Love Clapham website is the local guide for residents and visitors of the Clapham area, London. This includes Clapham Common, Clapham North, Clapham South, Clapham Old Town, Clapham Junction and the surrounding areas of Battersea, Balham, Stockwell, Vauxhall and more.
Mama Lan by Clapham Common
Hot tip Clappers: Mama Lan is a new Beijing street food micro restaurant which sprang out of the super cool Brixton Village. You heard it here first, Clapham is as cool as Brixton. Official.
Mama Lan is unique and deeeelish. I’ve been twice in one week opting for the tofu strip noodles and one of the teas. We also tried some of the sides, which were gorgeous – especially the pork buns. The best bit is that it isn’t too expensive and portions are big, so you get value for money. Actually, that isn’t the best bit, the best bit is that they serve tea in pots. Love Clapham is a fan of loose tea in pots.
The decor is cool and the atmosphere chilled. It is small though, with only a handful of tables, so choose your times wisely. It’s by Waitrose 
9/10
The Breakfast Club on Battersea Rise
It was with great excitement that The Breakfast Club opened on Battersea Rise, Clapham Common west side. Anyone who’s visited the Hoxton or Soho branches will know to expect – as the name makes obvious – all variety of breakfasts. The quantity is vast, from the selection to the size of portions.
Unfortunately, quantity is definitely the name of the game here. Quality is lacking. If you’re after large platefuls of stodge, this is your best bet. It’s not awful but the quality of breakfasts and brunch on offer in ClaHa and surrounding areas far exceeds The Breakfast Club right now. A simple black coffee was noticeably ‘not great’. Sausages and bacon underdone (ie cooked but not crispy).
I’d recommend alternatives like Brew, Rapscallion, Fantasia, Abbeville Kitchen, Gastro, Breads Etcetera to name a few. They’re cheaper and higher quality.
Having been to The Breakfast Club in Clapham twice now, I can’t say I’ll go back anytime soon. Hopefully it’s just teething problems and concentrating on quality rather than quantity will help this new branch live up to its name.
5/10
Edit: sorry, we’d said originally Breakfast Club was on Lavender Hill when of course it’s on Battersea Rise. Doh!
Clapham Common Firework Display 2012
Cor blimey geeza mate. Just been perusing the Lambeth Council website and it looks like the Clapham Common Fireworks Display is a no show this year 
At least, at this point in time, Lambeth Council’s events calendar lists only Streatham Common and Brockwell Park firework displays.
Last year Love Clapham went to a roof just outside the Battersea Park firework display. Yep, always looking for a freebie. It was good but it wasn’t Clapham.
We’ll find out more in case it is on, stay tuned Clappers. We’re going undercover to investigate this tragic turn of events for you. Because we love you.
Introducing InstaClap
Did you see what we did there Clappers? Instagram + Clapham = InstaClap. Yes! It’s our all singing, all dancing, all clapping live feed of Clapham Instagram photos direct from YOU. If you tag an Instagram pic with #Clapham, it will instantly appear on LoveClapham’s InstaClap feed. Hashtag awesome. Go to the InstaClap feed now and start adding your own photos. We’re already hooked on the latest things going on right now…
Join our new forum
Hey Clappers! Long time no blog, eh? To help you make the most of living in the area and those last few drips of summer sun, we’ve launched our new Clapham Chat area. For long-terms Clappers, you’ll see that it’s much simpler to use. You can even login with Facebook or Twitter so you never need to remember a bloomin password again. Please don’t hate us because it’s blue… it will become pink soon.
One Weekend in Clapham
Let’s collectively show the world what Clapham is all about Clappers! Tweet your photos to us this weekend and we’ll add them below. Keep checking back for more!
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- writing a chalkboard!! #rockandroll
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- having a beer, watching 16 and Pregnant #chavtastic #plastic #scouser
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- bashing out orange and cinnamon ciapiroskas at the clapham north! #tasty
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- Friday night rock and roll with the kids……..
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- I’m getting my face round these! Oh yes. MM x
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- Chilling with a cat
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- watching 10 things I hate about you #longweek #livingthedream @chittchitt @lottie_els
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- What a night. This will take time to recover. Unbelievable crowd, unbelievable venue !
Slack Clapper
Check this out Clappers! It’s a man, on a rope, on Clapham Common, jumping around like a loon! We’ve seen a lot of cool things on the common but this is among the coolest.
Clapham Markets
The Clapham area is now completely spoilt for choice when it comes to markets. From posh nosh to fresh flowers, we Clappers have it all. Given the number of chain supermarkets and restaurants in the area, it’s no wonder the Clapham markets are increasingly popular with local residents. We want choice dammit! With three markets in the direct vicinity and others close by, there really is no excuse to shop local and benefit from better quality. Continue reading
Clapham Common Fayre 2012
Here’s a date for your diary Clappers, the Clapham Common Fayre 2012. Every year the Holy Trinity Church on Clapham Common is transformed into a hub of community with local produce and entertainment. Last year there were even donkeys! It’s great fun and we highly recommend you make time for it on Saturday 16th June from 11.00am. The church itself is such an important local landmark, it really is fab that the fayre is run each year.
Clapham News Roundup
Happy summer Clappers! Well, almost. It’s still a bit chilly but the sun’s out, the flowers are in bloom and we at Love Clapham HQ are feeling it. There have been quite a few developments around Clapham over recent months leading us into what promises to be a better summer in Claps than ever. Here’s the roundup…
WHSmith has opened on Clapham High Street, which might not seem like a huge deal but it’s significant as the first big brand shop to open since Boots took over from Woolworths a couple of years ago. Given that Clapham High Street has very limited shops compared to bars and restaurants, we’re happy about this.
Of course, the new Clapham Leisure Centre has been open for a few months now and is being heavily used – a great success after eighteen months without it, albeit with mixed feedback from our loyal readers.
Venn Street has really transformed the Clapham High Street area. Bringing a weekly market on Saturday’s with very high quality produce and snacks, but most noticeably for pedestrianising the road creating a community hub. We love it.
As you’ll see in the previous posts there’s huge debate about the bus station situation in Clapham Old Town – should more busses be stopping in one of Clapham’s prettiest spots?
Finally, Love Clapham has been hit with a series of stray cats, luckily they’ve all been re-homed. But where are they coming from?!
Lost Cat Clapham
Is this your cat, or do you recognise him? He arrived in our back garden near Clapham North, between Edgeley Road and Clapham Manor Street, on Saturday night and hasn’t left – which makes us think he may also come from an end terrace. He’s relatively large, fairly fluffy and very friendly, wanting attention – we believe he’s male but not confirmed. Has a deepish miaow, a tortoiseshell coat on top and all white underneath. While he seems in relatively good shape, he’s clearly been outside for a while with a scratch on his face that’s healing. He’s miaowing a lot
Update: we’ve now taken him to the vet and onto Battersea Cats and Dogs Home where he is currently housed and being cleaned up should you recognise him or want to adopt him. He is lovely!
New Clapham Leisure Centre Open
Clapham has been without a swimming pool for over a year but the new leisure centre (which looks something like the above drawing) is open. And dagnamit, it’s only got a swimming pool with a moving floor to change its depth! This probably entitles Clappers to say we have a ‘state of the art’ leisure centre. It also has a large gym area and a sports hall above it. Fabulous. For those of you going “whaaa? A new leisure centre? In Clapham?” you can find it on Clapham Manor Street next to the equally healthy KFC. Have you been yet, what do you think? Tell everyone below…
| 1. | Le Petit Boulangerie, Abbeville Road | 1. | Lack of waffles on sale in cafes |
| 2. | Gastro, Venn Street | 2. | Too many Sainsbury's |
| 3. | Clapham's new Leisure Centre | 3. | Rainy weekends :o( |
| 4. | Venn Street Sat market | 4. | Rubbish shops on the High Street |
| 5. | Costa in Clapham Junction station | 5. |