If there’s one place that shouldn’t be judged by its past life, it’s Clapham’s WC.
We’ve got a lot to thank the Victorians for, not least of all the grand public toilets they built all over town. They’ve been turned into cocktail bars, coffee shops, and even wine bars – with the best example of the latter being Clapham’s excellent date spot WC Wine & Charcuterie.
Yes, just so we’re clear, we are recommending a toilet as a place to impress your new beau. Over a century old, and having been given a thorough scrubbing since beginning its new life, WC can be found beneath Clapham Common tube station. In turning it into a stylish wine bar, they kept the Victorian tiling and installed a load of booths and tables, topping it all off with candlelight for some winning cosy vibes.
The name WC is doubly appropriate, for it not only addresses the bar’s past as a water closet, but it also nods to the two things WC specialises in: wine and charcuterie. Served by the glass, carafe, a bigger, boozier carafe(!), and by the bottle, the wine list spans the globe, from Chilean Riesling to Austrian Grüner Veltliner, and from Argentinian Malbec to Lebanese Musar.
These folks really know their wine, and they’re only too happy to help steer you towards something you’ll really enjoy. Of course, if you’re all about that no-nonsense baller lifestyle, you can shoot straight for the stars: a £90, 1.5 litre magnum of Syrah, Grenache, & Carignan should sort you out.
If you feel peckish, WC’s various cheese and charcuterie boards – including the invitingly-named ‘Superior Cheese & Charcuterie’ board – will fill you with all the smoked meats and cheeses you can handle. Further sustenance comes from a range of small plates, boasting the likes of beef meatballs, baked camembert, and beetroot tartare.
Snag yourself a table one evening – possibly a Sunday, when WC hosts live music from 8-10pm – order up a glass of something special, and enjoy a night in the most exciting toilet in town. And what could be better than that?
Location: Clapham Common South Side, Clapham, SW4 7AA. Nearest station is Clapham Common. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: 6-11:30pm (Mon to Wed), 5-11:30pm (Thu), 5pm-12:30am (Fri and Sat), 5-10:30pm (Sun).
Price: wines are priced individually, beginning at £5.5 per glass.
More information: from their website.
Featured image: @catmorley