Clapham’s ‘WC’ bar is celebrating its first festive season with a Christmas tree pop-up shop and inaugural charity market tomorrow.
Londoners are invited to purchase a tree while enjoying a warming hot buttered rum, mulled wine or mulled cider on the terrace, tucked around the corner from Clapham Common station.
WC, a former tube toilet whose name now stands for Wine and Charcuterie, is running the pop-up shop until tomorrow when they will host their charity market.
Owners Andy Bell,40, and Jayke Mangion,34, are donating part of the proceeds to the NSPCC.
The pair wanted to celebrate their first Christmas in a unique way and promote their upcoming charity event.
Mr Mangion said: “There are still a lot of people who do not know we exist. We have an outside area, so we can utilise this for different things.
“It’s a part of trying to have that Christmas vibe – to make it an experience.”
The event promises to be a big affair, with many of the bar’s suppliers helping the charity cause.
There will be stalls selling discounted products such as cheese, wine and charcuterie and there will also be live entertainment, with pianist Erin Mortimer performing Christmas favourites.
The original Victorian toilet, built in the late 1800s, was completely transformed before its opening on July 11 this year.
The owners have kept the original urinals for decoration, transformed toilet cubicles into booths and still use the mosaic tiled floor.
Mr Mangion said: “It still has that very Victorian feel – it’s very cosy, very intimate and it’s really popular.”
The disused toilet was far from its current state when Mr Ball and Mr Mangion bought it.
Mr Mangion said: “It was awful –it was a right off.”
