The Hop Cellars

The ornate iron gates of this Victorian building help it get our award for south London’s most elaborate frontage – & the Victorian theme continues down into the basement wine bar/restaurant. Given that it’s an outpost of the Balls Brothers empire, you’d expect the wine list to be fairly special &, sure enough, it trots through the world’s best-known wine-growing areas with admirable thoroughness. Prices are reasonable, although there’s not much excitement in the by-the-glass offerings. Food is straightforward, rarely straying beyond the safe territory of grazing platters, bangers & mash, & fishcakes.