Wimbledon Common, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: The “very pleasant surroundings” of an “excellent dining room overlooking Cannizaro Park” are let down by the consistently disappointing meals and “don’t care” attitude of staff at this Hotel du Vin outfit. “Someone rescue it – it’s a waste of a fantastic space”.

“Trading on a once-great name but disappointing in every category (except perhaps breakfasts)” – this brasserie brand themed around the Theatreland classic feels “very ‘chain restaurant’ now”. Some reporters do suggest their “comfort food staples” and “buzzy interiors” make them useful destinations, but too many suggest they are “haphazard” and “not a place to return to”.

“Fairy lights, greenery and charming decor create a warm and cosy atmosphere” at this still-expanding group, which is most popular as a “reliable and friendly brunch option”. Its Med-inspired tapas is typically rated somewhere between “tasty” and “nothing special” and scores overall are dragged well down by those experiencing “chaotic service” and “food that doesn’t live up to the pretty dining room”.

2022 Review: “Good outdoor facilities” boost the appeal of this handsome period inn, near the edge of Wimbledon Village. Run by Youngs, the food receives the odd bum rep, but for the most part is recommended as being good for a pub.

“The cooking is interesting, vegetable heavy, but accessible to all”, say fans of the Gladwin family’s field-to-fork yearling (supplied by their Sussex farm), which has proved to be one of their more commented-on recent openings. But even those who feel it’s “a great addition to the dining choices in Wimbledon Village” say “the food is perhaps not always as good as they think it is (some portions are tiny)”. And it does also attract one or two really harsh critiques: “as a replacement for The White Onion (RIP) – an outstanding local – The Black Lamb is a disappointment and can be totally lacking in atmosphere”.

2023 Review: Formerly known as The Swan, this Wimbledon pub was extensively refurbed by the Metropolitan Pub Co, and reopened with a new name in March 2022. Too little feedback for a rating as yet, but one early-days visitor reported of “superior pub fare”.