The Black Dog

Gently lit by two antique chandeliers & hidden away on a Vauxhall backstreet, the newly refurbished Black Dog (formerly The Lavender) is earnestly making its mark on the South London pub scene. The open kitchen keeps the locals & corporate regulars fed & watered with a simple but thoughtful menu based on seasonal ingredients – think pumpkin risotto with ricotta & crispy sage or lamb rump with crushed new potatoes & rosemary jus. For something lighter at lunchtime try the top-selling goats’ cheese, grapefruit & beetroot salad, perhaps with a homemade Scotch egg. Breakfast is a less formal affair, with granola & porridge for those on the go. The carefully styled bar shows off a decent range of real ales, English ciders & continental lagers, as well as a modest but wallet-friendly list of sub-£25 wines. Staff are knowledgeable & charmingly upbeat.

The Black Dog is an award-winning pub in Vauxhall, found in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, just a short walk from Vauxhall station. This listed building has been a fixture of the area for many years, serving an ever-changing selection of Cask-Marque accredited real ales, as well as its own lager, Black Dog Lager. Proximity to Oval and The Oval cricket ground also makes it popular with cricket fans and cricketers from nearby Surrey County Cricket Club. 

The pub enjoyed a new lease of life in 2024 when, surprisingly, it was name-checked in Taylor Swift's 2024 album 'The Tortured Poets Department'. The opening track of the second side of the double album is called 'The Black Dog', named after this very pub. The reference is thought to be in regards to Swift's then boyfriend Joe Alwyn, who once lived in the area. A number of the pub's staff are Swift fans, and the pub has always been happy to receive other fans making the pilgrimage to see the famous pub. 

On Vauxhall's sunnier days you'll often see large crowds outside the pub, catching some sun from the pub's front terrace and picnic tables. Inside, The Black Dog shows off classic pub atmosphere and styling, with solid timber floors and furniture. At the rear, you'll find a back terrace and beer garden - another popular spot to enjoy a pint al fresco. 

As well as the hefty drinks selection, The Black Dog also serves a mixture of classic pub grub and Spanish-style tapas plates, with a changing selection of seasonal specials. On the menu at the time of writing you'll find the menu includes a cheeseburger, fish and chips with mushy peas, and nachos, as well as tapas style options like padron peppers, chorizo in cider and rosemary manchego with oak honey.