The Black Dog Freehouse in Lambeth

We were really looking forward to going here for dinner, we’d had a quick drink in the rose prior and wish we’d stayed there after our experience, much nicer ambience and friendlier staff. On arrival we were met by a tall bald gentlemen who abruptly told us we were too early (only 10mins) we would have to wait at the bar. This was fine, just a bit taken aback by his attitude. We were eventually seated and ordered our food which was mediocre at best, service wasn’t great and we were practically sitting on the lap of the people at the next table so crammed in. We only booked Black Dog as we were staying at Staybridge Suites and this was the nearest place for food, maybe we caught them on an off day but we certainly won’t be back nor would we recommend.

Before I looked at the latest comments about this place, I thought it was just a neighborhood pub where only locals would come. Now I was very surprised to hear that it was mentioned in a Taylor Swift song and that it was famous. If I had known this before, I probably wouldn't have gone. When I saw that some fans were making bad comments about this place, I realized how right I was. Even though it was such a popular place and I was alone, they took very good care of me. Also, it was Valentine's Day :) I had chicken wings and grilled salmon, it was delicious.

Great pub with delicious food and drinks. It can get quite busy, but there’s still plenty of space to feel comfortable. The staff are efficient and serve food quickly without any delays.

Great atmosphere! Super good and super professional

enjoyed this pub! was worried it would be very touristy after inspiring Taylor Swifts music, but I found it charming! the cider was great

Me he alojado en Vauxhall T Lodge tantas veces, pero nunca descubrí aquí hasta hace poco y solo caminando por los jardines para un paseo por la tarde! Gran pub, la comida se veía muy bien y precios muy agudos. Comeremos aquí la próxima vez. Muy buen servicio amable - nunca sabrías que estás en Londres! Calentadores exteriores en las paredes. ¡El hallazgo de mi fin de semana fuera!

Very nice pleasant experience. The food was good solid pub food and a really nice relaxed place. Food wasn’t much to write home about but was very quick especially considering how busy it was

The place could be lovely, because of the location and setting. Unfortunately, the customer service is terrible. We ordered drinks and we were sitting in 8 people in a small table. Once a big table was available, we asked for it, they agreed to give us the space. When we approached it the waiter run towards it saying that we had to wait for it to be cleaned, that they he would tell us when and were we could be assigned a table. We waited, more people arrived and they let them sit in the free table then when we asked about it they said they didn't have enough space for us. I regret I had suggested the place. I think we were treated very badly by staff and we had already consumed the first drink. Our intention was to stay more and even have some food. Pity about it. The place was good but their service terrible and unfair. Sad for London

Although the food was delicious, the crowding hampered my experience.

Writing this as I’ve been here for an hour and yet to have been waited by anybody while all 5 tables that came in after have received drinks and/or food before we have even been able to order.

They weren’t able to arrange our group of eight people, we waited a long time for a sufficiently large table to be freed and when it was free they first made us wait and then they said we couldn’t sit there

Amazing food and very friendly customer service, the swiftie vibe is given

Great pub around the corner from Vauxhall station, fantastic food, lovely service and great vibe

"And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog..." It was a great little pub. Not too crowded on a Monday afternoon. The service was awesome and fast. Everyone was super nice, and I got some cute merch. The sticky toffee pudding was so good!

The staff is incredibly helpful

This is an absolute gem of a place - fantastic food and a really welcoming atmosphere, so much so we returned the following night!

Quite a nice pub with a relaxed atmosphere! The food was good and reasonably priced. The ribeye was delicious! I’ll definitely return next time I’m in London.

Niente di che.. burger mediocre, birre mediocri, servizio mediocre. Io piatto vegetariano (curry) molto buono, unica pecca e non aver avvisato che era molto piccante.

Amazing service, food is good but the sunday roast servings could be better for the price!

Popped in after visiting the imperial war museum, fantastic food, far exceeding expectations, lovely friendly staff. Close to transport, lovely interior. Would love for this to be my local.

All positive would recommend this as a decent gastro pub. Food was good quality and well worth heading out there for a bite

A warm welcome on a cold day .. we were shown to a cosy corner table.. fab friendly service, delicious food and good cocktails !!

cute little pub, only came for a drink and at the end of my time there i asked about merchandise and the guy behind the bar rolled his eyes, scoffed and walked away, i was then served by a nicer lady.

Haven’t been there but I definitely need to go there 🐾

Amazing experience if you love Taylor Swift

Friendly staff, delicious burger and good beer. I came here for the music but ended up being very pleasantly surprised!

The food is delicious. I had a waiting time of approximately 15 minutes, I don't know if it is always like that or if someone has to wait longer. But you can have something where you wait for a table. The place is very nice.

Even before T.S. name dropped it, it was just an ‘okay’ pub; a nice enough haunt to go to after work for a few drinks. Problem is, now it’s almost impossible to get in because you need a reservation, unless you fancy sitting outside, but those tables are almost always full up anyway. I do think the management are playing it smart and maximising their moment in the spotlight, though. Good for them. Food is hit or miss, really. I once had some gorgeous fish and chips, and once had a steak with no char or sear on it, so I guess it’s luck of the draw. The in-house lager and stout are okay, not really superior to any existing brand. Drink selection is okay too. Honestly I much preferred it when it was a quieter place you could just drop into, but still worth a visit, I guess. Especially if you’re a Swiftie.

and it hits me…HOW YOU DONT MISS ME IN THE BLACK DOG🪩

Nice pub with interesting draft beers. We saw the daily specials too late. The burgers were great and the small Caesar salad is also recommended. Very friendly service and a good atmosphere. Clear recommendation.

Lovely food, good selection of drinks. Packed on a Tuesday night, loud and crowded. Service very slow and inattentive. Looked like our server left at 9 and didn’t hand us off to another so we sat unattended waiting to order another drink or just pay for 20min.

Great location, good choice of beer/cider. A bit expensive. Booking recommended.

Fastastic service , staff are extremely helpful and attentive . Food was delicious but portion could be more , very tasty coffee and beer . Would definitely recommend people to come here .

Of course famous because of the song, but a nice place with a good variety of drinks and friendly service... definitely will come again

We have tried almost everything from the menu, and everything is prepared fresh. This has become our go-to because of great service, great selections, and yummy food. Highly recommend!

The food, service and the beer so good. This place is 100% recommendable. The fish and chip is phenomenal….

Absolutely perfect! The service was incredible, and the food was amazing. Such a cozy and cool place, totally recommend!!!

Came here yesterday as part of my list of Taylor Swift related places I wanted to visit on my London trip. My parents and I were able to get a table for lunch without a booking, and the food was so good. I had the shepherds pie. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this pub, or come back again on a future trip! Thank you for having us.

We organised a private hire of the entire venue for our corporate Christmas party. The entire event was easy to plan and organise, as the communication was very clear and our booking agent Eva was very helpful. The venue manager and the entire team were very friendly and attentive, they showed a lot of care when looking after our party of 50 guests. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely with lots of fairy lights on the windows. The entire team was very happy, and it was a truly memorable experience. Thank you team for such a wonderful evening!

Drinks were great and the service was fast. It’s a good place to go to, it really does add excitement to the experience if you’re a swiftie LOL, but still fine and worth a stop by even if you’re not. (:

Bellissima atmosfera in un locale in perfetto stile londinese. Cibo buono, personale accogliente e prezzi moderati, super consigliato!

Went on a detour to visit this pub because of the taylor swift song, looked lovely even on first glance. Had a lot of pretty flowers and nice outdoor seating.

La qualità del cibo è ottima! Cheeseburger e patatine deliziosi, merluzzo fritto con vari sides anch’essi buonissimi. Location molto bella e accogliente così come lo staff. Un po’ caro secondo me, contando però che siamo a Londra e in un locale ormai turistico per via di Taylor Swift e per la qualità del cibo..ci sta farci un salto!

Went because of Taylor Swift and was a nice surprise. The atmosphere is really great and the service was very good. It gets really crowded but evening/night so if you don't have a reservation, come early.

brilliant food - genuinely incredible. will be going back next time i’m in london.

It was a lovely experience with great food and the staff was incredibly kind and friendly! I went there because of "The Black Dog" by Taylor Swift and didn't expect that much but it was incredible! There are a few hints all over the place connected to Taylor Swift but it's not over the top so it's a good place to go to for non-Swifties as well! I recommend booking in advance as the place gets crowded quickly (not just because Taylor Swift sang about it!) Thanks to all the staff for a great evening!

We loved it. They were super kind to us, the food was delicious (they have Spanish tapas 😂) and the cider was very cold. They were explaining to us the boom they had after Taylor Swift's song. They have board games.

Went to have dinner with my family. At first we’re seated at a table but told we couldn’t order any food until we could be moved to another table. After an hour of waiting and finally getting the right table, we placed our order and the waitress asked if there were any allergies. I mention I had one to seafood. She asked how bad it was and if trace seafood was acceptable on a Sunday roast. I said no as I am allergic to seafood but can at least sit at the same table. After a couple minutes the hostess come over and states they are not able to serve me anything on the menu due to my allergy per company policy that is posted no where and we were not informed of. We politely said to cancel the whole dinner and left. I have never been told I could not be served a beef roast due to my seafood allergies. Are they that unsanitary in their kitchen they cant separate beef from fish?

Took friends here for the Christmas set lunch. Lots of great food, friendly and efficient staff and a lovely Xmas vibe. They were great with allergies and dietary requirements too. We had a great time and would love to come back!

The absolute best hamburger and fries I have ever experienced in the UK/ don’t miss the Black Dog!!!

very nice service and great atmosphere, very cozy ❤️

Went there three times; one as a Taylor fan, second as a friend, third as a fan of Sunday roast. The food is good but the service not so! We all felt like they were doing us a favour by talking to us and bringing our food to the table. Also the portion was bigger ordering the tapas fried chicken and fries than the roast - I was a bit disappointed by that.

Great staff, they squeezed us in without a reservation. Calamari and chorizo salad was incredible. Food was fairly priced for how nice it was. Highly recommend the place!

They were out of the only vegan meal, and the waitress did not understand that I didn’t want to vegetarian option instead. She claimed it was vegan aswell, eventhough it had cheese. She didn’t understand the difference. The “bread with rosemary” didn’t have any rosemary. Staff was very focused on getting you out asap after you had your food, bc more and more people were coming in.

Overhyped bc of Taylor Swift. Staff are not that friendly. We had nachos, not great, didn't have tex-Mex flavour.

We came with our girls because of Taylor Swift. Left with full stomach and had the best time. The food was great. The staff worked so hard to accommodate us and the atmosphere is a traditional English Pub. You won't be disappointed.

Este lugar está bombeando, gran ambiente y buena comida. La señora detrás de la barra era impresionante, rápido y puntual. Tuvimos que esperar 40 minutos para conseguir un asiento, pero valió la pena, la comida era muy buena y el servicio no podía vacilar

Buena selección de cervezas de barril, pero la comida tomó tanto tiempo y el gerente Connor estaba tan aburrido que no podía levantar una sonrisa.

Everything is amazing, I would recommend that you don't let that Joe guy pass by 👐🏻🤭

Was travelling from overseas and wanted a Sunday Roast experience. I Googled where to find the best roast and found this place on a blog. I made the reservations a few months in advance because I saw reviews that it could get busy. I didn’t know till after I booked it that it was referenced in a Taylor Swift song. I was a solo diner and they seated me in a corner (totally fine as it was really busy). Service was really good and waitresses were very attentive even though I was kind of hidden. Got the beef Sunday roast and a glass of Prosecco. Overall, I loved the food especially the pudding and seasoned potatoes. I’m used to eating more fattier cuts of beef so I found the roast a bit on the rougher side for me, but it was cooked pretty well and was juicy (not dry). The side of veggies was an ample portion. Seems like alot of locals come here - there were lots of big family parties and people that clearly were Swifties.

Rocked up hungry for a Sunday roast. Had the vegetarian option and it was an absolute joke. A slice of burnt cauliflower in some watery excuse for gravy and a grand total of 1 meh roast potato, with 1 slice of soggy parsnip on the side and an inedible splat curried sweet potato … that’s not a Sunday roast. Left hungry. Disappointed. Staff was nice and considerate. Did not have the chance to speak to them about the utter disappointment that was the meal, because it started raining and we were sitting outside.

Got here because of Taylor, stayed for the good food, drinks, and kind waiters and waitresses. 10/10 would go again.

The staff here were lovely, i was served by CeCe, Violet and Hattie.. they were so polite and welcoming during the whole experience and i would definitely come back just to relive it. Thank you so much for a lovely night

Incredible place, incredible food and a nice atmosphere

Quite a charming pub in a somewhat dingy town of Vauxhall. Only about a 10-minute walk from the tube station. Next to a park. The food is very good. The atmosphere is good. The staff is excellent and seems to have been hired right out of the NYC playbook of hiring models as staff. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the area.

Tasty food and good beer selection

Such a warm welcome, friendly atmosphere and great food. We went with our 3 month old and the staff were so accommodating. We had a quiet table where my wife was able to breastfeed. The berry crumble was delicious.

I wouldn't recommend this place. My vegan burger was very basic (limp lettuce and a square of non-melted orange cheese) and quite undercooked, for £15. The staff were pretty unfriendly and abrupt, whilst also being quite pushy - e.g. we were constantly asked if we wanted more drinks, before we'd even finished our current ones. They also had an issue with my friend asking for a card receipt, and couldn't provide this for her. I won't be going back.

Very cozy, very good, very nice waiter and waitress. Little extra: attentive with children.

Great food and atmosphere! I highly recommend Sunday Roast.

The dessert bumped it to a five star. Churros and sticky toffee pudding was amazing

¡Así! ¡Vine aquí por el bombo! Un grupo de nosotros estábamos visitando Vauxhall / buenos amigos que viven en la zona. Este pub claramente se ha beneficiado del “efecto rápido”, PERO el gerente de domingo por la noche (Connor) tiene algunas necesidades de capacitación. - sus habilidades de la gente necesita mucho trabajo - solo se puede cenar en la luna de miel por un tiempo Cecelia como su suplente está listo para manejar. ¡Ordénalo!

Just like most people I came here because of Taylor Swift and I came alone, the food was good (and definitely better than most pubs) and came very quickly, but the service really stood out. The server and what I assumed was the hostess were always fast to help and they checked multiple times to get my order right which was very comforting. It’s overall a nice vibe, and very fair prices considering their boost bc of TTPD!

Very cosy pub with lush greenery opposite, serving up a range of pub classics with a bit of a twist. Came for the veggie roast, left very full. Big piece of cauliflower, nicely charred. Big portion with veg shared. Gets quite busy so would recommend booking.

Lovely food and atmosphere. Kimon was very helpful and kind!

The special of the day, BBQ ribs, was simply the best I've ever had. Quantity, flame grill and sauce.....wow. Just had to leave a review 🤓

I love the idea that there is games to play with, the staff are really kind the food is amazing. We love the Taylor references our family really recommends a visit !!

Are we sure this is the place Taylor sings about? The ambience was okay, but very noisy due to everybody talking. Our reservation worked out and they did also ask about food allergies. However, the risotto I had ordered had so much pepper inside that I could barely finish half of it. (And I usually like pepper on my food.) Very disappointing. I’m just not the kind of person who would complain to the waitress. Generally overpriced, too. Would not return.

Food and service was really good but step in bathroom is not clear it’s a step so easy to fall over.

We loved the burger and the risotto 🫶🏻 but, mostly, we loved our waiter . He was kind, friendly, helpful, and a joy to talk to !

Taylor swift visit with our daughter. Very welcoming

We went here because of Taylor‘s song. Everything was decent but the vegan option was underwhelming compared to the rest of the menu.

Terrible roast, no Guinness on tap but staff are nice and vibes are good

It's a local pub that provides mid grade food as expected. It has some fame due to mentioning by TS in a song. Other than that uniqueness, there are plenty of other pubs around to choose from.

The only good thing about the place was the atmosphere. Service is quite bad, the girls working there have no motivation at all, since the mandatory service fee of 12.5% is included in the bill. We had olives, as snacks, but they had no taste whatsoever. Very disappointed regarding this place. Plenty of better alternatives around.

Food was great and so was the vibe. Lovely evening.

Cozy pub that happens to have become a Swiftie meeting place. There are a few quotes here and there and a nice photo spot outside, but not overly so if that's not up your alley. We had the vegan burger and it was quite good. Service was very nice and helpful.

A visit to The Black Dog is a must! We popped in while visiting London for my mother’s 70th Birthday and we loved every moment. The pub is vibrant and the staff tremendously friendly. There were great beer choices — we each got something different. My mom was shocked by a sweet birthday card from the team and a delicious piece of sticky toffee pudding. Overall, an incredible experience and we would definitely visit again!

Went to the black dog for Taylor obviously and made a dinner reservation for us and our friends. We tried the fish n chips, veggie burger and our friends got a risotto. The food was pretty good, not like out of this world, but still very tasty. We each got different drinks. A beer, cider and cocktail. All were very delicious. The vibes were great at this place. Got some awesome merch before leaving and had a good time overall. Would recommend if you love Taylor lore. 10/10

An amazing pub with equally as amazing food!

Great pub. The only down side is that you might see Jeffrey Archer in there. And that’s a blot on anyone’s day.

Good service, and beer selection was better than most places in London. The Black Dog Stout was very nice! And this was in a quiet neighborhood, just off the Underground. Definitely worth checking out!

During our trip to London, a stop at Black Dog was a must! We discovered Black Dog thanks to one of Taylor Swift’s songs – it’s a heartfelt track. So, we went there for that reason, but we ended up leaving with a deep appreciation for the food, the atmosphere, and the people working there. In particular, the owner, Sofia, who is Italian like us, was super friendly and fun to chat with. The food was great, a bit pricey, but of excellent quality. Overall, we’re very happy with the experience!

A very nice place for a meeting with friends, requires advance booking.

Came with a Swiftie, stayed for the food and drink. Lager was smooth, chicken was flavorful, and the toffee pudding was amazing. WARNING: There is a discretionary 12.5% fee, so be prepared for that on your final tab.

I went here approximately 4pm on Sunday and oh boy was it impressive. The pub was vibrant and packed. It is a cosy pub with not that many tables inside so I would recommend booking to avoid sitting outside. The atmosphere was buzzing and it was very busy. I waited about 10 minutes to get a table inside with dining solo. There was many people dining outside as they did not book. I ordered a whiskey sour which was whiskey and bitters, it was a bit different to the whiskey sour I am used to in Australia where they do the egg white foam on top. It was still a nice cocktail to accompany my meal. I ordered the Sunday Roast Pork and oh boy was it a huge meal. I could not finish it all, and I would of taken it away if I was not flying to Singapore that night. It was a delicious meal and the only thing I was not a huge fan of was I believe it was either a parsnip or turnip in the vegetable mix. Everything else in the dish was great and there was nothing wrong with the turnip just it was not to my taste. The service was quick and I had my meal within 10 minutes of ordering. I was impressed by the meal, service and just overall the pub was a good atmosphere.

Amazing food and beer selection. Whether it's a match day or not, it's the best pub in Brentford.

A really nice pub with a great on tap beer selection. Went for a friend’s birthday dinner and its a nice touch that the staff do a birthday card. Just pretty standard pub food.

Delicious fish and chips. Relaxing ambience. Perfect London pub.

A great place and a super wimbeldon Ale drink for £5.75.... Awesome guys