please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Huge pub in a part of London that is very pleased with itself. You suspect this pub would have been a huge cavernous smoke-filled boozer a number of years ago. Now it is pricey and a parody of a gastro pub with the tick box inflated beer prices, indifferent bar staff and focus on food.
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Went here on a Friday and paid £5.15 for a pint of Peroni, which is obscene. Even the bitters are £4 a pop. Just absurd.
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Awful pub, very poncy and try-hard with inattentive staff. I've given it two chances already but I won't bother with a third - avoid.
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Just ate here tonight. Well, It was shit. The food was passable but appeared like an after thought. Had the 'chefs special' Lamb hot-pot-stew-slow-roasted-seasonal blah. And it was tasty enough. In the way food cooked at home as a student was tasty. It looked like food my grandmother used to not-so-lovingly-prepare (shovel out) which would be amazing if it wasn't less 1/4 the serving size. My grandmother also never charged 13.90 mutherfucking pounds for the displeasure.
Honestly though, worse than the pitfall servings, the cavernous soulless australiananess, and the deafening christian R&B(listen closely if you dare) was the atrocious attitude of the staff serving. Despite spending well over 150 quid on a Gullivers travels version off grandmas tried and tested, my party was moved on for another booking like moroccan leather cattle. Pints were removed half drunk. When I was putting on my coat the twat waiter, as he was joining another table to ours deliberately rammed the table into my legs to indicate (just in case I was putting on my coat to order a second course of sub par tripe) that it was time to leave.
This joint sucks. It is so typically Clapham/Balham average town that even reviewing it seems like paying too much respect. Go anywhere but here. Go to the fucking Moon on the Water! 4 quid a pint too! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
P.S. Two of the serving bar staff, the short bloke with the moustache and the young attractive girl with massive hoolios were very polite and deserve to work somewhere better than this dump.
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Ran out of Heineken for the 5 weekend in a row. A pub with no beer is a lounge room. Sort it out. And start serving decent food while your at it. And would you mind serving me when I walk to the bar please. Thanks.
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I usually don't go in but went in to meet a friend recently. There is nothing too wrong with this pub the beer was good with a decent selection, it's confortable, looks nice and the screen was great to watch the sport on. The only downside being the barstaff. Plenty of them on and friendly to chat to but did have the occaisional tendency to look through you, walking passed a couple of times before deciding to serve you. Didn't happen too often but I was waiting long enough when 1 or 2 bar staff were doing nothing for me to notice.
Overall though there is nothing particularly wrong with this pub that a quick word with the staff couldn't fix. That said there is nothing that would have me picking it out over the half dozen or more other pubs all within a 5 minute walk.
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I was last sunday in the regent for sunday roast and i never back there for sure. service was really poor , pork was dry and yorkie was almost black. guys what is going on 4 months ago was much better but kitchen crew was different as well how i see.
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Sunday lunch was a terrible disappointment. My guest's pork had been heated up several times, although my lamb was fresh. However the Yorkshire puddings were rubbery, the roast potatoes a disaster and the gravy sparse and feeble. The service was appalling...I witness two couples on the table next to ours (and far too close) left because they weren't being served. The glasses in which our beer was served were dirty. Such a shame because a nice pub in a good location.
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This pub has so much potential and serves good food but is really let down by the consistently poor attitude of the staff. I have come here regularly since it opened, with friends from work, as it is very close but we have recently started going to better local pubs like The Bedford, Clarence and the BBC.
Despite the pub's convenient location, we now try to go 'anywhere but the Regent' when going for drinks in Balham. We have even raised our disappointment with a member of staff who said she was in charge and her response was an apathetic 'okay'.
What a shame!
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Had a fabulous roast Sunday yesterday - amazing VFM, �20 for a 3 course lunch including magnum of wine. The meat was beautifully cooked and the portion was plentiful. Lovely staff, friendly service.
Hard to beat!
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Hi There
I live in Balham and work in London as a mistery shopper. I've been hearing of a lot of changes that the old Balham Tup has been through and i needed to come and see for myself.
Obviously like the most peoplei check the online reviewsof those who have been there. Even thoughi didn't read many satisfactory reviews, i heard a lot of good comments from serveral people about this pub.
Last saturday i went there with my wife and in-laws and it was awesome. A very busy place but everybody knew what they were doing. Polite staff, fast, ready to serve always with a smile, great food.
Well, as a critic that i am, this place definately ticked all the boxes to get a 5star rating.
I certainly come back and recommend to everyone to go.
Thanks guys and keep it up.
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To the customer below.
As the General Manager of The Regent Balham, I witnessed your frustration and I can fully understand your statement. I do apologize for the way your afternoon went and for any problems you had while in The Regent.
As you already know the game that was on at the time you where in the venue was quite a important game and as you should expect there would be a large turn out for it. We had every staff member available on site and working to their best ability. As with most bars that show sport you can expect it to be busy and we do try our best to keep all our patrons happy and our service standards high.
The reason why the staff member was trying to keep a portion of the bar closed was so it may be used as a dispense area for the waiters we had working (not everyone in the venue was watching the game). We are working on improving this and moving things around to make access to the bar easier.
Again we are always looking to improve and your comments will be helpful for us to improve our service.
Kind Regards
The Regent Balham.
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Was there for Super Sunday football and was totally disapointed. As far to say they ruined my super sunday. Not enough staff. Rude staff. Will not be returning.
The general feel about the establishment was mutual with most patrons. Could not believe how long it took to get refreshments. One half of the bar was closed for no apparent reason. Found it difficult if not impossible to navigate around the premises. Which i feel represented itself with the lack of atmosphere once people where completely "over it"
On a good note when i approached the manager he dealt with my concerns in a courteous manner, if not for the eaves dropping staff member that should have been doing his job rather than arguing with me.
Will not be returning or advising any colleagues to visit during sporting events.
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Overpriced, even for Balham and the bar staff have clearly been told to to leave an excesively large head on the pints. They're happy to top uo your beer if you ask but it is irritating having to ask every time.
EAGON - 14 Jan 2011 13:14 |
been out of the country for a while and thought I would go down the Tup last night... What a change... Bloody smashing night..... great service and food was good, staff friendly. Great night. Cheers
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I was in on Friday nighth with a group of friends, the food and service were top draw,Im new to the area and the regent is the best place i have found so far....
sasi1 - 15 Jul 2010 16:21 |
great evening,food was very very good as was the service, will be back..
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Good night, but bar staff are very slow to serve despite not being that busy. They have a tendency to look straight through you! One actually spent about 10 minutes spooning mayonnaise into tiny pots while eyeing up all of us waiting to be served! That said, big up to the GM for turning the music down when asked! It was absolutely deafening. To have to yell to be heard by your friends is distinctly unpleasant.
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Was in there for the England game Saturday, decent atmosphere but took far too long to get served. Bar staff were severely stretched and it took up to 30 mins to get served at times which was a shame as it has put our group of 8 off from going back for the other games.
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went there last night for the first england game,great atmosphere,great night apart from the result,defo back for next game.
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Nice place. Much much better than the Blithe Spirit.
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What a pleasent change, so much better than the old Tup. 3 real ales, Landlord,pride and doom bar.Great food and 4 big screens for the sport. Spoke to the new manager and he says there gonna introduce a weekly guest ale as well as hand pulled cider.gonna be the place to be for the world cup.
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I eould be a bit suspicious of comment below, and no not because its a woman talking about football but because it reads like a total advert and the poster has made no other reviews. RIP the tup - decent beer and loads of rugby.
this place just seems like such a bland replacement perfectly pitched for the boring balham professional couples who wouldn't know a good night out if it slapped them across the face. wish someone would try something different round here, until then I'll be at the Hope where at least you can get some decent beer!
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I was there on Wednesday night for the Football, the food was so much better than what you would expect from normal sports bars and the atmosphere was electric! Will definitely be going there to watch all the World cup games on the big projector screens.
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The place has changed completely. New trendy decort, new loud music loss of a few beers on tap and a new team behind the bar.
It's pretty good but not great. It offers something new in Balham but not necessarily something that all will like. The only non-lagers on tap were guiness and london pride which is much more like a slight consideration to ale drinkers than any attempt to attract them in.
The place does have huge sports screens and will be great to watch a game in but I would say overall the place is passable at best.
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Has now reopened as The Regent. I haven't been in yet but it's supposed to be under new management so an instant improvement.
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Can't say it's a shame to see the old Tup go. Great location and used to be a nice place but the recent management team let it down to the point where no one I knew would go in. As such no surprises to see it close.
Hopefully it will reopen at some point in the future going back to the fun and friendly environment it used to be.
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Judging by many of the reviews for the Balham Tup, you may (or may not) be pleased to know that tonight the doors will close for the last time.
I for one hope that however reopens the pub, considers a change of staff.
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Large pub, emphasis on live sport and food. Real ale available and on my recent visit there was a large sign advertising 'special offer guest ales only �2.90'. I thought wow, I've struck it lucky here then !!! Hate to think what the usual price is.
I quite liked this place, plenty of space to spread out and find a corner to myself. Handy for Balham station which is just a one minute walk away.
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Oh to be a decent looking girl in this pub! The googly eyes of the troll that they call a manager almost burn as one walks past the bar! And to get a drink is possible...but somehow I feel like a piece of meat hanging on a chain for inspection by a prospestive butcher. On my second trip to the bar I made sure that I went to the end of the bar where he was not stuffing his face with food, I felt it may be better to avoid the sexual approaches and sly remarks.
A great sports bar that needs to get rid of on thing the south-london-american-football-hit-em-up-man who undresses every girl with his eyes. I think I may drink elsewhere when next in Balham, just to avoid feeling violated.
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Bex below.. suprise suprise he's very attentive towards you and your friends.. you're a woman (no doubt good looking).
Anyone else outside your demographic and you get the treatment below.
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I am really surprised that these negative reviews have been left.
I have been going to The Balham Tup for many years, sure It has seen changes in management, food, clientele (which pub doesnt these days!) and this place has been full circle however The Tup now has the perfect mix that appeals to all customers and needs. (Ok, its no gastro pub but thats why its great - relaxed and not pretentious)
The Tup is a great place to sit and catch up with mates (especially on the huge leather couches) watch a game of football/rugby(they usually show 2 games at each end of the bar), play pool, have dinner or lunch.
Best of all when your mates are running late and have left you at the bar waiting from them to arrive the staff keep you company - they are accomodating, friendly and best of all intelligent (there is nothing worse than haing a nonsense conversation to fill the time).
It is fair to say that the new management team have got it right they have achieved the perfect drinking establishment that can appeal to everyone and that is not easy.
Well done and keep up the good work.
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I have to say that i totally disagree with the comments. I have been going in to the pub for about a year and i think the staff are great. We always going in to the pub and order food and to date neither i or any of my friends have had any problems.
The new manager has also been really friendly and we have good banter with him. Much better than the last manager, we nearly stopped going because we found him really rude. The current bar manager is working hard to keep the pub going. I think you should cut him some slack!
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I agree with the comments about the sourfaced manager and the slow service in the pub. I will be taking my hard earnt cash elsewhere.
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Shame to see all the posts here about the new manager at the tup, but felt i had to post my support for them. Have frequented the pub for a couple of years but will now be boycotting it along with many friends until their is a change of management.
Seems that going in to a pub and ordering a drink is something this manager sees as a burden upon himself. Will very often wander aimlessly around the back of the bar with a sour face not doing very much. Even when the bar is packed (as it is for sport events) appears to be absolutely no lack of urgency to serve, or even to acknowledge who has been waiting the longest.
Short, rude and without doubt in the wrong profession.
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i think i am still shaking from how angry i was yesterday.
some friends and i went there for a roast and to watch the tennis.
ordered the beef and when it came out after 40 mins, i couldnt chew the meat which had clearly been cooked on saturday then re-heated. the veg was under-cooked and hard and the 'frozen roast potatoes' had just been deep fried.
i gave up after two mouthfulls and said could i swap it for the chicken.......
when that came out, the chicken was ok although that had been cooked in a fryer but the potatoes were still frozen in the middle.
took it back again and the manager took it out my hands, said that that was the second time i had compalined and that he was going to give me a refund and no more food!!!
his attitude was disgusting, no apology or anything - i am never stepping foot in the place again.
we had been to watch football before and it was ok for drink and sports but the food is over-priced crap i wouldnt give to a dog.
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Really awesome pub for sports and boozing. The staff are however very unaccomodating and really do not make you feel welcome.
Also the grumpy arsehole that looks like Chef from South Park just ruins the atmosphere. i can only assume that the posts below are in reference to the same guy. Either this fella was having a bad night or as I more strongly suspect he just should not work in the service industry as he has very bad communication skills.
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Was in the Balham Tup last night, and I've never seen anything quite like the barman / manager / general waste of space.
Food served to a friend was burnt to a crisp - "char-grilled mate" was the response, and after 10 minute sof arguing, he agreed to refund HALF the cost...
The guy is a complete butt-hole, and people should avoid this pub until they get rid of him. Great venue for football, but just not worth being treated like re-fried sh1te by the guy who's wages you're paying...
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A decent sports bar, ruined by an incredibly rude manager. There are plenty of screens to watch sport and a decent selection of beers but the attitude of the bar man is beyond belief.
Surly and sarcastic comments as you are being served. Simple requests to change channels or to move tables refused "because he said so".
A friend of mine ordered a mixed grill, only to be served a plate of charcoal. When he complained to the bar man, he was met with disdain and told that it was "char-grilled, not burnt", before opening chastising the poor Polish chef in front of the whole bar for her mistake after begrudgingly giving a 50% refund.
This guy is a knob and is spoiling what could be a great sports bar.
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I concur. I had similar experiences here. This pub has really gone downhill. On the other hand the Jackdaw & Rook is under new management and the new manager is really friendly along with her staff. Also, the food is great and served to you without your assistance!!! If you want sport in Balham, this is the place to go.
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haha @ the review below, to be fair, you couldn't be more right.
Its a far cry from the old days.
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I have never experienced worse customer service in my life in a pub. The attitude and service of the manager is just extraordinary. I went to have a quiet meal after work and watch the football, standing at the bar i was told that i should keep my eye out for a barman bringing my meal. No probs. I noticed 2 burgers sitting at the end of the bar and had been for 20 or so minutes. The manager served me one of these burgers! After explaining they had been sitting there for some time i was told i was wrong he had just cleared the area. I said no i have been here waiting keeping an eye out they have been sitting there for a long time, "no they havent mate" over and over. I was stunned. Starving and not going to win the argument an not wanting to be out of pocket i had to eat it. After finishing my pint and about to walk out i heard him say that food was off as the bar was too busy as someone asked to get some hot chips. Amazing. Two work colleagues were treated the same way the next week when they asked to watch a cricket match on setanta. Never again...
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And in closing, if you wish to see this brute in action, may I suggest that you seat yourself upon the bar. Watch him lazily delegate responsiblility to those with marginally less experience at speaking in standard English. Watch him spoon lumps of meat in to his R32-driving mouth, whilst pondering upon the negativity of his thoughts.
And as his educated Polish workers are occupied serving others, watch his expressionless face raise to acknowledge your inconvenient presence; a face only enlivened by the presence of white girls of loose morals. Watch him lick up the oil from his dispassionate face, and congratulate yourself on the discomfort you have caused him as he laboriously ambles to serve you.
Then walk off and go to the Devonshire.
anonymous - 4 May 2009 22:59 |
Lovely pub with ample room. Not particularly engaging choice of beer, only Abbots was on. Pleasant atmosphere with mostly couples drinking away a bank holiday Monday.
But beware, there lurks a barman-cum-manager most weighty in demeanour. Fore this unprofessional South-Londoner attends his employment merely for the pleasure of consuming his employer's food and reading their tabloid papers. The thoroughly unnecessary contempt he displayed towards my order of drinks led me to conclude that either he was unhappy with his job, or that his parents had done such a poor job with his upbringing that he did not know how to greet customers with an appropriate civility.
Suffice to say I shall not return to his establishment. Fore his mould are adept only at displaying a welcoming attitude towards attractive females of an impressionable character. I hope that his forthcoming weeks are met with similar discomfort from the reasonable requests his cultured customers make, and that he rethinks his career; opting to return to his previous joyless position as a nightclub doorman.
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If you have a look at my previous comments about this place you can see that they're generally positive however a nasy change has come over the Tup recently. The crowd is still the same, the decor hasn't changed, the food is still alright and there are still one or two nicely kept ales on tap.
The change? The attitude of the staff. They serve with a grudging attitude and are at times just plain rude. They give snide comments to the public and seem to have a real attitude problem. Since this started I've been in 3 or 4 times and it does seem to be the same 2 or 3 staff members like this and the rest are fine but this small group really let's the whole pub down.
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I have to say, I thought this place was pretty good. Went there for the SA v Aus Tri nations game on Saturday, and really enjoyed it. Vocal, but well mannered crowd.
Service was quick and with a smile. Grub was decent enough.
I'd deffo go there again. Ale drinkers would be disappointed, but then you shouldn't really expect weird and wonderful brew in a place like this.
It's not going to win pub of the year, but then again it's not trying to.
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This place is all right to be honest. It does get packed when showing sport, got my hand stamped by the world's shortest doorman when I went in to watch a 6 nations game which I thought was a bit odd. Does favour football over rugby if both are shown at the same time despite putting up rugby flags. Thoguh it will show one at one end of the bar and the other at the other end I have always found the commentary on teh footbal much louder.
When the sport isn't on there is plenty of space without feeling like the place is empty. The bar staff are friendly and the beer has always been good. It just doesn't offer anything particularly special or unique that would set it apart from the crowd though.
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A Wetherspoons lookalikey with flags tacked up to the ceiling, making it a SPORTSBAR!
Varies between lots of fair-weather footy 'fans' with bored girlfriends, and young men cuddling each other as they watch the rugby games
But where at least your local Wetherspoons only has the cheek to charge a few quid for their deep frozen to deep fried slop, here they're asking restaurant prices.
And lager is �3.40. A Pint. �3.40! In scruffy old (zone 3) Balham!!
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Is this the the boozer used in Time Gentleman Please?
ALL HAIL THE ALE
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Decent pub with good selection of real ale which is well kept - staff are ok the northern irish manager is a good laugh.
Brilliant for sport - although it does get packed on certain days. Burgers are great other food ok. Although i have been there when half the menu hasn't been available on a Sunday night.
The Sunday night quiz is popular and well run.
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This is a barn of a pub with no redeeming features and so-so food if you have an hour or so to wait.
Sport's always on the plasmas, way louder than necessary - I mean who really needs snooker at full volume? Heaves with screaming football or rugby fans when that's on. Pretty inhospitable when curtains closed and the mob come in to howl at the screens. There are no quiet corners so this place resembles a staff canteen with a bar.
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Completely agree with insekt...could not be more average. A very large sparcely furnished room with a few TV's and a big screen for sport. I went there on Sunday evening for the 'reknowned' quiz which was terrible. It lasted from 8 to 10:30 with the dulllest quizmaster alive and took 40minutes to give the final marks - if you want a great quiz look no further than The Freemasons Arms in Clapham Junction. Food was very average again with a distinct lack of choice with most things had run out - who runs out of sunday roast on a sunday!!
On the plus side they hadn't run out of Guinness!
I won't be returning in a hurry.
anonymous - 4 Apr 2007 16:45 |
I think this pub rather depends on when you go. First thing though is too make sure you visit a cash point on Balham High Rd cos it's pricey
When the rugby's on it gets packed with the worst kind of Balhamites and even though I'm a rugby fan I always stay well away. It is much better on a hot summer afternoon when the cavernous interior makes it an oasis of cool.
When Champs League games are on they sometimes show both games involving English clubs - one on each big screen which is good and doesn't happen anywhere else in Balham that I know of.
It's ok in the right circumstances but there are better pubs nearby
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Good for big screens, food is standard, slightly expensive (as is Balham generally) - however most of the barstaff strike me as slightly rude. Which is a shame really, as the staff are the only thing that ever set apart chain-type pubs, no matter how up (or down) market they try to portray themselves as.
5/10.
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Incredibly average pub. There's really nothing to say about it except how ridiculously pricey it is.
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The prices p*ss me off and the ra ra boys are even worse! Lots of screens for sport but it still doesn't have the atmosphere for it.
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Nice big pub in good location, but seems full of the inbred spawn of landed gentry/City set who socialise with eachother on ULTRA high volume whether there be 2 of them or 20! In such a cavenous building the effect can result in eardamage! We left last week after 26 (I counted them) arrived en masse and dug in for the evening in the centre of room for the evening! Thinking back The Balham Hotel had its good points!
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worth a look in for big sporting events as big screens and a decent atmosphere. Any other time I would avoid like the plague - crap beer, expensive and appears to be the watering hole of choice for the Balham chinless wonder society.
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Is it me or are all Tups over-priced and over-rated? After all, there are essentially a slightly upmarket chain pub.
The plus side is the aforementioned big screen sports, although the toilets are nowhere near large enough for the venue when it is jammed for the big events.
Shame the beer, and food, is so expensive.
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This pub is expensive, but then you would only go there for the live sport and the pub quiz on a Sunday...all other times dead and no atmosphere
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Was here on a Saturday evening about a month ago. There was live music, 2 blokes with guitars that were entertaining enough. The beer wasok but nearly choked when I heard the price of the round, think it was about �3.30 per pint.
Bar staff are friendly enough, nice big pub, was quite busy and therefore nowhere to sit.
There were a few 'look at me' Clapham clones that had got off the tube at the wrong stop. There was no need for the sunglasses in the pub at half nine at night!
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Big pub, pretty good for sport - two big screens, large bar area, standard pub beer and food. Palace supporters were disappointed the pub didnt open at 11am, and that when it did open at a normal time, their dream of a pub full of eagles chants never eventuated - the quiet sobbing in the corner was rather annoying though.
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Not a bad place, good for the football, can get busy with Clapham rugby types though, and the beer tends to be on the North side of �3 a pint. As its about 8 seconds from my house, it still gets my custom. Food looks good but again expensive, but everywhere in Balham is like this now, except that Pikey Wetherspoons round the corner.
7/10.
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Been out in balham a handful of times, but this place has it all for a major sport viewing experience!
they have some very polite and well mannered staff
small kitchen that produces some top grub!
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Dead on a Friday night. Beer was terrible, and expensive. No atmosphere, just people with more money than sense. Never go here.
anonymous - 19 Sep 2005 13:53 |
Fine for reading the paper on one of the (imposible to get out of) sofas of a dreary afternoon but pretty dull all the same. I have to agree with the All Bar One meets Wetherspoons comment. It just lacks personality.
No real atmosphere, alright to watch sport, average bar staff.......... sorry, noded off for a second.
anonymous - 16 Sep 2005 19:28 |
Generally full of rugby-shirt wearing, sunglasses-in-hair Clapham, smug, I-do-like-living-here crowd.
Truly shockingly bad music at the weekend which reeks of rubbish-ness.
If you want to spend some surrounded by ubiquitous plebian Claphamites, this is your place.
However, the leather sofas are comfortable, so it gets two points out of ten.
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I went to the pub quiz a couple of weeks ago with a few friends and have to say that we were disappointed. It's fairly well attended, so the atmosphere is good, but the questions just aren't that exciting and some of them were wrong. It was very slow-paced, which was tedious. I might come again if I've got nothing else on, but it's not a big draw.
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Went to this pub on Saturday and found, for the second time, that the beer was off. Disappointing. And the live music was pretty shoddy too.
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looks pretty shabby outside but is a good pub inside. wooden floors, pretty clean and loads of space. great for watching the footy as it gets busy but can still see the large screens. like it.
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yeah this one's bad...a sort cross between a weatherspoons and all bar one. utterly soulless. and for the record, i reckon this one is more ``massive'' than the city pub. i'd rather drink in an aircraft hangar.
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Was here last Monday. Too 'All Bar One'-ish for me. Sport was on all of their screens, no one seemed to be watching, but we had to endure football at high volume...Now also runs some dire karaoke night, I believe. I walked past one night and heard something akin to a bag of kittens drowning in a canal.
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This is a perfect Sports pub, big good atmosphere, great food and great screens. For the same reasons its a bit boring outside of big sporting events and tends to feel like a chain.
Kieran - 29 Sep 2004 17:24 |
Just a good pub, for a few drinks and a laugh the staff are all friendly enough. The only complaint is the prices are rather a little to high. The food is fantastic but a little over priced aswell. However the best thing about the tup is watching football and rugby thats when the pub comes to life
Amy - 26 May 2004 15:23 |
Well, the Tup may have many things, but I wouldn't say 'charm' was one of them! It's okay and dead near my flat, so I'm not really complaining.
Gram - 7 May 2004 12:10 |
balhams unique charm? I think not only has this pub got serious charm but loads of character. However 'large' manager who wears glasses could do with smiling a bit more!
justin - 13 Apr 2004 13:24 |
Wow. You are exactly the kind of person who is destroying Balham's unique charm. Feel free to sing terrible songs and brag about how much you earn very loudly with your mates. I won't be joining you. Preferred this place when it was the Balham hotel and full of scary crooks.
Robert - 8 Apr 2004 17:02 |
This is THE pub to go to in Balham. Streatham and Croydon Rugby Club are sponsored by them and you will often find large men in rugby shirts on top of the bar dancing. Always a good craic!
James - 25 Mar 2004 14:46 |
Fantastic pub! - staff are always up for a laugh, large screen wicked and pub quiz on a sunday usually very good. I have never had a problem getting served - maybe andy always goes on match days when no staff is enough!? I advise also order a leg of lamb on a sunday and ur im for a treat!
jamie - 23 Mar 2004 09:37 |
Good place to watch the football.....and full marks to them for actually showing it unlike the Bedford.
anonymous - 5 Mar 2004 14:42 |
Massive screen for sports is great, but that also means it's busy when there's a big event on and this place is NEVER adequately staffed - 10 mins + wait at the bar is not uncommon....
andy - 23 Feb 2004 01:22 |
Does Fiona work at The Tup I wonder? It's okay with fast service and - as mentioned before - enormous screen sport. The wooden floors mean that the acoustics are appalling though, so if you want to chat, head elsewhere...
Jez - 16 Feb 2004 15:51 |
wicked pub! Had the most fantastic new years eve, there always up for a party!! rugby and all the sports are shown on possibly the biggest screen ever! All the staff are up for a laugh and very friendly. Children aren't accepted in there, nothing worse than a screaming kid while your eating your sunday roast! Well done Balham!!
ruthin boy - 11 Feb 2004 17:52 |
Best Pub in London, great manager, great staff, great atmosphere...
Fiona - 12 Dec 2003 09:43 |
The TV at this oub is massive at least 6'x6' you should go there!
Steve - 26 Nov 2003 19:59 |
If you want a good pub don't go here. If you want a large uninteresting open space in which to watch sport with antipodeans then this is your place. Is in danger of becoming the next Walkabout type bar.
Rob - 11 Nov 2003 11:53 |
dismal stuff. Won't accept children at anytime. maybe that's why the staff are average and the atmosphere negligible. Avoid.
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Rugby shirts compulsory.
Col - 16 May 2003 15:06 |
This is the place in Balham to be if your into nice people, a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Seen some of the staff dancing on the bar and everyones having a good time with the vodka shots for a pound! Good mix of post grad aged and middle aged people with good convo. Good variety of btl'd beers too. thumbs up.
Tom G - 15 Apr 2003 22:16 |
Excellent for live football as well!
Mike - 4 Jul 2002 11:34 |
standard new chain type - wooden floors, tables, food served, now hosting TUP IDOL once a month which is a scream!
Bronwen Edwards - 21 May 2002 14:01 |
