Winterville
Clapham Common
23 NOVEMBER 2017 - 1 JANUARY 2018
Free, except after 6pm on Friday and Saturday where a £3 charge applies
Street Feast and Field Day have teamed up to give us Winterville, labelled "London's alternative festive experience". Winterville has previously been held in Victoria Park, but has moved south this year to Clapham Common, either to give the South some sparkle, or because the North simply weren't that interested anymore.
Essentially a smaller scale Winter Wonderland, which is held in Hyde Park, Winterville has all the common tropes you would expect: from mulled wine to fair rides, roasted chestnuts to hot dogs. The main difference between these two fair's, apart from the size, is that Winterville seems a bit more accessible, easier to navigate, and, well, just a bit more upmarket really. The food choices are much tastier - with the likes of White Men Can Jerk, Le Bao, Kalimera and Up In My Grill providing anything from crisp calamari to perfectly rare and tender steak. Prices start from £4 but don't go above £12... so nothing is too horribly overpriced.
There are probably at least 5 bars around the space, including two indoor heated venues. Mulled wine and beer come in at £5 with cocktails being considerably more - Mojito's are priced at a rather hefty £10. Fairground rides are as expected - we paid £4 each for a ride on the crazy mouse (see image below). There is also a kids section with rides such as the teacups, and a big wheel for a calmer, more romantic ride, coming in at £5.
Winterville has many free options, such a nightly DJ's, from the guys behind South London Soul Train to Hip Hop lovers Gin and Juice. There are also cabaret shows, roller discos and even a talk on how to find love at Christmas, which are available to book for between £10-£20 a pop. Other attractions are a backyard cinema, showing many Christmas classics and featuring beanbags in an outdoor heated tent - cosy for sure. There's also an Ice Rink so, if you're like me and have two left feet, you can embarrass yourself.
Winterville essentially has something for everyone. We enjoyed some £4.50 cans of bud, a look around the VERY pricey market, a ride on the crazy mouse and a boogie to some Soul Train DJ's. Overall it was a lovely way to get into the Winter Spirit and I will probably return to see it at some point in the daytime too. This year, don't make the journey to Hyde Park to get a £10 overcooked hotdog and be elbowed by tourists, instead, come to Clapham for a much more civilised and enjoyable winter fair and see what the South has to offer.
OVERALL RATING: ****
http://winterville.co.uk/
