternut squash and buttery lemon potatoes (£13) is good, though not exceptional.

The pudding menu offers an array of hearty, homely, heart-attack inducing options such as sticky toffee pudding, banoffe pie and a particularly delicious pear and blackberry crumble with salted caramel ice cream, priced at around £5.

The Drink
The drinks menu is fairly comprehensive. There’s a decent range of spirits (around £4-£8 a shot), a selection of reasonably priced beers on draught – Becks (£3.85/pint), Kronenbourg, Staropramen (£4/pint), Leffe, Hoegaarden (£4.50/pint), Guinness, Aspall plus a guest ale (£3.60/pint) – and bottled beers and ciders ranging from Peroni and Corona to the ever-popular flavoured Rekorderlig and Koppaberg ciders (£4.95). The wine list ranges from a perfectly acceptable French house white (£15.95) through to an Australian Riesling (£26.25) and French Burgundy (£35.95). If you’re matching to meat, pick something like the French Malbec (£25.50), and if you’re splashing out, there’s some great sparkling wines and champagne for £25-£50.

The Last Word
The Stonhouse is a delightful gastropub with a menu full of bold flavours and rich, indulgent ingredients. Overall, it’s a quality local and well worth a visit.

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