The Nightingale, Balham

Great local pub that Youngs have thankfully spared the refit so many of their other places have suffered. Let's hope they leave it that way.
Nice atmosphere. Relaxed and friendly. Decent pint of Ordinary.
Highly recommended. Wish there were more like this one.

5 Aug 2010 16:15

Devonshire, Balham

All the previous comments seem to be spot on with this place.

Youngs took a great, traditional local pub, bursting with history and character, gave it the regulation gastro-pub makeover and left us with this bland, over-priced monstrosity.

Staff are at best slow and miserable, at worst surly and rude. The food is totally average and doesn't come within a mile of justifying it's price tag. Bar prices something else. The best part of �6 for a pint and half of beer. Rip off.

Do yourself a favour and go somewhere else. This place is an over-blown, over-priced, under-performing shadow of its former self.

5 Aug 2010 16:10

Balham Bowls Club, Balham

This place is different to your usual boozer, It's quirky, individual and atmospheric. This is turn makes it popular with the locals and it's always pretty busy. BUT, it could be a whole lot better.

You see, whilst the staff are perfectly friendly, they're not the most efficient and there rarely seem to be enough of them. Beers are forever off (I've lost count of the times Guinness has been unavailable) and the glasses are invariably filthy. It's also quite expensive, which given the state of the place isn't really acceptable. There are weeds growing above the front door, furniture is broken, sofas are missing cushions and the whole place just has an air of being on the wrong side of "rough round the edges". OK, so it's shabby/your own front room/slice of the 1970s. Yes, it's a time warp, but it's looking tired, needs a bloody good clean and a lick of paint.

All in all, it's still a place I like, and go to often. It's got a great laid back atmosphere and it's not your run of the mill indentikit London pub. However, with a little more TLC it could move from A pub in Balham to THE pub in Balham. Must try harder.

5 Aug 2010 15:57