The Grove, Balham - pub details
Address: 39, Oldridge Rd, London, SW12 8PN [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 1563) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Clapham South (0.4 miles), Balham (0.4 miles)
Balham (0.4 miles), Wandsworth Common (0.6 miles), Streatham Hill (1.3 miles)
Brewery: Young's
Pub facilities/features:
- TV (for rugby), Big screen
- Table football
- Food served, Sunday roast, Real ale
- Outside seating, Children allowed, Credit cards accepted
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> Current user rating: 6.5/10 (rated by 52 users)
other pubs nearby:
Clarence, Balham (0.1 miles), Devonshire, Balham (0.1 miles), Jackdaw and Rook, Balham (0.2 miles), George, Balham (0.2 miles), Avalon, Balham (0.2 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Grove, Balham
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 63 shown - see all reviews
| Large Youngs pub in an unassuming residential location in Balham. You probably wouldn't find it in passing. I was surprised at just how big it was inside. But I believe there were only 2 other customers. Seating is fairly comfortable. Service was pleasant. Ales on were Youngs Special & Ordinary, with Addlestones cider also available. Not too bad. But lacked a little atmosphere. blue_scrumpy - 13 Sep 2012 21:11 |
| This pub has just come under new management (last Friday, so only a few days ago and after the disappointing comments below). I went yesterday and found the staff to be friendly and helpful and the new manager, Richard, was lovely and chatty. I would definitely recommend giving it another go, and make sure you have a chat to the new manager while you are there! MrsPoirot - 1 Jun 2011 10:55 |
| I have to agree with the last two posts unfortuately. What has happened to the Staff at The Grove? We too were part of the group in the last post and said staff were really grumpy and unhelpful that night. I think that when a large group comes into a pretty empty pub that at least one member of staff would stay on that side of the bar instead of hiding around the corner and making us walk round to buy drinks.... The staff used to be very helpful and accomodating, but now.... A great shame as we were all local, use the pub especially in the summer months, but not so sure that we want to go back again - The Nightingale around the corner holds far more charm and pleasantness. janeow - 24 May 2011 11:15 |
| My husband and I decided to have a little gathering at The Grove as we were moving out of the area and invited a few friends and neighbours for a drink at The Grove, we chose this pub because it was perfectly located for our friends to walk to and everyone was familiar with this pub. Unfortunately on this evening from the moment we walked in the person who I believed to be the manageress with blond shoulder length hair decided that she would not smile for the entire duration that we were there but rather made we feel as if we were disturbing her peace. The pub wasn�t even busy that particular evening and at one point there must have been at least 30 to our party so considering we brought 60-70% of the business a little friendly smile from the staff would have been nice, I had called in advance to try and book the seating area but was told it was already book, so with so many people we moved one table to join another which by the time half of our guests had left the manageress instructed her barman to ask us to move this table back, considering there was still 8-10 of us there and that the bar was still relatively empty still we thought this was a little rude, if she didn�t want us to move it in the first place she could have told us straight away. Earlier on some friends also came with their 18 year old son and when they bought a round of drinks the manageress asked to see his ID even though his parents vouched for him that he was indeed 18 and can legally drink but she insisted that unless he showed his ID he was not to consume any alcohol on the premises, as they only lived down the road he could have easily ran back to get it but he decided not to drink, even though the lady was only doing her job surely it was a little rude and a bit �jobs worth� of her to undermine his parents. Near the end of our evening at this pub the teenagers parents bought him half a pint of Guinness but the moment the poor boy put his lips to it the manageress instructed her barman again to dash out again from behind the bar and quite publicly gave the teenager and the parents a telling off for buying him a drink. For arguments sakes if for some reason the pub was raided and the police asked for the 18yr olds ID he would have just popped down the road and got it. She could have asked the parents of proof of their address to make sure they were local so that if needed his ID were close at hand, but instead she just chose to embarrass him and undermine his parents. Considering the amount of money that we spent in the pub the staff especially the manageress was extremely ungracious, as I said it was as if our being there annoyed her, we weren�t rowdy or drunk, our group consisted of couples a couple of young families and a couple of teenagers. We were all local residence who had been to the Grove before. Even when we came to settle the final bar tab which was a significant amount the manageress do not smile at all and I barely heard her say thank you. All I can say is she has put many of us off from going back to the Grove and we certainly would not recommend it to any of our friends anymore. Jsmatt - 23 May 2011 22:02 |
| What has happen? Went here 6 months ago and loved the place. Now the staff don't seem to care. The food has really gone down hill and the manager is nowhere to be seen. Ordered a roast dinner and waited 40 minutes before the wrong food arrived. I asked to speak to the manager and was told that he was busy. Not sure what has happened but avoid at all costs! A real shame as it used to be so good. I would advise the other Young's pub across the road. slighman - 25 Jan 2010 12:44 |
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